Is Shakur Stevenson Right About Boxing Media Being Terrible?

In a recent Twitter post, Shakur Stevenson voiced his opinion on how the boxing media is terrible. He spoke about how some media members have issues with certain fighters, such as not giving them interviews and then speaking negatively about those fighters.

This is true from my personal observation. I've seen firsthand how New Media lie, like Fagnon, and push narratives to discredit certain fighters whom they don't like.

New Media will abuse their platforms to tear down certain fighters who refuse to give them an interview. Top Rank Toby was a term coined by Black boxing media to tear down Terence Crawford.

Shakur only speaks from his experiences and personal observations. But this is the order of the day in American Boxing. I always talk to fighters who want nothing to do with boxing media.

I completely understand why. Today's boxing media, better known as new media, lacks professionalism. It's the same way with media in general.

Whether it's legacy media or old media, it's the same. The days of Howard Cosell, Jim Lampley, Sal Marchiano, Alex Wallau, Marv Albert, Al Albert, Al Bernstein, Don Dunphy, and Gil Clancy are long gone.

We still have Steve Kim, Max Kellerman, Dan Rafael, Mike Coppinger, and Teddy Atlas, but the boxing media has worsened. Some say that Social Media has ruined the sport of boxing.

The tension between boxers in America and much of the new age boxing media (YouTubers, influencers, gossip-driven channels, etc.) is layered. Here are the main reasons fighters tend to dislike or mistrust it:

Traditional boxing journalists (think old-school writers and HBO/Showtime analysts) usually had deep knowledge of the sport, its history, and showed respect for fighters.

New media often thrives on clickbait headlines, trolling, or stirring controversy (“X fighter is ducking,” “Exposed,” “Overrated,” etc.), which can come off as disrespectful to the sacrifices boxers make.

Fighters train their whole lives mastering the sweet science, but newer media tends to focus on trash talk, beefs, or personal lives because that drives views.

Boxers feel their hard work and skill get overlooked in favor of storylines that make them look weak, scared, or fake. Many new-age outlets are run by people who never boxed or thoroughly studied the sport.

Fighters complain that interviews and analysis are often filled with basic errors, casual disrespect, or fanboy narratives instead of honest technical or strategic breakdowns. Boxing Gems is the best when it comes to the technical aspects of the sport.

The old-school press was gatekept, so only certain voices were heard. Anyone with a YouTube channel can spin a narrative about a fighter ducking, being broke, or being overrated.

Boxers hate that they can’t control these viral narratives, even if untrue. A lot of fighters—especially in America—come from working-class, immigrant, or minority backgrounds.

They see “new media” guys who never laced up gloves profiting off the sport by clowning fighters, chasing drama, and disrespecting the struggle.

In short, fighters dislike new-age boxing media because it often values clicks over respect, drama over skill, and influencers over professionals. It strips away the nobility of boxing and makes them feel like props in someone else’s entertainment hustle.

Respect vs. Clicks: Old media focused on skill, history, and fundamental analysis—new media: gossip, drama, clickbait headlines.

Drama over Craft: Instead of breaking down technique, they focus on “ducking,” “exposed,” or their personal lives. Fighters feel their work in the gym is ignored.

Influencer Boxing: Jake Paul, KSI, Misfits events → huge paydays. Real pros struggle for recognition/pay. It feels like disrespect to fighters who dedicated their lives to the sport.

Loss of Image Control: One viral clip = fighter painted as “scared,” “broke,” or “washed.” The new boxing media builds narratives with lies that fighters can’t control.

Cultural Divide: Many fighters come from working-class or tough backgrounds. They see outsiders who never laced up gloves clowning them for views.

Today's new media, or boxing media, exploit certain fighters unfairly to benefit from their work.

In summary, Shakur Stevenson has a valid point. How do you feel about Shakur's position on new media and boxing media?

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