by Charles Jay
There has been a fair amount of discussion on this website about “Old School vs. New School” when it comes to the sport of boxing, and it probably deserves to be discussed, with some myths dispelled.
This latest round of debate was fueled by a story posted on this website (http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/chisora-haye-brawl-the-post-fight-presser-should-have-been-banned/) where the author attributed the post-fight press conference brawl between Dereck Chisora and David Haye, at least in part, to the presence of internet writers who fell outside the boundaries of the so-called “legit press.”
With all due respect, some things need to be said to straighten these things out, and for this I am going to have to write something here from a personal standpoint. The author of this piece has brought up his vast “experience” as a credential. Well, I have experienced this business (boxing, that is) from ALL sides, being involved in the promotion itself, setting up press conferences, doing other nuts and bolts (e.g., matchmaking, booking) that had an impact on the product that was seen in the ring. I have been a writer covering the events, and I have dealt with the writers covering events from the other side.
And I will you first of all that there is nothing greater that has ever happened to boxing, or has more potential to catapult boxing to another level, than the internet. In fact, that potential has yet to be realized. When I was managing fighters and/or doing publicity or promotions, consulting at casinos, or whatever, I WISH there was an outlet like that. If I was running a press event – before or after – I’d have invited anyone with a laptop and a Facebook page or a Twitter account with any decent number of followers to come, record, take pictures, upload them and send them out to whoever they could.
That’s because anybody who can reach people, and expand that reach beyond their own presence, is a media outlet of sorts these days. What used to be strictly the province of word-of-mouth in the past has been surpassed and/or supplanted by something that is viral in nature. So there is nothing “illegitimate” at all about media coming from somewhere that might be outside the terriotry occupied by the traditional sources. To lack understanding of that is to die from irrelevance.
Maybe that is really where this “Old School vs. New School” argument needs to go. Some people have characterized this as a conflict between those who are old and those who are young, or those who are veterans and those who are up-and-comers. That is missing the point to the extent that it corrupts the dialogue.
It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, it matters what your ideas are. If a 29-year-old newspaper writer ripped off a story from a 49-year-old internet columnist, just because he thought that an internet story was not going to get any attention or respect, it is the YOUNGER guy who has the “Old School” mentality. That’s because he didn’t understand the evolution of things. I don’t know how long you’ve been around, but this thing used to happen quite a bit.
And it’s funny – speaking from a personal perspective – because in a recent discussion with the publisher of this website, he said one of the writers had referred to me as “old school,” which is kind of silly. As a boxing writer, I am almost entirely a creature of the internet. In fact, I was one the front lines of this battle between one mindset and another from 2000-2001, when two rather well-known boxing writers essentially swiped stories I had broken, well AFTER they had been broken, I might add. One of them actually called me up, grilled me on how I had come about my story, and published it under his own byline with the word “Exclusive” preceding the title.
I fought back, of course, and what I had on my side that would not have been possible without the new technology was a way of documenting the story’s publication. Not only had it already been published on a website, but there was an email list of boxing people who received the story in their inboxes, along with a posting on boxing newsgroups that had already prompted much discussion.
These guys, as it turned out, were rather ignorant of what the internet could do and who it could reach.
That same situation doesn’t necessarily persist today, although there is a resentment toward the medium on the part of some, because of its “democratic” nature. Previously, they were the gatekeepers of information, and those people had all the power. The news had to go through them, and therefore they had a more exalted position. Today, newspaper columnists and magazine writers who cover boxing have comparatively little power based solely on what they put into print. That is unsettling to some of them, and as a reaction they will continue to denigrate the internet-based writer.
Indeed, the internet is a democratic medium. If you want to be a boxing writer, host a boxing radio show, or do boxing videos, no one is going to refuse you the opportunity. Again, that dynamic is something that threatens the “establishment” of those who call themselves “journalists.” Allow me to make a frank observation here: I happen to be acquainted with just about all of the “establishment” writers, and most of them don’t know all that much. In fact, even though there may be a lot of garbage written on the internet, by virtue of its democratic nature, there is a lot of good stuff too, and I consider the internet writers in general to be more serious about what they do.
Of course, whether you’re young or old, upstart or veteran, internet or print, if you don’t offer substance you don’t offer anything.
That having been said, I don’t want to be unfair about it, so I should mention that when I was running The Sweet Science (another boxing website), I hired a lot of people; among them were plenty of boxing writers from daily newspapers. Some of them were quite ordinary. However some of them really answered the bell, and that is because they appreciated what the internet could do for the quality of their stories, as well as expanding their own geographical reach . They expressed that within the constraints of a newspaper, and often under an editor’s direction, they could only explore a subject to a certain extent, and that with no limits on what they could write about, or how long, internet writing was an experience that “freed” them. Quite a bit of good work came as a result.
It’s one thing to be “old school” (non-capitalized) in terms of personal values or ethics (there’s nothing wrong with that at all), but we’re talking within the context of boxing and the way media sees it and deals with it. So within those parameters I guess one of the conclusions I would come to here is that regardless of your age or level of experience, being “New School” means that you can sense where the world is going and you make an effort to get there as fast as you can. Being “Old School,” on the other hand, might mean that you are trying to ignore it for as long as possible.
That might be the state boxing is in right now. Obviously everyone knows that the internet exists and that they will go there to find the latest news, results, gossip, etc. Promoters do what they can to use internet writers to their advantage, and they may have their own Facebook pages and so on. But they haven’t really harnessed all of this power and energy in a way that it could grow the audience considerably.
I’m not sure if many people who run the sport of boxing as we know it understand the idea that one could publish a piece of content, whether it is in the written word, audio or video, and it could have a life that takes it far beyond the location on which it is originally posted. They don’t understand that social media can not only be a real sales tool, but it can be a media channel in and of itself. They are very slow in going to the next dimension with pay-per-view by expanding it to other platforms. They aren’t doing anything “institutional” in the way of their approach to selling the sport, by which they can offer a product of greater overall value, thus making their own product more valuable. AND they don’t realize that today’s enthusiastic blogger with fifty readers can very conceivably become tomorrow’s mini-mogul with two million, relatively quickly. Relationships are so important in any business, and maybe there needs to be more awareness that through the online (and let’s throw in mobile) world, a relationship with one could transform itself to a relationship with millions.
Perhaps a failure to grasp THAT makes someone “Old School.”
Finally, since we got a little far flung, let me draw a conclusion about the allegations in the story we referred to at the top. Under no circumstances did bloggers – and I don’t care how many there were – incite a brawl at ANY press conference. Most of the people in boxing are complete gentlemen when it comes to any public gathering. What it took to ignite something like this was no more complicated then one fighter (Moron #1) who thought he could gain something by scuffling with another fighter (Moron #2).
Anyone who would reward him for that is officially Moron #3.
If that represents “old school” (non-capitalized) thinking to you, then it’s TFB.
LMAO.
:))
![](https://www.boxinginsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/logo.png)
Stephenrhype
06/29/2024 at 4:33 am
mexico pharmacy: mexican online pharmacy – reputable mexican pharmacies online
IrvinErync
07/09/2024 at 1:39 am
buying prescription drugs in mexico: cmq pharma – medicine in mexico pharmacies
CharlesRor
07/19/2024 at 11:12 pm
legit canadian pharmacy [url=https://canadapharmast.online/#]reliable canadian pharmacy[/url] the canadian drugstore
EdwardLoobe
07/20/2024 at 1:16 am
https://foruspharma.com/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
Michaelmoolo
07/20/2024 at 5:50 am
best online pharmacies in mexico: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexico pharmacy
EdwardLoobe
07/20/2024 at 11:04 am
https://canadapharmast.com/# canadian pharmacy victoza
EdwardLoobe
07/20/2024 at 1:55 pm
https://canadapharmast.online/# maple leaf pharmacy in canada
Michaelmoolo
07/20/2024 at 3:25 pm
Online medicine order: reputable indian online pharmacy – india online pharmacy
CharlesRor
07/20/2024 at 4:27 pm
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://foruspharma.com/#]mexican pharmaceuticals online[/url] medicine in mexico pharmacies
EdwardLoobe
07/20/2024 at 9:51 pm
https://indiapharmast.com/# best india pharmacy
Michaelmoolo
07/21/2024 at 12:14 am
canadian pharmacy reviews: legitimate canadian pharmacies – canadian pharmacy king
EdwardLoobe
07/21/2024 at 1:02 am
https://foruspharma.com/# medication from mexico pharmacy
CharlesRor
07/21/2024 at 2:16 am
reputable indian pharmacies [url=http://indiapharmast.com/#]indian pharmacy online[/url] pharmacy website india
Michaelmoolo
07/21/2024 at 9:47 am
indian pharmacies safe: buy prescription drugs from india – indian pharmacy
Jamesjam
07/21/2024 at 1:44 pm
can i buy amoxicillin online: how to get amoxicillin – amoxicillin 500mg tablets price in india
Jamesjam
07/21/2024 at 4:11 pm
doxy: doxycycline 100mg price south africa – doxycycline capsules price in india
Myronnepay
07/21/2024 at 5:04 pm
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# cipro
best price for doxycycline 100 mg without prescription [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline capsules for sale[/url] buy doxycycline 100mg online india
Myronnepay
07/21/2024 at 8:03 pm
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# order generic clomid tablets
cost cheap clomid without dr prescription [url=https://clomiddelivery.pro/#]can i order generic clomid pills[/url] can i buy generic clomid
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 2:14 am
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin over the counter
amoxicillin 500mg cost [url=https://amoxildelivery.pro/#]amoxicillin 500mg buy online uk[/url] amoxicillin 875 125 mg tab
Jamesjam
07/22/2024 at 2:36 am
paxlovid pill: paxlovid buy – paxlovid for sale
Jamesjam
07/22/2024 at 4:56 am
paxlovid pill: Paxlovid over the counter – paxlovid india
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 5:17 am
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid generic
where to buy cheap clomid [url=http://clomiddelivery.pro/#]order cheap clomid pills[/url] buy generic clomid without dr prescription
Thomaskef
07/22/2024 at 5:37 am
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin in india
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 11:42 am
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# how to buy amoxicillin online
doxycycline 200 mg price [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline 200[/url] buy doxycycline 100mg online
Thomaskef
07/22/2024 at 1:26 pm
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where buy clomid prices
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 2:49 pm
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# order amoxicillin online no prescription
amoxicillin 1000 mg capsule [url=http://amoxildelivery.pro/#]where can i buy amoxicillin over the counter[/url] amoxicillin 500 mg online
Jamesjam
07/22/2024 at 5:28 pm
where can i buy cipro online: antibiotics cipro – buy cipro online canada
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 9:11 pm
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid covid
buy cipro online [url=http://ciprodelivery.pro/#]buy cipro online canada[/url] buy ciprofloxacin
Thomaskef
07/22/2024 at 9:17 pm
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# buy paxlovid online
Jamesjam
07/23/2024 at 3:50 am
cipro pharmacy: п»їcipro generic – cipro
Thomaskef
07/23/2024 at 5:03 am
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# cost of cheap clomid pill
Jamesjam
07/23/2024 at 6:12 am
buy cipro no rx: antibiotics cipro – buy ciprofloxacin
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 6:26 am
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# no prescription doxycycline
doxycycline 100 mg capsule [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline with out a rx[/url] doxycycline 100mg capsules uk
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 9:29 am
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# buy generic clomid pill
doxycycline purchase [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline price[/url] average cost for doxycycline
Thomaskef
07/23/2024 at 12:04 pm
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin without rx
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 3:49 pm
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# canadian pharmacy amoxicillin
buy cipro online without prescription [url=https://ciprodelivery.pro/#]purchase cipro[/url] ciprofloxacin 500 mg tablet price
Jamesjam
07/23/2024 at 4:28 pm
buy amoxicillin: amoxicillin capsule 500mg price – buy amoxicillin without prescription
Jamesjam
07/23/2024 at 6:51 pm
amoxicillin 500mg pill: amoxicillin brand name – order amoxicillin uk
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 7:24 pm
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# how can i get generic clomid price
doxycycline australia cost [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline 100mg price[/url] doxycycline 400 mg daily
Thomaskef
07/23/2024 at 8:05 pm
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid generic
Myronnepay
07/24/2024 at 1:37 am
http://amoxildelivery.pro/# buy amoxicillin 500mg
doxycycline india cost [url=http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline online for dogs[/url] online doxycycline prescription
Thomaskef
07/24/2024 at 4:25 am
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline 50
Myronnepay
07/24/2024 at 4:43 am
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where to buy clomid online
order doxycycline capsules online [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]doxycycline over the counter south africa[/url] buy doxycycline in usa
Jamesjam
07/24/2024 at 5:20 am
doxycycline without prescription: doxycycline for sale – doxycycline 20 mg capsules
Jamesjam
07/24/2024 at 7:41 am
how to buy generic clomid for sale: can i get generic clomid without rx – can you get generic clomid prices
Jamesjam
07/24/2024 at 5:55 pm
cost generic clomid pills: can you get cheap clomid without rx – buying clomid prices
Jamesjam
07/24/2024 at 8:14 pm
buy cheap amoxicillin online: how to get amoxicillin – where to buy amoxicillin