Getting into boxing writing (can't find the thread on this!)

[chad]

I started my fightscorecollector blog - http://fightscorecollector.blogspot.com by going around all the boxing sites asking if I can post my work on the forum. I contacted the mods etc and was told their rules etc.

Twitter was also very important as you link your site and articles to all the boxing writers and sites.

E-mailing writers also is a great idea as they can give you hints and tips about your writing, I have had some great help here.

IF you have specific idea on boxing then go for it. I have always loved scoring fights so that's what I went for. I started collecting fan and press scores from all the boxing sites and on twitter. It took ages but you have to put in the time.

After 2years of doing my site I was luckily picked up by the boxing news mag asking if I would send them my work which was to be exclusive for their site. I couldnt knock it back as the exposure would be huge. I still get to pick what fight I cover weekly and have also picked up covering whole shows up here in Scotland as I already did that for my sites and a few others.

I now have a weekly article on the boxing news website. The guys at BN have been a great help.


Promote your writing as much as possible but ask mods etc if you can do it. On boxrec I had to wait a while as they were not sure of my site as it could be spam. Luckily I had done some smaller articles for Ian mcneilly who put in a word for me. I am allowed 2links to my work a week. Stick to their rules and you will be fine mate but get on social media and check for any website that will post your stuff.

Good luck - fightscorecollector

When I saw this thread I thought of your success straight away. Must be like a dream come true. The hard work has really paid off.

Nothing but best wishes Dookus, keep plugging away and something is bound to turn up.

I recently started a Twitter feed on the History Of Boxing. My Twitter address is just below my name (shameless plug ). I love boxing, love boxing facts and love chatting about boxing. My Dad used to go to boxing all the time, and had tons of old boxing mags. He's a real fountain of knowledge and got me interested in the history of the sport from a young age. I decided to share my passion with others. Not sure where it will lead, but if it's just chatting with like minded people who like a blast from the past then I'll be happy.

P.S. BoxRec as a resource is simply incredible. The best boxing site on the web bar none!

[thewarcap]

Hullo all, merry christmas!

One of my New Year's plans, spurred not least in part by the realisation that at the age of 30 I have precisely no articles to my name on the subject of the sport I love, is to start writing about boxing online.

What is the path people take these days to write for boxing sites? Do people with blogs get 'discovered'? Do you shotgun your articles at boxing websites in the hope one of them gives you an assignment? Given that I can't really be a journalist in the traditional fact-finding interviewing sense (having started as a trainee lawyer,most of my time and mental energy is permanently accounted for) I would have to be a writer rather than reporter.

I remember there being a thread on this before (can't seem to track it down) - perhaps if someone remembers what that was called I could look in there for more tips. All help welcome!

The best thing for you to do is write, write, write and write again. Unless you're a natural talent like a Dooley or a Goldstein you've got to write the shit out of your system. I would always advise against writing about a Mayweather or any other A-lister unless you have a unique angle. Get out there and earn your stripes. The better stories can come from those that or busting their balls to climb the ladder.

Never be afraid to speak your mind but don't be a prick about it. Always try and get both sides of the story (believe me!)

Contact the websites, create a blog etc and above everything else proof every single thing you write. Best piece of advice I ever got was "Make sure you give every sentence at least an 8/10".

If you want to do it and you want to make an impact then a hard work ethic is another thing. Job and family or not you'll put the hours in (and there's thousands of them) if you want to do it.

I've been doing it for almost six years and my route has went as follows: Fightbeat, Eastside Boxing, Boxing News Online (and print), Boxing Scene, Live Fight, Boxing Monthly and ESPN with contributions to Seconds Out, Ring and some newspapers.

Write, write, write and write again. I know I've said that but get it into your head.

There's a lot of good web guys out there and a lot of good print ones but a previous poster was right. Too many 'writers' just wanting a press pass and turn out a piece when they feel like it. I'm hardly at fights these days because I've got a young family and I'm out of full-time work. I did over a 100 this year and I'm somewhat disappointed.

Good luck, and if you decide to go for it, welcome to the mad house.


Shaun Brown

[Spud]

Promoters are getting very wise to the boxing sites who are reputable and the ones who will get credentials to shows - you can count on one hand with some fingers missing who do.

What is amusing is when there is a media day or conference ... it normally goes like this for order of people when they can do interviews:

TV broadcaster showing the fight.
Dailys
Sundays
TV
Other papers
Websites

Sometimes and I have to say its been out of order of me to do so but I amuse myself by letting all the written pile in together ... you should see the tantrums and attitude from 2 particular newspapers when it happens.

If you are serious about getting into writing for a website you will not get the perks that were blagged a few years back and you will find it a tadge frustrating because trying to get your work noticed is god damn hard.

[fightscorecollector]

Thanks for everyones comments on my site.....this is how i came to my idea. I love writing about boxing but scoring has always been a big interest. To me, watching a fight means you have to score it. Also i love stats lol.

I took my idea from a part of this very site (boxrec) and from the old boxing illustrated that has a very small summary of a fight then put up the judges scorecards. The boxrec bit is in the fighters record eg: pac vs jmm where there are a small list of press scores listed in the report page of the bout.

Add that to adding my own report, my full scorecard, the fans and press scores THEN you have my idea.


At first i was doing at mist 12 fights a month, but that was to get the site noticed. Now im down to between 4-6 a month unless im at a show doing a full report.

Thats another thing i try and do. The under card doesnt get much of a feature on site reports etc. I always do a fight report for every fight then tweet the fighters , promoters , managers the reports and also put them on all the sites. I get great great feedback from this as these guys are the fighters of the future.

If the OP wants a list of the sites i post in, i will list them on here or if he wants a pm??? Also just check who i follow as most of the writers, promoters, managers etc are on there @thefightscore


Thanks again guys, your comments are much appreciated. (Thanks to the mods at boxrec too as i do regard this site as the best boxing site on the net)

[fightscorecollector]

Promoters are getting very wise to the boxing sites who are reputable and the ones who will get credentials to shows - you can count on one hand with some fingers missing who do.

What is amusing is when there is a media day or conference ... it normally goes like this for order of people when they can do interviews:

TV broadcaster showing the fight.
Dailys
Sundays
TV
Other papers
Websites

Sometimes and I have to say its been out of order of me to do so but I amuse myself by letting all the written pile in together ... you should see the tantrums and attitude from 2 particular newspapers when it happens.

If you are serious about getting into writing for a website you will not get the perks that were blagged a few years back and you will find it a tadge frustrating because trying to get your work noticed is god damn hard.

spud , what promotional outfit do you work for??

[pnejon]

Dookus - another good way of getting published is having original ideas (sounds obvious!) - that can turn into regular columns, Editors like that sort of thing.

Like here on boxrec You have Eric Armit's brilliant round ups etc... Frankie Monkhouse does a betting column and I do all the 'Debutant Watch' interviews.

[lefty]

Promoters are getting very wise to the boxing sites who are reputable and the ones who will get credentials to shows - you can count on one hand with some fingers missing who do.

What is amusing is when there is a media day or conference ... it normally goes like this for order of people when they can do interviews:

TV broadcaster showing the fight.
Dailys
Sundays
TV
Other papers
Websites

Sometimes and I have to say its been out of order of me to do so but I amuse myself by letting all the written pile in together ... you should see the tantrums and attitude from 2 particular newspapers when it happens.

If you are serious about getting into writing for a website you will not get the perks that were blagged a few years back and you will find it a tadge frustrating because trying to get your work noticed is god damn hard.

What sort of perks are we talking mate? Ps, I bet Gareth A Davies can be a pain in the ass aswell!

[slapbangwhallop]

I've gone from just posting on forums and doing a bit of writing for a website to managing fighters and promoting a show in the space of four years.

It's been a roller coaster. My advice would be to contact Terry Dooley at BS about doing a few pieces for them. Focus on your local scene first. Make your presence felt in local gyms and build relationship. Help small scale boxers out with a few interviews in the run up to fights and you can build in that.

[lefty]

I've gone from just posting on forums and doing a bit of writing for a website to managing fighters and promoting a show in the space of four years.

It's been a roller coaster. My advice would be to contact Terry Dooley at BS about doing a few pieces for them. Focus on your local scene first. Make your presence felt in local gyms and build relationship. Help small scale boxers out with a few interviews in the run up to fights and you can build in that.

How did you manage to do that mate? Im guessing you have other businesses, etc to supplement it so to speak.

[lefty]

I've gone from just posting on forums and doing a bit of writing for a website to managing fighters and promoting a show in the space of four years.

It's been a roller coaster. My advice would be to contact Terry Dooley at BS about doing a few pieces for them. Focus on your local scene first. Make your presence felt in local gyms and build relationship. Help small scale boxers out with a few interviews in the run up to fights and you can build in that.

How did you manage to do that mate? Im guessing you have other businesses, etc to supplement it so to speak.

He's an international gigolo.

If you can do it

[Lightsoot]

Sometimes and I have to say its been out of order of me to do so but I amuse myself by letting all the written pile in together ... you should see the tantrums and attitude from 2 particular newspapers when it happens.

If you are serious about getting into writing for a website you will not get the perks that were blagged a few years back and you will find it a tadge frustrating because trying to get your work noticed is god damn hard.

I've kicked off over this type of thing. Spud put me in with the print guys on a few occasions. It was a disgrace, they stank of ink, dry cleaning chemicals and fennel. They were almost, to a man, men.

It's not on.

As for the other bit, it's all about hard work. Few are prepared to put 3-5 a week as, which is what I did and so Ian McNeilly, Shaun etc., so doing one bit every so often won't cut the mustard, no matter how good it is. 3-4 decent sex sessions per week are better than one quality one per month. If you can manage 3-4 quality ones per week then you're in with a chance, just remember to make sure she's awake and rubber up.

he'll carve a smashing career out of it, I hope.

I've got a career, Ben, as I'm a qualified professional in my "day" job. I just do the boxing thing as a bit of a piss about.

What 'career' allows you to toss off hours on end to devote to editing the 'UK Scene and consistently and frequently writing articles to such a high standard, Terry? I'm intrigued. I wouldn't mind that career if its quids in.