So…one other week with out boxing…Let’s do our greatest to speak about one thing a minimum of marginally boxing-related, then.
A short time again, I attempted to get collectively no matter’s left of unbiased media in boxing and unify to create a community of unbiased, uncompromised information and knowledge. Name me a futurist, however I noticed what was taking place with this Saudi Arabian takeover.
As soon as they bought the precise boxing belongings, they’d come for the media as a result of, effectively, when you’ve got the belongings, you want to management the narrative.
I additionally knew that the boxing media would fold as soon as cash began coming their method. Hell, these are the identical individuals who will be received over by a pleasant dessert station at a media buffet. The boxing media doesn’t care about boxing or journalism or writing or something to do with the ethics or morality concerned in any of it. You see, these individuals are slumming it in boxing and all they actually care about is being a part of a scene and, in the end, feeling no matter ego rush they really feel from being vital of their little area of interest nook of a distinct segment sport. Now, throw some cash their method, and, hell yeah, they’ll push this sport that they “love” proper off the closest, highest cliff– and so they’ll persuade themselves that they’re proper in doing it.
However the indy media folks? They’re not making any cash masking the game. They aren’t invited to the massive reveals and don’t get entry to the key gamers.
If I used to be going to search out somebody who CARES, it must be among the many unbiased media corps. If I used to be going to search out somebody who cared about sustaining some semblance of unbiased thought and preserving a level of precise journalism within the face of a very bought-off media, it might be amongst them.
However, nope.
I imply, I attempted. I wrote emails, despatched messages, argued my case. A number of had been good sufficient to hear and work together earlier than ghosting me. Others by no means even bothered to reply. However no person wished in.
It was an concept that was so simple as establishing a information portal the place we shared information protection and editorials that followers might belief as free from battle of curiosity. It might’ve price them nothing– no cash or effort– and so they might’ve maintained their very own websites 100%. All the things could be because it usually was for them. Enterprise as traditional. I used to be actually solely after their ethical assist and the permission to listing them publicly as supporters of unbiased media and as a part of a coalition of unbiased media members.
I can’t say that I used to be shocked by their disinterest.
I attempted to do just about the exact same factor about 18 years in the past, after I first bought into boxing writing and noticed simply how compromised the institution media was. Again then, the unbiased media was even pissier in the direction of me. Some attacked me publicly for my efforts.
What I discovered then and what I confirmed lately is that the so-called unbiased media actually is only a minor leagues for these trying to promote out additional down the street. They’ve the fantasy of sometime being certainly one of these media whores perpetually tossing the salad of whoever’s waving round a greenback invoice. They aspire to be vital sufficient to promote out.
And I actually can’t blame all of them that a lot.
They had been raised on the concept of a compliant media. Arising, who might they learn or watch to indicate them some other method of being? Individuals aren’t stepping into boxing media as a result of they need to train sound journalistic practices. They get into it as a result of they need to be part of boxing and also you certain as hell can’t be an “insider” in case you’re difficult and questioning the “insiders.”
So, I suppose what I’m saying is that we’re fucked if we need to reap the advantages of all the things a robust media would give the sport– like, all the things all of us say we wish from the game (good fights, reasonably priced occasions, the top of corruption, and so on.). We simply don’t have the troopers to combat that struggle and we most likely by no means will.
*******
On a extra precise boxing-related facet be aware, I don’t recall ever being as upset in a era of American boxers as I’m proper now.
Aside from David Benavidez and a small handful of others, these guys simply ain’t price a lick.
Don’t get me fallacious, some can actually, actually combat. They only actually, actually don’t WANT to combat.
And whereas they’re discovering causes to not combat, they really feel the urge to share their dramas (each boxing associated and non-boxing associated) with the boxing world that simply desires them to do their rattling jobs.
I’ve solely been paying consideration marginally these previous few weeks, however I’m bored nonetheless with Tank Davis, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Shakur Stevenson, Boots Ennis, and even Terence Crawford. Everybody desires to combat everybody, however no person’s combating anybody.
These guys are purported to be one of the best of one of the best America has to supply, but none has a significant combat on the horizon (and, no, Lamont Roach is just not “significant” for Tank Davis). Just one (Tank Davis) has ANY opponent truly lined up. And the final significant combat for any of them was when Crawford fought Madrimov – and that was over 5 months in the past.
I don’t need to hear excuses or see any finger pointing. I simply need fighters to combat. And I need American fighters, particularly, to combat in America, for American followers.
Obtained one thing for Paul? Ship it right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com
