By Nathan Whitehead, April 22, 2024—
The rise of influencer boxing is often criticized as a bastardization of the sport. But with the rise of influencer boxing, there has been a surprising return to form. Influencer His Boxing first became popular on February 3, 2018. Modern boxing evolved from bare-knuckle boxing, which was a British gambling sport. Boxers competed weekly and made a living from a portion of the proceeds. Boxing looked completely different back then. Athletes competed with their bare hands, and the sport involved considerably more grappling than modern boxing.
Boxing's appeal at the time was centered around it as a gambling sport. It was as much about watching intense matches between athletes as it was about determining who would win the fight and profiting from it. In that sense, the fact that two celebrities who are not fighters face each other is at the heart of boxing's original appeal. This core attraction of deciding who wins becomes even more interesting because two influencers could start drama with each other for whatever reason. Most boxing matches allow you to review your records and previous matches, as no one starts their professional boxing career without a match. However, influencer fight betting and interest is focused on the personalities and drama, not the fight record.
At the other end of the spectrum is boxing's more modern appeal, a display of technical and intense athleticism. In this respect, Influencer Battle does not disappoint. The technical skill and conditioning shown in these matches does not disappoint. Although not usually at the level of traditional boxing professionals, the fight between Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather shows that influencers have a good understanding of the sport.
Another benefit that is often overlooked is the increased attention to the sport in new ways. Influencer viewers watch their favorite creators break into sports that are often considered unapproachable or “hardcore.” That's because influencers come from all walks of life, and their fans can see their foray into boxing as more personal. All sports will benefit from an increase in the number of people competing.
Having said all this, are influencer fights good for the long-term health of boxing? Influencer boxing means an influx of newbies to the sport, and sometimes a slew of non-influencer fights. It may also have a negative impact on viewer ratings. Can the increased interest in boxing be sustained long enough for this trend to continue? One could argue that this is the case as it will increase the general public's interest in boxing in the future. As mentioned above, influencers are often seen as more relatable than boxers with long fighting histories. By highlighting beginners, we emphasize how easy it is to get into boxing. Fans of the influencer will understand that anyone can train and put up a good fight.
In that sense, boxing has mysteriously come full circle. In their origins, professional boxers came from different classes. Some have been laid off, others are fed up with their previous careers. The first reported boxing match was between a servant and a butcher. They fought not only for money and attention, but also for the love of the sport. Influencer boxing is exactly that.
Influencer boxing, whether a trend or a new tradition, is probably a good thing for the health of the sport. All sports benefit from more competitors and increased interest, even at lower skill levels, increasing the likelihood that more young people will pursue boxing. Their flamboyant personalities and gossip around them only serve to make the fight even more dangerous. After all, that's one of the most enjoyable aspects of a personality. One style versus another. One ego competes for dominance over another. Now, one thing has an effect on another.
