Usually objectivity is the main one. Also a good knowledge of the sport, it helps if the writer was a boxer themselves but doesn't mean a former boxer will automatically be a good writer and a non-boxer will be a bad writer. I used to post an occasional news article on boxing news 24 but gave up when I saw the trolls I was sharing the site with.
street cred? any boxing writer seeking street cred should give up writing and find another career. they have one simple job...report what's news worthy in boxing. some of these guys give boxing writers a bad name with their shilling and what not. it's so obvious. i can name names...but they're not even worthy of that.
Aren't there great writers (like Jim Murray, Bob Considine 'n Jimmy Breslin) who did MUCH MUCH MORE than report news. They brought events 'n characters to life -- humanity 'n drama. If there were still writers of that quality, would you seek-out their bylines?
I ain't sure that your use of the term 'street cred' got across what you were trying to ask JG. You sound like you mean something like either 'what makes a great boxing journo' or, (and slightly differently) 'what skills does a boxing journo need to excite and interest the broader public'. The saddest thing is that I think with the ubiquity of instant access video, lazy 'twitterspeak' and a tendency towards repetition of overused stock phrases, all sports journalism is an art in decline. When almost everyone can watch fights whenever and wherever they choose, the skill of creating a vivid mental picture is no longer valued as it once was.
I'm obviously tooting my own horn here - but to prove I'm not a total egomaniac I won't say my real name - But I was once told that I was the most objective boxing writer ever by a long time boxing writer. I took that as a real compliment. I haven't done boxing writing in years though, not seriously anyway. Though it was great, I got to meet and interview a ton of guys like Tyson, Tito, and Evander, but I also loved talking to the lesser known guys. Dorin Spivey, a lightweight who is 42-7, but fell short in his biggest fights, was always super cool to me and he always seemed genuinely happy to talk to me. Shannon Briggs was also a "call me anytime" guy and cool as hell to talk to. Street Cred though, nah, I don't have any of that, lol.
i can appreciate a well written article, book, interview...etc...and i understand the relationship between the two (writers/boxing)....but honestly, i tune in to see the boxers box/fighters fight. i don't need anyone to wax poetic...or try to tell me what i'm seeing...boxing is beautiful the way it is. no need to dress it up. what kills it for me is hearing some dumb ass misinforming/misleading fans with their bull**** agendas....and people too simple minded/uneducated on boxing buy in to it and repeat/regurgitate their bull****.