A boxing manager who works with professional fighters including Callum Simpson and Jack Massey says he is “genuinely gutted” by what the sport is becoming as World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall prepares to face Tyson Fury’s brother Tommy Fury on Saturday night.
Hall is expected to enter the ring carrying almost 100 pounds more than Fury in a contest that has become the latest flashpoint in the influencer boxing debate.
The bout headlines an event packed with influencers, crossover personalities, and social media stars.
For Kevin Maree, it represents everything wrong with where boxing is heading.
For Maree, enough is enough.
“I’m genuinely gutted by some of the things I’ve seen this week,” said Maree.
“Influencer boxing isn’t just bad for the sport — it’s everything boxing was supposed to stand against.”
‘This Is a Circus’
Maree did not hold back.
“Boxing used to mean something: discipline, respect, skill, pride. The most honest conversation two men can have.”
“This is a circus!”
“A group of attention-seekers playing dress-up as fighters, chasing clicks instead of earning respect — and worst of all, genuinely believing they belong in the same space as professionals who’ve dedicated their lives to this craft.”
“Look at Soccer Aid — celebrities step onto a football pitch, have a laugh, and openly admit they’re miles off the real level. There’s humility in that.”
“This? This is delusion.”
Killing the Integrity
For Maree, the problem isn’t Eddie Hall or Tommy Fury alone. It’s what events like this represent.
Maree continued, “A pack of clout-chasing influencers and TikTok clowns who wouldn’t last three rounds in a real gym, strutting around with no discipline, no technique, and no understanding of what this sport actually demands.”
“What we’re watching isn’t boxing. It’s ego, chaos, and ignorance being rewarded with a platform.”
The comments echo concerns raised repeatedly across the sport as crossover events continue attracting attention that many traditional boxing cards struggle to match. WBN has previously covered growing frustration over influencer boxing’s increasing presence, from fighters openly pursuing YouTuber paydays to Gervonta Davis declaring that “boxing is dead” before pursuing an exhibition with Jake Paul. Similar concerns surfaced when WBN described it as a sad time for boxing as established fighters began chasing influencer bouts rather than traditional opportunities.
Dragging the Sport
“Every time people tune in, share it, or promote it, they’re helping drag the sport further into the gutter.”
“This doesn’t grow boxing. It degrades it.”
“It strips away everything that made it great and replaces it with noise, nonsense, and narcissism.”
“It’s killing the integrity of the sport — piece by piece.”
“Enough is enough.”
Maree is far from the first person in boxing to sound the alarm. He may be one of the few willing to put it quite so bluntly.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
