By George Gigney
Social Media
SHAKUR STEVENSON is a good fighter. In reality, you would argue he’s a very good fighter. Now a titlist in three divisions, the unbeaten American is really one of the achieved practitioners within the sport as we speak. But he’s creating a dreadful public image. In his most up-to-date outing the 26-year-old soundly beat Edwin De Los Santos in what was one of the unfavorable profitable performances in current reminiscence. It was really boring.
That, clearly, isn’t nice for a fighter who desires to change into a celebrity. For as a lot as he may shut opponents down, Floyd Mayweather would nonetheless be entertaining, notably in his 20s when he was way more aggressive. So, sure, Stevenson may do with injecting his performances with some extra urgency – actually when he’s clearly ranges above the opponent, as was the case with De Los Santos.
But a change in fashion can take time. What Stevenson can alter within the short-term is how he comes throughout to and interacts with followers and the broader boxing following. Since his win over De Los Santos, Shakur has come below fireplace from all corners for his efficiency, with critics labelling him a boring fighter. And Stevenson simply retains biting. Whether it’s responding to followers or different fighters, he has repeatedly taken offence to what is being mentioned and been fairly vitriolic in what he’s mentioned on numerous social media platforms. Most of his responses have since been deleted.
He posted on-line railing in opposition to individuals who, in keeping with him, don’t know something about boxing earlier than then additionally posting screenshots of personal messages he had despatched individuals claiming that he was injured heading into the De Los Santos battle. This is all after he had mentioned, within the ring after the battle, that he had “no excuses” for his efficiency. He additionally, for some cause, despatched Bill Haney – father and coach of Devin Haney – a video of himself sparring Liam Paro. Haney then posted this video on-line himself, positing that Stevenson was making an attempt to intimidate him by sending it.
It’s all simply actually lame. Building a narrative towards a battle (on this case Haney-Stevenson) is one factor, however mudslinging with personal messages and cryptic tweets is a bit unhappy.
Stevenson has each proper to be aggravated at among the criticism he’s acquired. After all, he’s profitable his fights and has even moved up in weight to win ‘world’ titles. But he doesn’t must lash out so petulantly when individuals do criticise him. For one, he ought to at the very least think about taking among the feedback on board. When your paying viewers is complaining about what you’re offering, you’re greater than possible going to lose these clients should you don’t change something.
It could possibly be so simple as somebody round him simply chiming in from time to time to say, “hey, maybe don’t tweet that.” If you have a look at social media and boards, Stevenson’s posts and responses are turning followers away. When Mayweather was energetic, individuals have been determined to see him crushed and humbled within the ring. For now, with Stevenson, many boxing followers merely aren’t concerned with watching and that is a huge drawback for him.
Broadcasts
Katie Taylor cemented her place as an Irish sporting icon on Saturday night time when she gained revenge over Chantelle Cameron in Dublin. The battle was happening amid a backdrop of rioting and violence within the Irish capital that took place after a knife assault left 5 individuals injured, together with three youngsters. The breathtaking essential occasion, and the outcome, supplied at the very least some reduction from the darkish information for each the town and nation. DAZN did a nice job of protecting the fights whereas nonetheless acknowledging the broader context. Your mileage might range on how properly they lined potential controversies, such because the slip/knockdown within the Taylor-Cameron battle and a few shut scores elsewhere on the cardboard, however general it was a terrific present.
What was disappointing to see was some journalists’ line of questioning after the battle. During the post-fight press convention, promoter Eddie Hearn was requested – not for the primary time – about Conor McGregor’s tweets that referenced the knife assault and subsequent riots in Dublin, by which he mentioned Ireland is “at war.” Hearn shut the query down, insisting that he would reply it after the press convention, and that it was not the time nor the place to ask it. You can perceive his frustration: Taylor had simply achieved an unimaginable feat. Plus he had already been requested, quite a few instances, about McGregor’s feedback. As Hearn identified, he has no direct affiliation with McGregor – the one hyperlink was that one of many Irishman’s firms was sponsoring Saturday night time’s present.
The query itself isn’t fully irrelevant, nonetheless, it simply may have been dealt with higher by these asking it. McGregor has been an avid supporter of Taylor for a whereas, so in search of remark from her promoter about it does make some sense, however maybe not on the post-fight presser.
We additionally obtained affirmation that the large December 23 present in Saudi Arabia, that includes Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder dealing with Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively, will air on DAZN PPV within the UK and the US. Fans within the States will definitely be happy to see it priced fairly at $39.99 whereas within the UK it’ll set you again £19.99. The announcement states that the present can even be “available on a range of domestic broadcasters in key markets.” Could this embrace TNT Sports right here within the UK? Frank Warren, who has a partnership with the broadcaster, is concerned with the occasion in spite of everything. A three way partnership between DAZN and TNT may proceed to pave the best way for extra unity sooner or later.
Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin (Getty Images)
Boxing on the Box
December 1
Nathan Gorman-Bohdan Myronets
Channel 5
Coverage begins at 10pm
Gavin Gwynne-Emiliano Marsili
TNT Sports 2
Coverage begins at 7pm
December 2
Michael Conlan-Jordan Gill
DAZN
Coverage begins at 7pm
Kevin Lele Sadjo-Giovanni De Carolis
DAZN
Coverage begins at 7pm
December 3
Ryan Garcia-Oscar Duarte
DAZN
Coverage begins at 1am
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