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From Belts to Begging: How the Influencer Era Broke Boxing’s Hierarchy https://www.worldbox... #InfluencerBoxing #boxing
From Belts to Begging: How the Influencer Era Broke Boxing’s Hierarchy
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: when real, professional boxers beg a YouTuber for a payday, it signals that the sport has quietly shifted — and not for the better. Yes, Jake Paul’s now-off November 14 showdown with Gervonta Davis is behind us, but the story here is what the collapse reveals. The logistics, the legal storm, the tepid ticket sales — all tell one part of the story. But the more troubling part is watching legitimate boxers line up like contestants in a reality show, hoping the influencer picks them. The Roll-Call of “Choose Me” In the past 24 hours, several fighters have publicly thrown their names into the ring for Jake Paul — not for legacy or sport, but for payday optics. Edgar Berlanga: “Hey, Jake. Pick up the phone. I’ve been calling you. Let’s make the fight happen.” Kenzie Morrison: The son of a heavyweight champion threw his hat in the ring for Paul, saying, “I’m a ranked, active son of a two-time heavyweight champion and Rocky V co-star! Everyone wants this fight! Stop ignoring me!” Gabe Rosado: Also pushing to be next in line, he said, “After sparring, I leaned in and told Jake Paul, ‘Your footwork is slower than a mummy, and I can see your right hand from a mile away, you big dummy! The boxing fans want a real fight — this is it! Short notice doesn’t matter; we’re ready. Most Valuable Promotions, send the contract.” Rolando Romero (Rolly): On his Instagram story — “In one week of training, I will stop him, and I will end all of these YouTubers’ hype.” And then there’s Francis Ngannou — ironically not chasing the fight, but rejecting the proposition outright as “disrespectful.” “It makes no sense.” These aren’t promotional sparring posts — they’re public pleas and posturing. Fighters who once built their name on hard-earned platforms are now publicly auditioning for the next “influencer vs boxer” spectacle. The Irony of the Davis Pivot In a bleak twist, Gervonta Davis — one of boxing’s legitimate knockout artists — agreed to this megafight, only for legal issues and commercial risks to collapse the event. What remains is a stark image: real boxers scrambling for the crumbs of influencer attention. The sport’s hierarchy has inverted. We used to ask, “Who will beat the champion?” Now, the question is, “Who will get chosen to fight the influencer?” “The Stupid Prize” There’s a quote worth echoing from Daniel Cormier: “You play stupid games, you get stupid prizes.” Yet that line seems now to have become a blueprint for this entire episode. Fighters chasing clickbait instead of titles. Promotions chasing trending algorithms instead of legacies. When real pros say things like Morrison did, you have to ask: what about why they want it? Because the fight means exposure, maybe a tens-of-millions payday, maybe a pop-culture blip, but increasingly not because it advances the sport. What This Signals for Boxing Sport vs. spectacle: The show-business machine runs, but boxing’s foundation cracks. Real fighters should be building careers — not chasing viral moments. Payday over progression: Fighters once greeting the next real contender now wave to the YouTube star. Suddenly, the hierarchy has flipped. Institutional detachment: Promoters and platforms recycle this pattern because it makes money. Fighters? Left with photos, maybe cash, but little legacy. Erosion of trust: Fans who appreciate skill and craft see the sport become “who gets picked by the influencer” instead of “who earns the shot.” The Way Forward Boxing can’t survive this inversion forever. At some point, the real athletes have to reclaim the narrative: we fight for titles, not algorithms. Promoters need more than influencers. Platforms must prioritize substance over clicks. And fighters — no matter how hungry — must ask themselves: do you want the fight because it matters, or because it pays? If boxing mirrors social-media contests instead of real sport, its legacy will crumble. Soon, fewer will chase belts, and more will chase notoriety. About the Author Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. View all articles by Phil Jay and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism. Stay Ahead in Boxing News Subscribe to the free WBN Newsletter for trusted updates, exclusive interviews, and fight analysis delivered daily. Join the World Boxing News WhatsApp Channel or follow WBN on Linktree.
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November 5, 2025 at 9:37 AM
I’m afraid of my own drawing #art #dannygonzalez #greg #influencerboxing #fanart
September 20, 2025 at 2:53 PM