If you’ve been following CMBoxing for any length of time, you’ll know that I’m not exactly a fan of influencer boxing, crossover boxing or Misfits Boxing.
That’s hardly a secret.
I’ve written numerous articles on the subject over the years, so if you’re interested, feel free to dig through the archive. You’ll find that my opinion hasn’t changed very much.
And Tommy Fury versus Eddie Hall certainly hasn’t changed it.
I’ve already covered the fight itself here:
A professional boxer beat a retired World’s Strongest Man. That was always the most likely outcome.
What interests me far more is what this fight says about the direction of boxing itself.
Because if a never-was professional boxer against a retired strongman can headline an event and generate more headlines than world title fights, how much further does boxing have to fall before the line between sport and spectacle disappears altogether?
Misfits Boxing Isn’t The Problem
Before people accuse me of picking on Misfits Boxing, let me make something clear.
Misfits Boxing isn’t really the problem.
They’re simply doing what any business would do.
They’re giving people what they want.
Big personalities.
Social media stars.
Controversy.
Spectacle.
And from a business perspective, fair play to them.
No, my issue lies elsewhere.
Because Misfits Boxing can only exist in its current form because boxing itself allows it to.
Boxing Loves Talking About Integrity
One thing boxing absolutely loves talking about is integrity.
The governing bodies talk about protecting the sport.
The sanctioning bodies talk about maintaining standards.
Promoters talk about legacy and greatness.
But let’s stop pretending.
Modern boxing isn’t run on integrity.
It’s run on money.
If something sells, boxing embraces it.
If controversy creates clicks, boxing promotes it.
If celebrity fights bring in viewers, boxing sanctions them.
And that’s dangerous.
Because unlike football or golf, this isn’t a sport you can simply play.
You can play tennis.
You can play darts.
You can play cricket.
You cannot play boxing.
People get hurt.
People suffer life-changing injuries.
People die.
That’s why standards matter.
Or at least they’re supposed to.
What Exactly Are Governing Bodies Protecting?
This is the question I keep coming back to.
What’s the point of having commissions, governing bodies and sanctioning organisations if they’re willing to approve almost anything?
You can call it a Misfits event.
You can market it differently.
But if the fight receives official approval, then boxing itself is putting its stamp on it.
Which raises an uncomfortable question.
What exactly are these organisations protecting?
Because it certainly doesn’t feel like they’re protecting boxing’s credibility.
If enough money is involved, standards suddenly become very flexible.
And that’s a dangerous precedent.
This Isn’t A Rocky Film
Perhaps the biggest problem with celebrity boxing is that too many people seem to believe they’re living in a Rocky movie.
Train for a few months.
Believe in yourself.
Step into the ring.
Become a fighter.
Except this isn’t Hollywood.
Real life doesn’t work like that.
Professional boxers dedicate years of their lives to this sport.
They sacrifice family time.
They destroy their bodies.
They live with the physical consequences long after retirement.
They accept risks that most people could never imagine.
Yet increasingly it feels like all of that experience is being treated as optional.
As though millions of followers somehow equal years of hard-earned skill.
They don’t.
The Slippery Slope Is Real
People love dismissing slippery slope arguments.
But standards don’t disappear overnight.
They erode gradually.
One exception becomes acceptable.
Then another.
Then another.
And before long, things that would have seemed ridiculous ten years ago suddenly become normal.
That’s what worries me about Misfits Boxing.
Not necessarily where it is today.
But where it could lead tomorrow.
Because eventually somebody is going to get seriously hurt.
And when that happens, the headlines won’t blame YouTube.
They won’t blame social media.
They won’t blame celebrity culture.
They’ll blame boxing.
And rightly so.
Because the responsibility won’t just belong to the influencers themselves.
It’ll belong to the promoters.
The commissions.
The sanctioning bodies.
And yes, to a certain extent, the fighters who willingly take part.
Everybody involved has a responsibility.
Because boxing doesn’t get unlimited second chances.
Is This Really The Future?
Maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe Misfits Boxing is the future.
Maybe this is simply where combat sports are heading.
But I find that incredibly depressing.
Because once spectacle becomes more important than achievement, the sport starts losing its identity.
Once fame matters more than ability, standards become meaningless.
And once money becomes the only thing that matters, integrity becomes nothing more than a marketing slogan.
Boxing has always been entertainment.
Muhammad Ali understood that.
Prince Naseem Hamed understood that.
Tyson Fury understands that.
But they backed it up with elite ability.
That’s the difference.
Tommy Fury versus Eddie Hall wasn’t elite boxing.
It wasn’t a meaningful contest.
It was a spectacle.
And maybe that’s fine.
But let’s at least call it what it is.
Because if this qualifies as a main event in 2026, I genuinely wonder how much further boxing has to fall before nobody can tell the difference between a world title fight and a circus act.
Over To You
Am I being too harsh on Misfits Boxing, or are boxing’s standards slowly disappearing?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments, share this article with fellow fight fans and don’t forget to visit CMBoxing for more opinion pieces, features and boxing news.