Boxing_News__November_24_2017

EDITOR’S LETTER
Photo: MARK ROBINSON/MATCHROOM
USE IT WISELY:
Joshua takes
a selfie but his
name has recently
been caught up
in an unsavoury
social media spat
THE POWER OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Why Twitter and co are among the sport’s leading matchmakers
Cover photography
MARK MARLOW
Coming
next time
l MIGUEL COTTO
prepares to
sign off with
a defence of
his WBO superwelterweight
title against
Sadam Ali on
December 2.
We examine the
event in detail.
l TOMMY
MORRISON
remains a cult
hero to many
boxing fans. We
catch up with his
son, Trey Lippe
Morrison, who
has the almost
impossible job
of following
in some giant
footsteps.
A
Matt
Christie
@MattCBoxingNews
Editor
S Huey Lewis and
the News may have
observed had they
been at the peak of
their fame today,
the power of social
media is a curious
thing. Make a one
man weep, make
another man sing.
In fact, it’s been a
blessing and a curse
to pretty much
everyone involved.
Take Anthony
Joshua, for example.
One minute he’s
seducing housewives
the world over with
videos of muscle-pumping gym graft and
the next he – or someone claiming to be
– is sullying his cleaner than clean public
image with a string of foul-mouthed insults.
And Amir Khan, currently up to his neck in
snakes and rice and beans, will probably
delete his accounts when he gets back from
his jungle adventure if the current abuse
he’s getting continues.
For all media brands, Boxing News
included, the power of social media has
become a crucial tool in gathering and
breaking news while spreading awareness
like no other platform can. Indeed, for
many outlets, both old and new, social
media – the biggest attention-seeking, egoenhancing
device of the digital age – has
been at the core of some incredible success
stories. In that regard, to bemoan it too
heartily may seem like a foolhardy move.
Because, to get a taste of the sport in 2017,
those numerous social media channels will
provide cheap and accessible tasters – you
don’t need no credit card to ride this train,
after all – of pretty much all the latest
talking points. Some posts are heartfelt
announcements, others witty observations
but, and here’s the problem, too many
are unfiltered garblings that snowball and
create utter mayhem.
Admittedly, various tweets and posts
have provided our website with ‘stories’ but
we always do our best to ensure they’re
the start of the tale rather than the end.
However, those redesigning tweets and
allowing them to masquerade as news,
are guilty of feeding the monster further.
And I’d venture that the vast majority
of people reading this have fallen for a
clickbait headline only to be left deeply
disappointed that you have just invested
five minutes of your life into the bank of
no return.
Take the recent ‘news’ from the
heavyweight division. Joshua’s team
claimed his Instagram account had been
hacked after it was reported by former
contender Eddie Chambers that the WBA
and IBF champion had been sending
him insulting private messages. Someone
claiming to be AJ called Chambers a b***h
and said he was an insult to the “superior
black race”. Firstly, while it’s almost
unfathomable that Joshua would waste
his time like this, it also seems odd that
a hacker, after busting into the treasure
trove of Joshua’s social media accounts,
would choose to privately target Chambers.
Unless it was Chambers himself, of course.
Secondly, if it was Joshua, as some suspect,
it was exceptionally poor judgement
and his management team should have
a serious word in his earhole. Finally,
whoever sent the private messages, can
the rest of us stop talking about it please?
All we’re in danger of doing is creating yet
another unnecessary matchup born purely
from social media ‘beef’ rather than any
semblance of worthiness in the ring. While
the fans may chuckle and news agencies
count the clicks, boxers’ reputations walk
a fine line with every post.
Which brings us to the Tony Bellew-
David Haye saga, which initially caught
fire on social media. Minutes after it was
confirmed that a rematch will not happen
this year, Tyson Fury – still growling and
overweight and without a boxing licence
but thankfully back in training – jumped on
social media to demand a fight with Bellew
in four weeks’ time, and was soon joined by
Dillian Whyte, who is never slow to spot
a get-rich-quick opportunity.
Certainly, getting your phone out of your
pocket and demanding a fight is easier
than earning one in the ring, but there is
still something bothersome about contests
being created solely because a mountain of
retweets has justifed its appeal.
Social media is perhaps the most
powerful weapon in the sport today. Not
only can it change a hawk to a little white
dove, it allowed Conor McGregor to secure
a showdown with Floyd Mayweather in
boxing gloves.
It can make fights, ruin reputations
and sway public opinion dramatically. We
should all tread carefully out there.
Follow us and keep up to date
@BoxingNewsED
BoxingNewsOnline
l WE track
down the
1980s thrillseeker,
Kelvin
Seabrooks, and
discover a man
still living life
on the edge.
l AND we
introduce you to
Commonwealth
cruiserweight
champion,
Luke Watkins,
who explains
what it’s like
to spar Tyson
Fury and how he
plans to rule at
heavyweight.
l AVAILABLE
to download
via iTunes and
Google Play
from November
28, 2017, and the
print edition is
in stores on
November 30,
2017.
4 l BOXING NEWS l NOVEMBER 23, 2017 www.boxingnewsonline.net