Influencer boxing matches began gaining a large audience with KSI’s first boxing fight against Joe Weller in 2018 and have become more common over time, with fighters with high reputations becoming more willing to participate due to the money on offer.
At the same time, boxing’s reputation has suffered due to difficulties in organizing fights at the highest level and the influx of money from Saudi Arabia, which has become a prominent player in the professional arena.
Some believe influencer fights are attracting new fans and are helping to safeguard the future of the sport, while others argue they make it a laughing stock.
“Jake Paul has done a lot of good for boxing, especially women’s boxing,” says Crolla. “He is putting on great nights and bringing new people into the sport.
“I worked on the fight he had with Tommy Fury and a lot of little kids would come up to me and say ‘you were in the fight!’, and they wouldn’t even recognize me from my own career.”
But the benefits of big names like Paul stepping into the ring come at the cost of heritage and history.
“It’s a mockery of the sport,” Price acknowledges. “The other day I saw Rod Stewart’s son get knocked out – these things make it a joke.
“The sport has come this far without things like that happening, so I don’t think it’s necessary for boxing to survive.
“But the fact that there is a small percentage chance of an influencer knocking someone out is what makes a lot of these people tune in. It’s a new generation of fight fans and whether they like it or not, opinions matter.
“The old school wrestler who put his head down, worked hard and spoke his mind in the ring is, sadly, a dying breed.”
