My first Publication Overtime November 2019 Merged PDF | Page 12

YOUTUBE BOXING FAD PUTS
AMATEUR COPYCATS AT RISK
Eastbourne-based trainer Marcus Bowden sees both positives and negatives in YouTubers participating in
large boxing events, but warns that inexperienced fighters put their own lives on the line
Words Brandon Spalding
“B
oxing is like jazz. The better it is, the less
people appreciate it,” said legendary boxer
George Foreman. And that could be the
case in the rise of YouTubers participing in boxing
events - known as ‘YouTube boxing’.
The YouTube boxing scene first took off when
Eastbourne-based social media personality Joe
Weller won his first amateur boxing match in 2017.
KSI – who boasts over 20 million subscribers on the
video platform – put himself forward as Weller’s next
opponent.
KSI fought Weller on 3 February, 2018, at the Copper
Box Arena in a white collar boxing match. KSI won the
bout via technical knockout (TKO) in the third round.
The fight generated a mass of press coverage,
alongside a viewership of 20m people and the fight
trended worldwide on social media. It was the biggest
white collar boxing event in history.
KSI’s next fight was against the American YouTuber
Logan Paul. This time the hype was bigger than ever
before due to the heated press conferences in the build
up to the bout.
The fight took place on 25 August, 2018, at the
Manchester Arena and was promoted as ‘the biggest
internet event in history’. The fight ended in a majority
draw. The replay took place on 9 November, with KSI
managing to defeat Paul via points at the Staples
Centre but the bout contained plenty of controversy.
Paul has since complained about what he deemed a
harsh two-point deduction which may have cost the
American the fight.
During the fourth round, Paul landed two punches
which the referee considered illegal and dangerous,
and this resulted in the subsequent deduction.
With boxing being heavily in the limelight within
the YouTube community, some would argue that
it is beneficial for the sport as it can increase the
participation in the sport; especially at grass roots
level with more people than ever exposed to the sport.
However, for some, typically at the higher end
of the professional spectrum, the concept of non-
professional boxers headlining an event above the
sport’s best competitors is considered a joke and
tarnishes the principles and roots of the sport.
“People are in danger of dying in
those sorts of fights”
Boxer Billy-Joe Saunders, a former world champion
who was on the undercard to the KSI versus Paul fight,
said: “There are some good fights on the card, some
super talent, and two YouTubers.”
Overtime asked Marcus Bowden, 25, a national level
coach at Eastbourne Boxing Club whether or not he
believes the YouTube boxing scene is beneficial for the
sport or if it is tarnished by the use of the sport as a
new platform for social media’s biggest stars.
“I think it’s beneficial in terms of more people will
come to boxing. But there’s also the side of some
people will come to boxing thinking they just want
that one fight,” he said.
“If people get involved and they get involved in
boxing and it inspires them then absolutely, it’s
brilliant. But it could encourage people to go the other
way and have a one-off charity fight, because they’re
actually quite dangerous. People are in danger of
dying in those sorts of fights.”
Questioned on whether Bowden believes it is fair that
these low standard competitors get greater exposure
than the boxers he trains, despite them being at better
level, he said: “Obviously it’s not fair, but I think it’s
deserved.
“You look at the guys’ work rates and what they do,
what they’ve made for themselves; fair play to them
for finding a good way to make money. But it leaves a
bad taste in the mouth.
“I think it’s good that it’s going to bring in lots of
young people to the sport, but it’s just the longevity
factor, you know? Will they stay in the sport after
this phase dies out? But overall I would say that it is
more important that we bring as many people to the
sport as possible because even if 90 per cent of new
participants drop out, the minority can continue and
go on and do something special.”
Bowden believes overall it is beneficial for the sport
if the new participants can dedicate time and effort
into boxing and take it seriously, however, boxing
‘diehards’ - such as Saunders - think that the whole
situation is comedic and disrespectful to real boxers
who are being robbed of pay checks.
“It’s going to bring in lots of young
people to the sport... Will they stay
in the sport after this phase dies
out?”
Fighters participating at Eastbourne Boxing Club
(Pic: Brandon Spalding)
But, since promoter Eddie Hearn has taken over he
has added a professional feel to the match, putting
professional boxers on the undercard rather than
other social media stars, showcasing how big this
match is within boxing world. These boxers are
not getting money stolen from their pockets, but
rather are generating more money as a result of two
superstar names on the bill. Therefore, despite its
novice appearance, YouTube boxing and everything
surrounding it could be a win for everyone involved.
Marcus Bowden (Pic: Brandon Spalding)
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