Journalists & The internet

[jimmystone]

What about Kugan and his little mate cry baby ,, does'nt anyone rate them

They might not be rated but they are the most influential.

[Riddick Bowie]

I'll put my cards firmly on the table, as while I'll always hold the likes of Harry Mullan and Hugh Mcllvanney in huge regard, I think it's easy to overlook the fact we genuinely have some modern greats operating right now.

Matt Christie has already cemented his legacy as the best editor in Boxing News' history whatever happens from here iMO.

Tris Dixon is another who has built a phenomenal body of work that constitutes 'hall of fame' territory.

Steve Bunce... don't think I've ever been more conflicted over someone. Comes across terribly as a person, but as a writer I love his pieces in BN, the latest on the Haringey Box Cup being a perfect example. He clearly loves boxing and has wonderful knowledge and experience, but then presses the self-destruct button by being so needlessly thin-skinned, arrogant and condescending. So admire him greatly as a journo, less so as a man.

Terry Dooley (AKA he who should not be named) - The Julian Assange of Boxrec! Great writer who was always a great contributor on here. It's a poorer place without him and I still don't understand why he's not been allowed back.

Donald McRae - Consistently excellent IMO.

Honorable mentions - John Dennen, Elliot Worsell.

If you think those names are great writers you should consider reading more widely.

Thanks for the patronising comment but I'm perfectly comfortable with those names and my own capacity to judge them.
In terms of your own accuracy you need to consider reading the question again, which clearly referred to them as journalists rather than writers. Unless, of course, you don't understand the distinction.

A journalist is a writer. Hence why you called Terry Dooley a "great writer".

[Deserter]

If you think those names are great writers you should consider reading more widely.

Thanks for the patronising comment but I'm perfectly comfortable with those names and my own capacity to judge them.
In terms of your own accuracy you need to consider reading the question again, which clearly referred to them as journalists rather than writers. Unless, of course, you don't understand the distinction.

A journalist is a writer. Hence why you called Terry Dooley a "great writer".

OK, there's clearly a personal agenda here regarding your feelings for Terry, so I'll steer clear of that. Just for the record though, a journalist is not necessarily a writer - there are other mediums, be it TV, radio or podcasts, where there are good journalists operating who aren't writers.
I've also worked with plenty of great journalists in the past who weren't necessarily great writers. There are other vital skills involved in journalism and let's not forget that editors are frequently in place to sharpen the actual copy.
If you want to talk purely about great writers in the sphere of boxing then Hugh Mcilvanney stands supreme IMO.

[Spud]

What about Kugan and his little mate cry baby ,, does'nt anyone rate them

They might not be rated but they are the most influential.

Fair play to Kugan, he has made his money and worked damn hard.

However in my opinion I think he has turned into an arrogant ****.

Also in my he beats any rivals doing a similar job due to having more favourable access.

[steve689]

Terry D is an interesting case because we all watched his rise through this Forum and writing for the old BBN, while developing into a journalist.

There are some good online writers out there and shout out to the ones who help out and gave people a leg up back in the day.

Ian McNeilly for one. Not sure if he still posts on here? Was the editor when "BoxRec News" started. Helped me out a lot with little tips and advice.

Danny Flexen too. Helped get me into Boxing News back in the day and is a good writer, no matter what you say about his off beat personality!

[Deserter]

Ian McNeilly for one. Not sure if he still posts on here? Was the editor when "BoxRec News" started. Helped me out a lot with little tips and advice.

Yeh, Ian always came across as a great guy. Would be great to have him posting on here again.

[JamesPhilips]

Gareth A Davies should write for the Sunday Sport after saying Ebanie Bridges is the female Muhammad Ali…..

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

[maverick23]

Gareth A Davies should write for the Sunday Sport after saying Ebanie Bridges is the female Muhammad Ali…..

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

I loved Boxing Monthly. Up until they closed my folks used to get me a 12 month sub every year for Christmas. I must have had it 20 years from them. Leach’s articles were usually great. I forget the name of the guy who did them but their book reviews were randomly always a good read.

[olij999]

Gareth A Davies should write for the Sunday Sport after saying Ebanie Bridges is the female Muhammad Ali…..

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

I loved Boxing Monthly. Up until they closed my folks used to get me a 12 month sub every year for Christmas. I must have had it 20 years from them. Leach’s articles were usually great. I forget the name of the guy who did them but their book reviews were randomly always a good read.

John Exshaw did the book reviews. They were a highlight for me.

[JamesPhilips]

Gareth A Davies should write for the Sunday Sport after saying Ebanie Bridges is the female Muhammad Ali…..

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

I loved Boxing Monthly. Up until they closed my folks used to get me a 12 month sub every year for Christmas. I must have had it 20 years from them. Leach’s articles were usually great. I forget the name of the guy who did them but their book reviews were randomly always a good read.

John Exshaw did the book reviews. They were a highlight for me.

Yeah they were the first thing I read! Lol he didn’t hold back

[Nightmare Roy]

Spud always has to let people know that he knows something they don't.

Tedious character.

did he work in boxing at some point?

[Spud]

Danny Flexen too. Helped get me into Boxing News back in the day

What happened to Claude Abrams. A thoroughly decent bloke.

[Glass Joe]

Danny Flexen too. Helped get me into Boxing News back in the day

What happened to Claude Abrams. A thoroughly decent bloke.

He did say on boxing life stories, but cant remember it now

[Gnome]

Gareth A Davies should write for the Sunday Sport after saying Ebanie Bridges is the female Muhammad Ali…..

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

I loved Boxing Monthly. Up until they closed my folks used to get me a 12 month sub every year for Christmas. I must have had it 20 years from them. Leach’s articles were usually great. I forget the name of the guy who did them but their book reviews were randomly always a good read.

John Exshaw did the book reviews. They were a highlight for me.

Oh man, I remember them. Absolutely scathing. I wish he had reviewed that book that has its own thread here, forget the boxer's name. Black israelite bloke. Imagine that review.

[Wake up call]

Going back to Spud's original point regarding print journalists not liking online ones at press conference, I certainly remember when I started writing about boxing back in 2006 there was definitely a lot of snobbery against the websites.

I do feel that much has changed now though. Back in the day even the small shows would have five or six people sitting at ringside writing about the fights. Now when I go to shows there's maybe one or two and they are usually whoever is covering for boxing news and maybe someone from the local rag (and that's becoming increasingly rare).

The print guys can't be snobbish about online writers anyway for two reasons 1) there are hardly any online writers around now and 2) most of the print guys have been forced into online articles themselves because of they way media has changed.

I may be wrong, but it seems to me that that a lot of people who would have entered boxing media in a written capacity have instead turned their attention to video content.

[Frostieballs]

I had a slightly different experience to most online boxing journalists, possibly because we were the first to attend shows regularly when we launched BritishBoxing.com.

We literally went to every noteworthy show and press conference, travelling up and down the country.

The vast majority of traditional boxing journalists, who also attended every event, were very inclusive and we often shared lifts/stories/content. Some even gave us free articles.

Every now and then we were teased as anoraks/fans, but more of that came from the promoters - although in general they were also very supportive.

I think things changed when after a couple of years, a flood of part time online journalists appeared. Many in the sport had the opinion that they were just in it for the free tickets, to have access to fighters they were fans of and were dragging the quality of writing down.

In some cases that was a fair assessment, but there were a number who came through that were talented and dedicated enough to still be known today.

[steve689]

Danny Flexen too. Helped get me into Boxing News back in the day

What happened to Claude Abrams. A thoroughly decent bloke.

He was just leaving when I started and Tris took over, then Matt.

I believe Claude was in to veganism, eco living and stuff and ended up travelling the world with his family. There's a blog put there somewhere, or at least there was last time I checked.

[jimmystone]

Claude owns a gym in Chichester now. He did that travelling thing, you are right, maybe ten years or so ago. His gym does crossfit and similar.

[jimmystone]

I used to like Glyn Leach. Boxing Monthly had some decent writers.

Glyn was a really nice fellow. A lot on here were very sad when he died. He was a good poster and, obviously a good writer too.

[rob h]

Must have missed that, why was Terry Dooley banned?

[Deserter]

Must have missed that, why was Terry Dooley banned?

Think there are a lot of us who would love an answer to that question....

[brilo33]

have to say i dont read any journalists opions not because i dont rescpect them just i dont wish to be swayed of my opion, i used to read tris dixion, he was alright

[TheGoods]

Hugh Mcilvanney was the best ever to do it. A fierce intellect. Patrick Collins was another old school great. Both could buy and sell Colin Hart who just didn’t have the style or vocabulary to be in their class.

Hauser is OK. I really like McCrae. Gareth A Davies is a clown and very limited as a writer. Bunce has his moments but “Let’s have it right” is a walking cliche - “bingo”.

The most impressive young writer of them all who (I fear has been lost to the sport) was a kid called Oliver Goldstein. Wow that boy could write but I think he’s no longer active (possibly walked away after Bellew v Cleverly 2 was announced as PPV).

[margaret thatcher]

hauser does some pretty deep investigating, his stuff on peds and drug testing is very interesting. does not shine a good light on usada's boxing testing lol

[gerryd77]

Hugh Mcilvanney was the best ever to do it. A fierce intellect. Patrick Collins was another old school great. Both could buy and sell Colin Hart who just didn’t have the style or vocabulary to be in their class.

Hauser is OK. I really like McCrae. Gareth A Davies is a clown and very limited as a writer. Bunce has his moments but “Let’s have it right” is a walking cliche - “bingo”.

The most impressive young writer of them all who (I fear has been lost to the sport) was a kid called Oliver Goldstein. Wow that boy could write but I think he’s no longer active (possibly walked away after Bellew v Cleverly 2 was announced as PPV).

According to his LinkedIn he has 2 degrees and a phd from Cambridge and is about to become a barrister.