The Athletic is on a role. Shortly after a story about the site’s new influx of cash broke, word now comes that it will launch boxing coverage.
The boxing vertical will be lead by managing editor Paul Fichtenbaum. It is another step in The Athletic’s growing combat sports coverage. Just last week the company launched an MMA vertical lead by Dann Stupp. Former Los Angeles Times writer Lance Pugmire, former Grantland editor Rafe Bartholomew, and former Ring Magazine writer Mike Coppinger make up Fichtenbaum’s staff.
Boxing is experiencing something of a renaissance in the United States as streaming platforms spend big money to create partnerships with the sport’s top promotions and fighters.
Fichtenbaum noted in his essay announcing the new vertical that boxing is a sport that lends itself to long form storytelling. He pointed to last weekend’s heavyweight title fight as proof that the sport warrants its own department at The Athletic. “And as we found out 10 days ago when Andy Ruiz stunned the world by knocking out favored champion Anthony Joshua, boxing is still full of characters and storylines and upsets worth pursuing.”
