Anthony Joshua on the The Jonathan Ross Show tonight 9:35pm

It's almost impressive in a way that since the start of his pro career he's been receiving extensive media training yet *still* remains awkward and unnatural.

 

The end goal of media training is to end up a false, wooden shill. Joshua has managed that one all right.

It's a shame that people can't just be themselves. What's the worst that could happen? Unless you're an absolute nutter tthen surely your personality can't be bad enough to stop people from purchasing your events and products that you market on behalf of partners.

Look at Fury, he's just as much of a hypocrite these days. His interviews used to be entertaining because he would just say what he wanted. Now his wife even regularly appears on Loose Women ffs.

 

I think that was the issue with Fury. Sure, he was entertaining - but he was such a loose cannon (pre-comeback) that you genuinely never knew what he was going to say next. It's largely the reason why he was excluded from SPOTY in 2015.

 

He wasn't excluded from it, he was in it.

To me, it wasn't an issue. I take people as they are and would rather know their true self. What's the point in Fury putting on a performance in media and then being his true self privately? That's literally what people describe as being two-faced, and nobody seems to like that. It's being fake. If someone's a cvnt, I'd rather they were just a cvnt. However, Fury wasn't. That's why I really liked the guy. He was real. Even now, it doesn't seem like any big player will go anywhere near him (unless you can point out one that I'm missing). The only difference is that he's occasionally on mainstream television, which plays second fiddle to online media these days anyway.

For me, there is literally nothing worse than someone being false.

 

Do you remember what he was actually saying at the time? It was very controversial stuff and simply wouldn't make him marketable at all.

 

Of course I do, and I don't personally care what makes someone marketable. As I have just said, he's still not marketable. I'm not sure why you're so hung up on marketing. It doesn't concern you whatsoever.

What I'm saying is that I would rather any given person be their true self. What good is it to the average consumer if someone portrays themselves one way in public and another way in private? That is to be misleading and is actually one of the core debates in marketing ethics - therefore it is actually to the benefit of the consumer and to the detriment of the marketer. Why should I care about Fury and partner's bank account?

For example, many corporations promote ethical production and environmental sustainability, but when you scrape beneath the surface, their practices and outcomes are the opposite and their marketing therefore becomes duplicitous. That is to the detriment of the ethical consumer who is being mislead.

 

Ah, but we're not necessarily talking about what Safin from BoxingForum24 cares about. We're talking about the macro reason why a promotion would want their fighter to be media trained and why sponsors wouldn't want their fighters saying anything controversial.

Of course we'd rather know their true self, but what Fury said at that time in 2015 whilst being in a bad place would make it very difficult to achieve anything as broadcasters and sponsors wouldn't want to know.

 

Being facetious doesn't really work when you're not even grasping the fabric of what I'm saying.

The framework you're endorsing is to go to one extreme. I'm not endorsing the other end of the spectrum. There is a certain level of behavioural standards that one needs to maintain if they are not to burn bridges with networks (and their partners - which is entirely different). If you are referring to Fury attaining direct partnerships then that's a moot point. A gypsy who looks the way he does is a non-starter, anyway. What I don't understand is why you think that Fury needs to behave in the way he does now so as not to burn bridges with the networks. 99% of Fury's interaction with media prior to his comeback was actually very positive, even though he was being his true self. There are isolated incidents where, as you say, Fury was in a bad place mentally, but this was the exception and the mainstream media crucified him unfairly. Fury's comparative lack of love from the boxing public prior to 2016 was more so related to him having a big mouth and the public not believing he was actually any good. He didn't even give himself a chance to turn another page in terms of popularity after the Klitschko win. Prior to his issues in 2016, he boxed on ITV, Sky Sports, Sky Sports Box Office, Channel 5 and Boxnation, all while he was being himself.

If your endorsement of the fake, wooden man is so important then how come many boxers who have been far more vulgar than Fury have done so well?

There is a spectrum to take into consideration and a balance can be struck instead of the solution you are offering.

 

It's far too early in the morning for 'being facetious', I'm just cordially discussing it with you - it's really not that deep.

I must admit, I didn't completely read your longer reply above but I will do so properly later on.

 

No AJ was far more relaxed than Fury was when he was on the show about 6 months ago and he connected pretty well with AJ the rapper by knowing street terms etc. that was a bit cringey though.

 

He really did come across as a b*llend though. Even his natural interaction always seems to me like someone who has who has just attended a Tony Robbins seminar and joined a pyramid scheme

Fighters are modern day gladiators, we don't expect them to be philosopher's... But to be fair he has more endorsements then any other heavyweight right now so he must be doing something right.

 

Joshua is more genuine than fury imo.hasn't changed since day one.fury's character swapping is up there with Peter sellers finest works.

 

No doubt Wossy knows nothing about boxing