Boxing: 'We need positive influences - not influencers'

We're seeing more and more influencers taking to the boxing ring, but we recently saw more of Daniella Hemsley than we bargained for.

The OnlyFans star exposed her boobs in celebration after defeating Aleksandra Daniel in Dublin.

She's apologised, insisting that nipple tassels under her top had come unstuck, but boxing pros and promoter Eddie Hearn lined up to criticise her.

They say she's undermined years of female progress in the sport.

The popularity of women's boxing has grown considerably since it was first allowed at the 2012 Olympics.

More recently, influencer boxing has seen a similar surge, with some of social media's biggest stars coming to blows in pay-per-view matches.

It's divided opinions - some people think it gets more fans into the sport, but others say this is at the expense of pro boxers who've trained for years.

One person who thinks internet personalities like Daniella are being "fast-tracked" into high-profile events is Sameenah Toussaint.

When she started boxing at age 10, she was the only girl in the gym.

Now 20 years old, she's since competed at the Commonwealth Games and now trains with Team GB.

As a girl, she was inspired by the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor, but worries girls growing up now won't have similar role models.

To her mind, what happened after Saturday's match was "laughing at the sport".

"We need positive influences - not influencers," she tells BBC Newsbeat.

"They're meant to be looking up to these boxers in the ring.

"What they stand for isn't what should be showcased."

Elise Glynn, 21, is taking the boxing world by storm and has her eyes set on next year's Paris Olympics.

Like Sameenah, it's taken a lot of hard work.

"I started boxing at the age of 13," says Elise, from Solihull, near Birmingham.

"And when I started I was told to get out of the gym because I was female."

She thinks what happened on Saturday doesn't set "a good example for young girls who want to box".

"They are looking at this and thinking, 'Should I be like that? Do I need to act like that to get attention in boxing?'

"I think young girls should let the boxing do the talking."

Some in the industry have defended influencer boxing - especially when huge names like Jake Paul and KSI have been involved.

Northern Irish boxer Michael Conlan told BBC Sport he could "understand" the upset, but that the bouts were "entertainment and we're in the entertainment business".

And Anthony Joshua's said social media stars could bring boxing to a wider, global audience.

Sameenah admits influencers might get the fanbases interested in boxing.

"There's definitely positive impacts to it," she says.

But what stings for Sameenah is how hard it can still be for women to be recognised professionally.

"We worked hard to get female boxing up there," she says. "We're still not equal to men's but it's getting there."

Both she and Elise are keen to inspire more women and girls to get involved in boxing.

"I think every young girl should go for it with a dream," said Elise.

"Even if it's not to fulfil it to the top high-level game, I think it's good for anyone to learn and make friends."

BBC Newsbeat has approached Daniella for comment.

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