Matt Christie leaves Boxing News

[olij999]

Get rid of full-page photos or nearly-full-page photos. Using the 22 May issue as an example (simply because I've got it to hand), there are 48 pages inside the covers. Deduct the one-and a quarter pages of ads leaves 46 and three quarters. On a rough run through, counting up quarters, half pages, the odd full page, adding small photos together, there are 24 pages of photos. So for a 48-page mag (52 with the covers), I'm getting less than 23 pages of written content. That doesn't feel like the right balance. You could cut the 48 pages to 32 or 36, save plenty on paper and ink, and still have the same level of content.

Get reporters to score every major fight that they report on, round by round (and know how the scoring system works - none of the "automatic 10-8 round" stuff), rather than fudge it or say nothing. When BN was at its best, its view of who had won or lost a close fight, and how BN scored it (particularly in the Harry Mullan / Bob Mee / Tim Mo days), really mattered. It's irrelevant these days that there might be a zillion reports on the net of a recent fight - an authoritative report by a journalist who knows their stuff will still stand out from that and people will still pay for that.

[Coco]

Definitely big glossy photos are a no no, unless you are catering to the casual.

Written content is what is wanted.

Detailed previews/ predictions for the big fights, Claude Abrams had a real talent for that.

[MightyWarrior]

Well the first and most important thing you should be looking to do is go with a completely independent tough journalistic take on the boxing scene - calling out the promoters and managers on their shenanigans, rip-off matchmaking, cynical political manoeuvring, dodgy world title shots and ratings, inept referees, conflicts of interests - type of stuff that will see you banned from all boxing shows by the offending promoters, so your coverage of boxing would be from the TV, and so be it. It’s worth it.

And someone with a critical eye over the TV commentators that are used, who are really company shills for the promoters who pay them - boxing fans shouldn’t have to put up with this crap dressed up
as unbiased commentary. Make it funny too, why not.

None of this laughably inept tiptoeing around the issues, and cow towing that we currently see from the plummeting boxing news, and ifilm and all the rest of the kiss asses, whose number one priority is making sure they’re ringside tickets keep coming.

In-depth world-class previews by Graham Houston and going from memory, I think Mark Butchers pretty good for the UK scene. Jon Evans is good too, for profiles and serious interviews. Tom Gerbasi is great.

[TheGoods]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

[SeanBrennan]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

Jesus thought he owned it - anyone know the details?

[JamesPhilips]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

Is boxing news gonna close? Seems a right mess now. Unknown writers and seems disorganised

[veriton]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

Is boxing news gonna close? Seems a right mess now. Unknown writers and seems disorganised

I think it's really strong at the moment, they have sorted out the previews and have plenty of weight in the articles. But if Tebbutt is gone then who knows what is coming. Houston steering the ship is welcome, but he's at the tail end of his career and it can't be an easy job even for a young man. I'd hate to see it fold and it must still make money

[Glass Joe]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

Is boxing news gonna close? Seems a right mess now. Unknown writers and seems disorganised

Maybe turki will buy it.

If john is reading this thread has anyone offered to buy boxrec? Would you ever sell it

[Flump]

Tebbutt leaving BN and iD Sports Media as of today! Bit of a shock that.

Is boxing news gonna close? Seems a right mess now. Unknown writers and seems disorganised

I think it's really strong at the moment, they have sorted out the previews and have plenty of weight in the articles. But if Tebbutt is gone then who knows what is coming. Houston steering the ship is welcome, but he's at the tail end of his career and it can't be an easy job even for a young man. I'd hate to see it fold and it must still make money

It has been in good shape these past several weeks. But there's lots of turmoil there atm clearly.

[veriton]

Maybe Danny Flexen knows something.....he was on here recently cadging ideas for a page plan!

I'd be up for a crack at it, dont know where to send my cv though...

[garethhop]

Been a disaster since Matt left.

[Rezzer1967]

It depends what you want. Under Matt Christie things became a bit more bite size and more current which I liked. I don’t mind a long article but it’s nothing but long articles now and it’s 2025 and peoples attention spans are shorter. For me, Houston might be an excellent writer but he’s incredibly old school and probably a bit out of touch with the modern ways of attracting a readership. I read it on my iPad now. I don’t really want 6 pages on Edgar Berlanga or some guy who retired in 1991. If it’s just a run through of their career I can get that off Wikipedia.

[SeanBrennan]

Well the first and most important thing you should be looking to do is go with a completely independent tough journalistic take on the boxing scene - calling out the promoters and managers on their shenanigans, rip-off matchmaking, cynical political manoeuvring, dodgy world title shots and ratings, inept referees, conflicts of interests - type of stuff that will see you banned from all boxing shows by the offending promoters, so your coverage of boxing would be from the TV, and so be it. It’s worth it.

And someone with a critical eye over the TV commentators that are used, who are really company shills for the promoters who pay them - boxing fans shouldn’t have to put up with this crap dressed up
as unbiased commentary. Make it funny too, why not.

None of this laughably inept tiptoeing around the issues, and cow towing that we currently see from the plummeting boxing news, and ifilm and all the rest of the kiss asses, whose number one priority is making sure they’re ringside tickets keep coming.

In-depth world-class previews by Graham Houston and going from memory, I think Mark Butchers pretty good for the UK scene. Jon Evans is good too, for profiles and serious interviews. Tom Gerbasi is great.

Totally agree, I bet their ad revenue would be a fiver though if they did. It must be a total ballache running any magazine these days

[SeanBrennan]

60 votes in that poll and I've had feedback from maybe 8 of you... don't make me go full Delia Smith.

Jokes aside, please help me out.

Is this Danny Flexen?

Miles Temperton’s writings are always brilliant so I’d definitely like to see him featured

[Deserter]

Matt Christie's away this week but I'm listening to The Opening Bell's breakdown of the Usyk fight and have to say that Barry Jones is next level good. So many insights and knowledge bombs. Does he show up on any podcasts regularly?

[veriton]

He's on Bunce's BBC ond quite regularly.

On the BN front, I think my sub has run out as I didn't get last week's edition. I rang up and it was a Filipino call centre who had no idea how to help. Even under Kelsey you got through to someone who could assist.

It's also gone up from 120 to 150 a year, which is pretty steep. Apparently that's for print and digital but I have zero interest in anything they do online.

[mickey1975]

I told them I'd moved and got no reply so cancelled my direct debit.

[Deserter]

Sounds like it's dangerously close to the publishing equivalent of a distressed asset. Wouldn't be surprised to see Turki/The Ring swoop in to bring it into the stable, as still equity in the brand and positioning is distinct enough.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Matt Christie's away this week but I'm listening to The Opening Bell's breakdown of the Usyk fight and have to say that Barry Jones is next level good. So many insights and knowledge bombs. Does he show up on any podcasts regularly?

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1526653062

He's on this one in virtually every episode

[Taansend]

Normally people give two weeks notice.

[Boxerbeetle]

Matt Christie's away this week but I'm listening to The Opening Bell's breakdown of the Usyk fight and have to say that Barry Jones is next level good. So many insights and knowledge bombs. Does he show up on any podcasts regularly?

Yeah he’s brilliant. One of the very few pundits who can actually analyse fights in-depth, rather than just the basic ‘say what you see’ that we get from the rest.

[Deserter]

He's on Bunce's BBC ond quite regularly.

Thanks mate. I enjoy Bunce's writing, but have always found him too much in other mediums. May be a bridge too far :)

[Deserter]

Matt Christie's away this week but I'm listening to The Opening Bell's breakdown of the Usyk fight and have to say that Barry Jones is next level good. So many insights and knowledge bombs. Does he show up on any podcasts regularly?

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t ... 1526653062

He's on this one in virtually every episode

Thanks for the heads-up mate, will definitely check this out.

[Deserter]

Matt Christie's away this week but I'm listening to The Opening Bell's breakdown of the Usyk fight and have to say that Barry Jones is next level good. So many insights and knowledge bombs. Does he show up on any podcasts regularly?

Yeah he’s brilliant. One of the very few pundits who can actually analyse fights in-depth, rather than just the basic ‘say what you see’ that we get from the rest.

This. You've absolutely nailed it.

[veriton]

He's on Bunce's BBC ond quite regularly.

Thanks mate. I enjoy Bunce's writing, but have always found him too much in other mediums. May be a bridge too far :)

I get what you mean, but he does know his onions even if he can be irritating at times. Jones calls out his nonsense to keep him honest, which is good to hear. Bunce definitely needs someone reigning him in or he can't help himself. However, Jones isn't on every pod though so be careful!