Boxing is one of the toughest, most demanding sports on the planet — but you wouldn’t always know that if you tuned into some of the modern press conferences. What used to be a chance for fighters to size each other up and talk shop has slowly morphed into something closer to Love Island meets WWE. Theatrics. Fake beef. Awkward shouting matches. And, of course, someone throwing a bottle of water like it’s the most original thing in the world.
So the question is: has boxing press conference hype gone too far?
From Hype to Hysteria
Let’s be honest — there’s nothing wrong with a bit of needle. A good back-and-forth, some psychological warfare, and a few sharp one-liners have always been part of the sport’s tradition. Think Muhammad Ali winding up Sonny Liston or Eubank and Benn’s simmering tension. But today? We’ve got TikTok boxers turning up in superhero outfits, choreographed scuffles that magically break out just as the cameras start rolling, and the same tired insults dusted off for every fight.
It’s not promotion anymore — it’s parody.
Even some of the sport’s top promoters, like Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, have started rolling their eyes when these sideshows get out of hand. And when the veterans of the game start calling it out, you know it’s not just us fans groaning.
Fighters or Performers?
Here’s the thing — we all get that boxing is a business. Fighters need to sell fights. Broadcasters want numbers. But at what cost? When a press conference becomes more about costume choices and scripted outrage than it does about the actual match-up, something’s gone wrong.
Take a look at recent build-ups for crossover fights and YouTube cards. Half the time, you can’t tell whether it’s a fight announcement or the pilot for a new reality show. And even among the pros, the line between genuine tension and pantomime is getting thinner by the week.
No wonder casual fans struggle to take the sport seriously sometimes. And no wonder hardcore fans are getting fed up.
Respect the Fight, Not Just the Hype
Some fighters still do it right. They turn up, speak honestly, show some fire — but never lose sight of the fact that they’re representing one of the world’s most brutal sports. They don’t need to throw chairs or fake a meltdown to sell tickets. Their resumes, personalities, and commitment to the craft do that for them.
Terence Crawford. Naoya Inoue. Katie Taylor. All elite fighters. All business when it counts. And their pressers are watchable precisely because they don’t try so hard to go viral.
Time for a Reset?
Boxing doesn’t need to become boring to reclaim some dignity. It just needs to stop trying to be something it’s not. The best fights sell themselves — with skill, rivalry, and narrative. Not bad acting and recycled insults.
There’s still a place for mind games and a bit of spice. But let it be real. Because when the build-up looks faker than a reality TV reunion, it damages the sport more than it helps it.
Your Corner:
Do you reckon boxing press conferences have become a joke? Or do you enjoy the chaos? Drop a comment, share this post with your mates, and head over to CMBoxing.co.uk for more no-nonsense boxing content — we keep it real, even when the fighters don’t.