First boxing match

[TyWebb]

I've covered just about every other sport except boxing, and I am doing so in early June. I have a fan's knowledge of the sport but no personal experience to draw from.

Any advice? I'm reading whatever I can on other Web sites, but I'm not sure what else I can do.

 

[SoCalDude]

use the word "bout" in your story. Don't wear good clothes if you're sitting ringside, the boxer slime stains. Don't expect the promoter to tell you the truth. Don't bother interviewing the loser if he still is knocked out.

 

[Eagleboy]

Never covered it myself, but the only piece of advice I've ever been told should I end up doing so someday sticks out pretty well in my mind:

"Never wear white."

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Try to learn as much as you can about the fighters in the featured bouts. If you have the time, go to the weigh-in and pre-fight press conferences and open workouts. Try to get a feel for each guy's styles.
If you can, get their official records from Fightfax (I don't know their web site and it will cost you to get their records, but they're the most accurate source in the business. Boxrec.com is a good free source, but not quite as accurate) because it's not unusual for promoters to lie about records, especially those of the "opponents," the guys who are paid to come in and face the local guys. Above all, make sure you can somehow independently verify a fighter's record before reporting it.
In the fight itself, just try to focus on the flow of the action, who landed the harder blows and when. Make note of any cuts or marks on a fighter and what caused them and any knockdowns and what punch caused them.
Many commissions supply the media with copies of the master scoresheet after the featured bouts so you can see how each judge scored each round. Remember, the judges are watching 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 one-round fights so one really big round by one fighter might not be enough to outweigh his opponent's dominance in the other 11.
To learn about scoring, pick up a booklet called You be the Boxing Judge by Tom Kaczmarek.

Here's the link. I have the booklet but it's also available in DVD and VHS.

http://www.tvboxingjudge.com/

 

[Clerk Typist]

Additionally, take notes on a couple of prelim bouts for practice; score 'em too. 10-9, 10-8 if it's lopsided with a knockdown. If it's a big fight, you probably won't get locker room access so rely on quotes fed by a PR guy - often the loser's quotes are better than the winner's. And if it's a Don King production, skip his post-fight presser. It is beyond a waste of time.

 

[John]

Read this -- one of Plimpton's best:

 

[awriter]

I second everything Smallpotatoes said. One other thing: Be prepared for a late night, especially if it's a King card.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

Unless it's on live TV be prepared for the card to start at least a half-hour after its scheduled start time.

 

[PeteyPirate]

Keep your hands up.

Stick and move.

 

[rokski2]

Try to learn as much as you can about the fighters in the featured bouts. If you have the time, go to the weigh-in and pre-fight press conferences and open workouts. Try to get a feel for each guy's styles.
If you can, get their official records from Fightfax (I don't know their web site and it will cost you to get their records, but they're the most accurate source in the business. Boxrec.com is a good free source, but not quite as accurate) because it's not unusual for promoters to lie about records, especially those of the "opponents," the guys who are paid to come in and face the local guys. Above all, make sure you can somehow independently verify a fighter's record before reporting it.
In the fight itself, just try to focus on the flow of the action, who landed the harder blows and when. Make note of any cuts or marks on a fighter and what caused them and any knockdowns and what punch caused them.
Many commissions supply the media with copies of the master scoresheet after the featured bouts so you can see how each judge scored each round. Remember, the judges are watching 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 one-round fights so one really big round by one fighter might not be enough to outweigh his opponent's dominance in the other 11.
To learn about scoring, pick up a booklet called You be the Boxing Judge by Tom Kaczmarek.

Here's the link. I have the booklet but it's also available in DVD and VHS.

http://www.tvboxingjudge.com/

Tons of good advice here. A number of judges try to break each 3 minute round down into 3 separate 1-minute periods as well, which they use to help them decide who to give a close round. If you have the time and inclination, many fighters on the rise have earlier bouts on YouTube or other video sites. This can potentially give you a feel for their style and strengths and weaknesses.

Additionally, take notes on a couple of prelim bouts for practice; score 'em too. 10-9, 10-8 if it's lopsided with a knockdown. If it's a big fight, you probably won't get locker room access so rely on quotes fed by a PR guy - often the loser's quotes are better than the winner's. And if it's a Don King production, skip his post-fight presser. It is beyond a waste of time.

More good advice. Watching a couple of prelim fights will get your eyes in the "mode" of looking for punches and the other criteria for scoring a fight. A multiple-knockdown round can also sometimes lead to a 10-7 score for the round.

Here's another piece of advice: Make sure you get a copy of/are briefed on the rules of the particular boxing commission which is sanctioning the fight. Most boxing rules are standard, but there are certain differences such as: 1) Standing 8-counts or not, 3-knockdown rule (in a round) or not, can the final bell prevent a knockout (if the fighter is down from a knockdown) or not, etc.

Have fun. Boxing matches are very unique events, even in the testosterone-laden world of sports. Some weigh-ins prove as entertaining as the fight itself, with all the trash talking, hard looks and boasting. Enjoy!

 

[Batman]

Lots of good advice here. Like others have said, keep your own scorecard, go to the weigh-ins, etc. Boxing is, far and away, the most fun I've had covering a sport. Only done a few small-time cards, but the fighters usually have some great back stories and are usually pretty talkative even after they get their ass handed to them.
I covered one fight with a guy named Limmy Young, who is Joe Louis' grandson. Based on his name, he was the featured fighter in the main event. Unfortunately, he didn't inherit Joe's talent and got knocked out in the first or second round. Afterward, he's pacing outside his dressing room with a surprised look on his face, and out of nowhere exclaims, "I got knocked the **** out!"
That made it a lot easier to ask how it happened.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

If you are sitting ringside, expect to be spattered by blood and sweat.

 

[cfinder]

some sage advice here, about records, the fights themselves. . . follow it. and interview the boxers, for they all have stories -- even if they have to make one up, just to sound Oprah-worthy.


one last thing: fights almost never have accessible power or phone lines, so charge up your battery and start the night by finding either wireless hookup or a phone jack nearby.

 

[spaceman]

Catch the chicken!

 

[TyWebb]

Lots of great advice guys. Thanks. Please keep it coming.

Now the most important question: How many references to Rocky V should I have in my story ... I'm thinking at least double digits.

(Forgot to use blue text, but I am kidding)

 

[awriter]

If you are sitting ringside, expect to be spattered by blood and sweat.

Following up on that, keep a napkin over your soda. Better yet, don't bring a drink to ringside.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

If you are sitting ringside, expect to be spattered by blood and sweat.

Following up on that, keep a napkin over your soda. Better yet, don't bring a drink to ringside.

Depending on the venue and the promoter, you may not be at ringside. The commission is required to have the seats right at ringside, flush with the ring, but the press (other than TV) is not always there. Sometimes the promoters have seating available for the press and sometimes they don't. Many promoters tend to give priorty to their sponsors and ticket-buyers and are unwilling to give up seats to reporters who don't pay for them.
One promoter I know tends to put the press tables a good distance from the ring, in one of the corners. The problem is that the area in front of the press table tends to be a popular place for fans to congregate and you spend half the night trying to get them to move.
I hate that setup, but since that promoter has never seen a cent from me and never will, I can understand it.

 

[Your Huckleberry]

These are all some great ways to get ahead when covering your first boxing match. I have covered a few, including one which was small-time although one of the boxers was nationally ranked, and two which were championship bouts that included the biggest names in the business.

My best advice to you is very simple. READ all you can. Know your subjcets' background, history, etc. Everything you can know about these two boxers will help you find stories leading up to the fight and after.

Whether you research it on the web or old magazines, simply put: Read, Read, Read!

 

[jfs1000]

Make sure if it is a foreign fighter to get the name right. I covered a fight once and the guys last name was 3K Battery. I found out that many Thai fighters switch their names to accommodate sponsors.

The guy was named after his gym, upon further explanation, we found out what he used to be called in the ring. The killer was, the name on his passport was totally different than any of the names I used. Ridiculous.

Also, go to the pre-fight press conference and if the guy speaks English, get a 1-on-1 interview. Unless it is a mega superstar boxer, this is realtively easy.

I remember chatting with Diego Corrales (RIP) for about 20 minutes, it was some great stuff. the guy was so nice.

Boxers are the most approachable athletes i have covered. They always talk to the media and, unlike golfers, actually appreciate you talking to them. It helps that selling tickets to the event is important, so most of these guys are trained to be as accommodating as possible.

Also, if it is a major fight and a world title at stake --- DON'T BOTHER WITH THE PRESS CONFERENCE. It's useless if you are on deadline because sometimes these press conferences are 1/2 hour later at the earliest. Quotes will be given to you at ringside by the promotors' team. Usually, they are 2-3 quotes, but more than enough to file a gamer.

At some major fights, unless it is mega fight (Mayweather-De La Hoya level), or if it is a local guy fighting, most of the journalists don't even bother to go to the post fight press conference. You can never get a question in at those press conferences, and they are essentially useless for writers. Unless boxing is your beat, you won't get anything of usefulness.

 

[jambalaya]

Try Boxrec.com for the most accurate records available of the sport.

Fightnews.com is a good site to use as well for news.