BoxRec

I have a problem with a current advert in the Boxing News.
It's an advert for Steroplast Professional Sports Tape. It seems a suitable product for boxers and trainers to hold the bandages in place before the gloves go on. My issue is with the wording of the advert, " make your fist as hard as a rock and allow you to hit harder".
Anyone involved in boxing knows the bandages are to protect the hands not to make your fist as hard as a rock. That type of thing has landed professional boxers in jail.
Whoever wrote the advert doesn't know what the tape is for, and I'm sure the company don't actually mean to imply that their tape will be used illegally. Although I have in the past seen boxers , probably because they don't know the rules, putting this type of tape OVER the knuckles before the bandages go in.

Can I respectfully suggest that this advert is altered in the future.

So you're not too bothered if the product does allow a boxer to cause more damage, just that it is not being kept on the quiet?

Sklar wrote:So you're not too bothered if the product does allow a boxer to cause more damage, just that it is not being kept on the quiet?

I’ve read that three times and I honestly don’t have a f*cking clue what your question either means or implies.
It seemed a perfectly reasonable and transparent post by the OP.

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

magwitch wrote:

Sklar wrote:So you're not too bothered if the product does allow a boxer to cause more damage, just that it is not being kept on the quiet?

I’ve read that three times and I honestly don’t have a f*cking clue what your question either means or implies.
It seemed a perfectly reasonable and transparent post by the OP.

Changing the wording of an advert wouldn't make any difference to the intentions of the product.

Boxerbeetle

Do you think the wording is appropriate ?

Part of the game unfortunately. When hands are bandaged they are bandaged and taped to be solid. As Ricky Hatton says 'it's not a tickling contest'.... You clench your fist hard and properly it allows you to hit harder! What's the difference?

Having your hands wrapped and taped to a decent standard does make them feel like rocks!

Hand wraps alone make a bit of a difference but I can remember the first time I ever taped my hands I felt as though i could punch through brick walls therefore can only imagine what professionally taped up hands would feel like.

Emmseegee wrote:Having your hands wrapped and taped to a decent standard does make them feel like rocks!

Hand wraps alone make a bit of a difference but I can remember the first time I ever taped my hands I felt as though i could punch through brick walls therefore can only imagine what professionally taped up hands would feel like.

Professionally taped hands are fuckin solid. A couple of guys from my old gym when they turned over noted this as the biggest difference between amateur and pro (that and heads coming together). I've felt them also and I wouldn't fancy a full bloodied dig with em on. I'm daft looking enough

dalcumly wrote:Boxerbeetle

Do you think the wording is appropriate ?

I don't feel strongly either way. It's not objectively wrong.

Stuarty30 wrote:

Emmseegee wrote:Having your hands wrapped and taped to a decent standard does make them feel like rocks!

Hand wraps alone make a bit of a difference but I can remember the first time I ever taped my hands I felt as though i could punch through brick walls therefore can only imagine what professionally taped up hands would feel like.

Professionally taped hands are fuckin solid. A couple of guys from my old gym when they turned over noted this as the biggest difference between amateur and pro (that and heads coming together). I've felt them also and I wouldn't fancy a full bloodied dig with em on. I'm daft looking enough

Solid is right. Before my only pro bout I kept asking my coach if he'd done something to them they felt so solid, so different from am

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

Good point Veriton but knowing how many mags are breaking even (if that) they've got to find ways to get advertisers to back them, even through the back door...and when push comes to shove I want Boxing News to survive and not be arbitarily axed by some exec at Newsquest.

One scenario which bothers me is that Boxing News might be rolled into Fighting Fit; for example 6/8 pages of boxing pushed into Fighting Fit and branded as Boxing News.

Only speculation on my part but it might have been discussed once or twice and I suspect that Fighting Fit gets more of the crucial advertising revenue. Tough times for the famous old title I suspect!

Im quite sure that they have tried many things to make the magazine more popular but its a difficult market these days mainly due to social media as we all know.

It would be good to see Sky, Matchroom etc help promote it too. Could possibly give them exclusives for announcing fights or announce a fight and say that the full card will be announced in next weeks boxing news. I know these kind of things are unlikely as these companies have no reason to help promote other business' but surely getting the 'casual' fans into the magazines and reading about other lower key fighters etc is beneficial for everyone.

Maybe im just talking out my ar£e.

Getting back to the wording in the advert.

Rule 3.22

" Bandages are permitted for the protection of hands. These must be 2 inch wide bandage and i inch zinc oxide plaster. The tape must not be applied over the knuckles "

I just think its wrong for the boxing trade paper to carry an advert which claims that the item being offered makes the fist rock solid.

If I go out tonight and I'm forced to punch somebody as hard as I can on the head with my bare hands I can guarantee I'll break the bones on the back of my hand. ( I've met some bricklayers though who wouldn't break their hands punching a brick wall!!) A good trainer will apply the tape on the hands to keep the small bones behind the knuckles tight and supporting each other. The bandages go on to add extra protection , and surprise, surprise a boxing glove is applied to add even further protection. The emphasis is on protecting the hands NOT creating a knuckleduster.

I think this is all about perception. I 'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill but this type of advert, the threats between boxers , and the face to face mini riots at press conferences , at a time when a boxer has died in the ring within the last few months, is just totally wrong!!

This is BOXING , its NOT MMA , its not cage fighting , its not bare knuckle fighting.

Bodyshot3 wrote:

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

Good point Veriton but knowing how many mags are breaking even (if that) they've got to find ways to get advertisers to back them, even through the back door...and when push comes to shove I want Boxing News to survive and not be arbitarily axed by some exec at Newsquest.

One scenario which bothers me is that Boxing News might be rolled into Fighting Fit; for example 6/8 pages of boxing pushed into Fighting Fit and branded as Boxing News.

Only speculation on my part but it might have been discussed once or twice and I suspect that Fighting Fit gets more of the crucial advertising revenue. Tough times for the famous old title I suspect!

As the final editor of Fighting Fit, please allow me to point out Newsquest stopped publishing it over five years ago.

I wish boxing news would stop posting pictures of boxers without gloves on on the front cover. This week it just has Kell Brook topless posing- with him not having gloves on it looks to the uneducated eye that I am walking about with some kind of gay wank mag.

Bodyshot3 wrote:

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

Good point Veriton but knowing how many mags are breaking even (if that) they've got to find ways to get advertisers to back them, even through the back door...and when push comes to shove I want Boxing News to survive and not be arbitarily axed by some exec at Newsquest.

One scenario which bothers me is that Boxing News might be rolled into Fighting Fit; for example 6/8 pages of boxing pushed into Fighting Fit and branded as Boxing News.

Only speculation on my part but it might have been discussed once or twice and I suspect that Fighting Fit gets more of the crucial advertising revenue. Tough times for the famous old title I suspect!

if they cant sell a boxing magazine when 90,000 are going to watch one heavyweight fight, when we have god knows how many champions and how much tv coverage then there aint a lot of hope for anything in print. but there are good signs for the future. things like private eye are booming, there is a market for high quality mags and other print which is put together by people who know what they are talking about. maybe its also a bit of a backlash against the hyper short attention span that the web encourages.

been a BN reader for many, many years and still love it. must be hard putting it together every week but there is a great mix of content, some better than others, but i always feel like i get my money's worth. they always seem to get the interviews that are relevant at the perfect time, and the respect the magazine clearly has in the game gives access that cant be beaten.

dbflex wrote:

Bodyshot3 wrote:

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

Good point Veriton but knowing how many mags are breaking even (if that) they've got to find ways to get advertisers to back them, even through the back door...and when push comes to shove I want Boxing News to survive and not be arbitarily axed by some exec at Newsquest.

One scenario which bothers me is that Boxing News might be rolled into Fighting Fit; for example 6/8 pages of boxing pushed into Fighting Fit and branded as Boxing News.

Only speculation on my part but it might have been discussed once or twice and I suspect that Fighting Fit gets more of the crucial advertising revenue. Tough times for the famous old title I suspect!

As the final editor of Fighting Fit, please allow me to point out Newsquest stopped publishing it over five years ago.

that would seem to solve that issue then

Supremo wrote:I wish boxing news would stop posting pictures of boxers without gloves on on the front cover. This week it just has Kell Brook topless posing- with him not having gloves on it looks to the uneducated eye that I am walking about with some kind of gay wank mag.

Tell me about it. I just bought one with Yusuf Mack on the front cover topless. Turns out it wasn't boxing news.

veriton wrote:

Bodyshot3 wrote:

They do seem to be carrying a few more pieces that are masquerading as editorial but which must be paid for advertising. Someone was banging on about that tape in one of the interviews the other week and lo and behold there was an advert for it on another page.

Good point Veriton but knowing how many mags are breaking even (if that) they've got to find ways to get advertisers to back them, even through the back door...and when push comes to shove I want Boxing News to survive and not be arbitarily axed by some exec at Newsquest.

One scenario which bothers me is that Boxing News might be rolled into Fighting Fit; for example 6/8 pages of boxing pushed into Fighting Fit and branded as Boxing News.

Only speculation on my part but it might have been discussed once or twice and I suspect that Fighting Fit gets more of the crucial advertising revenue. Tough times for the famous old title I suspect!

if they cant sell a boxing magazine when 90,000 are going to watch one heavyweight fight, when we have god knows how many champions and how much tv coverage then there aint a lot of hope for anything in print. but there are good signs for the future. things like private eye are booming, there is a market for high quality mags and other print which is put together by people who know what they are talking about. maybe its also a bit of a backlash against the hyper short attention span that the web encourages.

been a BN reader for many, many years and still love it. must be hard putting it together every week but there is a great mix of content, some better than others, but i always feel like i get my money's worth. they always seem to get the interviews that are relevant at the perfect time, and the respect the magazine clearly has in the game gives access that cant be beaten.

Well said !. I'm an online subscriber and I look forward to 7pm on Tuesday's, when its ready to download. Also, although I'm not against MMA, I wouldn't want it my Boxing news !