Boxing News
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|
 Shane Mosley featured on the 7 April 2011 issue | |
| Editor | Mark Butcher |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Publisher | iD Sports Media |
| First issue | 1909 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Website | boxingnewsonline |
| ISSN | 0006-8519 |
Boxing News is a British weekly boxing magazine published by iD Sports Media.[1] It is the oldest boxing magazine still in publication.
History
[edit]John Murray, a regular contributor to Health & Strength magazine, convinced its owner, Bill Berry (later Lord Camrose) to launch a weekly magazine dedicated to boxing.
In 1909, Boxing News was founded by Murray as editor. It is believed that Murray had been inspired by Jack Johnson beating Tommy Burns to become the first black world heavyweight champion. In his first editorial, Murray stated, "Boxing will stand for good clean sport. Its success or failure is in the hands of those who believe in the characteristics of this sport. Our energies will be devoted to giving the best paper that time, thought, and money can devise."
When circulation began to decline in the late 1920s, the name of the newspaper was changed to Boxing, Racing and Football.
Sale and ownership (1931–1971)
[edit]In the late 1920s, circulation began to decline, and the name of the newspaper was changed to Boxing, Racing and Football.
In October 1931, the magazine was sold to a syndicate of London sportsmen, who installed Sydney Rushton, a long-time London fight reporter, as the new editor. Rushton proved less popular than Murray and the newspaper was put up for sale again. Another set of sportsmen bought the magazine and Godfrey Williams was named editor. He attempted to run Boxing as a newspaper, cutting popular features, and reducing news stories down to the shortest possible length.
The circulation quickly dropped to its lowest ever. Billy Masters, a city printer and boxing fan, saved the paper, appointing W. H. Miller as the new editor. Miller was responsible for reinvigorating the magazine.
In 1935, Miller departed and was replaced by Sydney Ackland, who had previously worked as John Murray's assistant editor. World War II brought many changes as first Ackland, then replacement Stanley Nelson, contributed to the war effort. Murray then was reinstated as editor, but ill health forced him to step down in 1941. Gilbert Odd took over until the building housing the paper was renovated. Odd was then called up for national service and both Masters and Murray served further terms.
The paper was bought by Australian publicist Vivian Brodzky and former promoter Sydney Hulls. Northern sports writer Bert Callis was the new editor. Odd took over for a second term upon Callis' retirement. Odd implemented the tradition of reporting the results and fighters' weights for every single fight in the country. When Odd quit to write books, he was succeeded by Jack Wilson and then Tim Riley. When Brodzky died, Boxing News was sold twice in quick succession, and Graham Houston became editor in 1971, immediately broadening the range of coverage, especially in North America.
The Mullan years (1977–1996)
[edit]In 1977, Harry Mullan, thought to be one of the better editors, replaced Houston. Circulation increased during the Mullan years, doubling at a time of great change in the boxing world. The most notable new developments were the proliferation of world titles and the increase in the number of major British promoters. Mullan was fiercely principled and well respected in the boxing fraternity. When he left in October 1996, he was given a glowing tribute from then-BN publisher Peter Kravitz: "His writing stands comparison with the Lieblings, Hausers and Mailers of this century of boxing."
Assistant editor Claude Abrams succeeded Mullan in November 1996. Boxing News was redesigned, switched to a full-colour format, and became more extensive in content.
1999–present
[edit]In March 1999 the paper went to A3 size before reverting to A4, and increasing in length to 48 pages (from 24) in September 2005. The magazine remained the main trade paper in Britain. Abrams left Boxing News – after 22 years – in December 2009, just three months after the publication celebrated its centenary, and was succeeded as editor by Tris Dixon.
Dixon left the magazine in December 2014, with Matt Christie taking over as editor.
In April 2023, iD Sports Media announced the acquisition of Boxing News.[2] The acquisition saw the merger of the iD Boxing platform, led by Rob Tebbutt, Benyamin Farooqi and Jordan Pollock with the Boxing News brand, creating Boxing News Plus.[3]
In February 2024, Boxing News' podcast, The Boxing Show, won Best Combat Sports Podcast at the Sports Podcast Awards.[4]
In March 2024, Boxing News announced the launch of the Boxing News app,[5] which merges a prediction league with live scorecard functionality.
In April 2024, Mark Butcher was announced as editor of Boxing News after the departure of Matt Christie.
Sections of the paper
[edit]- Shot of the Week: Boxing photography from the previous week
- Editor's Letter: A column tackling the big issues in boxing at the time
- Guest Column: This rotates but features Tyson Fury, Amir Khan and Joe Gallagher.
- News: All the latest breaking stories and the background behind them. Boxing News has spoken exclusively to, among others, Peter Fury, Frank Warren, David Haye, and Carl Frampton.
- Action: Every British fight and most foreign ones too are covered, blow-by-blow. As the motto goes, 'Every punch, every week, since 1909'.
- Previews: A preview of the fights and predictions. When a major fight occurs, it has been known for BN to also produce a 12-page supplement befitting the occasion. This was done for Manny Pacquiao v Floyd Mayweather and Carl Froch v George Groves.
- Features: An in-depth look at anyone or anything to do with boxing. Features have focused on Mexican sensation Saul Alvarez, multi-weight world champion Miguel Cotto and Wladimir Klitschko.
- Q&A: A chat with one of boxing's current or former stars
- Fight Diary: Every upcoming fight listed
- Rankings: BN updates its world rankings for each weight division on a monthly basis.
- Readers' letters: Letters from readers of the magazine.
- Vested Interest: Features with the personalities at the heart of the sport, including Nicola Adams and USA's first female Olympic boxing medallist Claressa Shields
- Amateur Scene: The very best action, previews and news from the unpaid ranks
- Fighting Fit: Advice on training, nutrition and technique. BN also produces special issues on these themes.
- Flashback: Looking back at notable events in boxing history
- The 10 Count: The Top 10...
- 60 Seconds: Boxers answer quickfire questions in a 60-second interview.
- Heroes and Villains: The BN team give their take on the past week's occurrences.
Staff
[edit]- Rob Tebbutt (managing director)
- Benyamin Farooqi (director of technology)
- Jordan Pollock (director of operations)
- Mark Butcher (editor)
- Nick Bond (head of design)
- Steve Wellings (Online Editor)
- Ryan Elliott (Head of Social)
- Declan Taylor (Lead Reporter)
- Andi Purewal (Reporter)
- Elliot Worsel (Features Writer)
- Shaun Brown (Staff Writer)
- Harry Pain (Graphic Designer)
- Daniel Greig (Video Editor)