Has social media ruined boxing?

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

In what way has it ruined it? Do you mean with this youtube fad?

Social media can be a great tool, can it not be argued it has taken it to other audiences and markets?

Agree these idiots going pro with no experience fighting other nobodies is a joke when some fighters dedicate their lives to the sport and don’t get anywhere near the exposure or money.

But I like to look it the other way, boxing is exploiting these youtubers to bring the sport to a young audience who otherwise would never watch a fight!

Not think?

Nah not just the YouTube fad, just in general.

All these YouTube channels like fight hype, IFL etc constantly creating fake narratives to for cheap views.

Promoters feuding on Twitter and negotiating fights through the media, instead of discussing things professionally.

Fighters like Ryan Garcia who has achieved more on Instagram than he has in the ring.

Fake trainers like Ben Davidson who get work by keeping their face out there.

The sport is just so fake now, it had more legitimacy when the f***ing mafia ran it.

I agree with a lot of what you say but you’re last paragraph is so, so wrong though man. These people are exploiting boxing to make money. Boxing is just another vehicle for them to monetise their x amount of followers. The whole “bring new fans to the sport” is a complete facade. We’ve gained ostensibly no new fans from Mayweather-McGregor, the YouTube stuff etc, boxing’s generally poor numbers would corroborate that.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Social media has ruined everything, all the young kids are ****ed up and depressed these days never mind boxing

I think if definitely has a detrimental effect on mental health.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I can see this trend hurting boxing at some point if all fans want to see are freak shows and mismatches. Eventually it will become harder to sell legit fights and these exhibitions become more lucrative. Hopefully it's just a fad. For a while boxing had to compete with Toughman Contests and the rise of Butterbean, and the short lived celebrity boxing show in the early 2000's. This current trend seems to have a lot more traction.

This is my worry also...

It seems more people would rather watch two 50 year olds or a couple of YouTubers than elite quality fighters.

What does that say about the future of the sport?

[Bain01D]

Nah not just the YouTube fad, just in general.

All these YouTube channels like fight hype, IFL etc constantly creating fake narratives to for cheap views.

Promoters feuding on Twitter and negotiating fights through the media, instead of discussing things professionally.

Fighters like Ryan Garcia who has achieved more on Instagram than he has in the ring.

Fake trainers like Ben Davidson who get work by keeping their face out there.

The sport is just so fake now, it had more legitimacy when the f***ing mafia ran it.

I agree with a lot of what you say but you’re last paragraph is so, so wrong though man. These people are exploiting boxing to make money. Boxing is just another vehicle for them to monetise their x amount of followers. The whole “bring new fans to the sport” is a complete facade. We’ve gained ostensibly no new fans from Mayweather-McGregor, the YouTube stuff etc, boxing’s generally poor numbers would corroborate that.

I agree with a lot of what you say but for me some of those things are positive, iFL etc for me gets fans closer to the sport and gives a greater insight. Also don’t think BD is a fake trainer, still has a lot to prove but think in years to come he will go far.

Maybe slightly rose tinted glasses as well, it’s always easy to think ‘back in the day’ things were better but in reality we’re they?

[Bain01D]

And TBF looking at society in general, smart phones and social media have f***** a lot of things!

I say as it type on my smart phone in a forum!! ��

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

I agree with a lot of what you say but for me some of those things are positive, iFL etc for me gets fans closer to the sport and gives a greater insight. Also don’t think BD is a fake trainer, still has a lot to prove but think in years to come he will go far.

Maybe slightly rose tinted glasses as well, it’s always easy to think ‘back in the day’ things were better but in reality we’re they?

IFL is terrible IMO, they ask loaded questions to help build whatever narrative the promoter wants them too. They’re entire business model depends on accessibility from promoters so they are forced to sing from the hymn sheet.

BD has never trained an area champion and he’s now been given world champions to coach because of his connections and profile. The man’s a complete fraud IMO. He has no professional resume at all. He’s not the only one though. We all seen the Tunde Ajayi show last week.

I just think ‘back in the day’ boxing had far more credibility. Imagine these YouTube kids trying to box in the 70’s, they wouldn’t last five minutes. I feel the sport has really been watered down in the last decade or so.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

And TBF looking at society in general, smart phones and social media have f***** a lot of things!

I say as it type on my smart phone in a forum!! ��

Yeah same here...

[drablj]

This is my worry also...

It seems more people would rather watch two 50 year olds or a couple of YouTubers than elite quality fighters.

What does that say about the future of the sport?

the future is not bright it seems. i think "fans" and boxing are killing boxing.

1) only a small percentage of viewers watch boxing for boxing. they watch the stars (in general, just watching or listening to someone famous is a thing), they watch for the story, drama, pre-fight talk, patriotism, race, as a secondary activity while hanging out with someone and not for boxing.
how many people follow boxing if there is no boxers in top 100 from their country (they don't have anyone to support who is "close to them"), they don't have anyone to talk to about boxing or to watch with, they watch even when it's not convenient (4-8 am), they don't follow promos/pre-fight activities, just the most important thing - the fights? i would guess less than 20% of "fans", maybe even less than 10% are like that. i don't say those other things are bad but if you 100% follow boxing for boxing, you are a true fan. otherwise you are a fan of something else which you happen to get with boxing at that particular moment. i hope you can get my point.

2) boxing is bad for boxing because of the way these networks and promoters work. i don't need to elaborate. boxers want to get rich with the minimum risk involved and with the safest style they can get away with. they are entitled to that, it's their life and career. at the same time, that's not exciting at all. almost everybody wants excitement while watching boxing. boxing people shot themselves in the knee.

and for the record: i don't use social media and i never had a cell phone.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

the future is not bright it seems. i think "fans" and boxing are killing boxing.

1) only a small percentage of viewers watch boxing for boxing. they watch the stars (in general, just watching or listening to someone famous is a thing), they watch for the story, drama, pre-fight talk, patriotism, race, as a secondary activity while hanging out with someone and not for boxing.
how many people follow boxing if there is no boxers in top 100 from their country (they don't have anyone to support who is "close to them"), they don't have anyone to talk to about boxing or to watch with, they watch even when it's not convenient (4-8 am), they don't follow promos/pre-fight activities, just the most important thing - the fights? i would guess less than 20% of "fans", maybe even less than 10% are like that. i don't say those other things are bad but if you 100% follow boxing for boxing, you are a true fan. otherwise you are a fan of something else which you happen to get with boxing at that particular moment. i hope you can get my point.

2) boxing is bad for boxing because of the way these networks and promoters work. i don't need to elaborate. boxers want to get rich with the minimum risk involved and with the safest style they can get away with. they are entitled to that, it's their life and career. at the same time, that's not exciting at all. almost everybody wants excitement while watching boxing. boxing people shot themselves in the knee.

and for the record: i don't use social media and i never had a cell phone.

Very good points...

[Ochoa780]

Social Media has only shown how terrible most boxers are at marketing. You have to be adaptable to new marketing trends.

It's also shown how terrible and ****** people are.

Didnt errol say he was getting tweets and stuff saying that they hoped he had died in his crash?

It gives people little filter and no repercussions. I'm not that old but growing up if I wanted someone to hear me say something similar its surely ending in blows.