By Jared Parry
In 2021, I decided I wanted to go to university and study Sports Journalism in the University of South Wales. I have been an avid sports fan for years and really believed this course would suit me perfectly. I am in to all different sports, but my passion really lies in boxing.
This course has opened up so many opportunities for me, and luck was very much on my side when it was announced that Chris Eubank Jr was going to be take on Liam Williams in the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, which is located right behind the Atrium, our headquarters for the course.
As the fight neared, I consulted my lecturers and they advise me to take it upon myself to apply for media accreditation for the fight week events, such as the press conference and weigh in.
I was approved to do media work for the press conference. I had never attended a press conference for anything, and I was elated that the first one I could attend would be for a sport I am passionate about, and the course at USW had already taught me the best ways to approach it, and also, the course was the reason I was approved for access.
The press conference took place in the City Hall in Cardiff, so I made my way over with my bag, laptop and phone.
When I arrived, I instantly thought I had come unprepared as everyone had brought along lots of equipment. I also had to ensure that I didn’t act like a fanboy, and remain professional and remember I was there to represent the University.
Walking around when I got there, I was in awe of seeing many boxers I’d watched in the ring, such as Roy Jones Jr, Enzo Maccarinelli and Daniel Dubois, just walking around talking to media outlets.
I went to my seat and looked around and could not believe the amount of production put into the event, with television cameras and Sky broadcast cameras everywhere.
The press conference went along and fortunately I was sat by a speaker, so voice recorded it, which I transcribed when I got home. Following the press conference, the fighters took part in a face off, and I managed to get myself close to the front and get many photos of the face off between Claressa Shields and Ema Kozin, and Chris Eubank Jr and Liam Williams. These two fights were considered the main attractions of the show and I was delighted to get so close and get some photos.
Then all fighters on the card were put around the perimeter of the room and press were able to grab an interview with them. I was nervously queueing up to interview Claressa Shields, and then Liam Williams walked past me and sat down, so I left the Shields queue to interview Williams.
I was second in line and in front of me was a journalist who I had seen on many outlets, Gareth A. Davies. I couldn’t have asked for someone better to be in front of me as I focussed highly on his interview and tried to implement what I had learnt in the class room and mix it with what I was currently watching.
Once Gareth had finished, my nerves shot through the roof as it was now my turn. But I remained calm, and got under way. I implemented all my techniques I had learnt throughout my short tenure on the course thus far.
Once I’d finished, I was beaming with excitement but tried to hide it and think I did so very well. I wasn’t able to get any other interviews but was delighted to get on with one half of the main event.
The course has a website, Exposport, in which they published my work. I did full coverage of the fight week and shared my work to my social media pages. At the risk of sounding cocky, but I received lots of praise from friends and family, which made me feel like I had made the right decision to join this course.
The skills I have gained from this course are far more than I expected. I have learned so much in a short period of time, and been given opportunities that looked nothing more than a dream for me in the past.