A Fighter's Entourage: Do I Have The Right People Around Me?

By Billie Sloane, IFL TV

In the high-stakes world of boxing, we focus so much on the fighter—their grit, power, and discipline—that we often forget about the constellation of people orbiting them: the entourage. An entourage can be many things: a lifeline, a fortress, a support system. But it can also be a source of distraction, indulgence, and ego. The question is: Do entourages truly keep fighters grounded, or are they just a circus of “yes men” who can derail a career as fast as a right hook?

A fighter’s entourage is a complex web of personalities, from the die-hard loyalists to the friends and family, the coaches to the nutritionists, the trainers to the hype men. But in this world of high-stakes intensity, fighters don’t need people who tell them what they want to hear—they need people who will look them in the eye and say what they need to hear. And when entourages are built on anything less than accountability, are they actually hurting the fighter’s career?

The Entourage: Keeping Fighters Grounded or Inflating Their Egos?

To be a fighter is to live under constant pressure. The physical demands are extreme, but the mental ones are just as intense. It’s no wonder that many fighters lean heavily on their entourages. They rely on them for everything from meal prep to emotional support, from managing schedules to fending off distractions. As Eddie Hearn said in an IFL interview, “A good entourage is like a fortress around a fighter. They’re there to block out the noise, keep them focused, and make sure nothing messes with their head.”

For some fighters, this fortress is invaluable. Surrounded by trusted people who truly care, they can stay grounded, focused, and ready for the next challenge. When managed well, an entourage is a finely tuned machine, taking care of everything so the fighter can concentrate on one thing only: winning. But how many fighters, especially the ones who reach the top, end up surrounded by “yes men”—people who nod and applaud but never challenge them?

Tyson Fury reflected on this dynamic in a past interview, saying, “It’s easy for people around you to start telling you what you want to hear, especially when you’re winning. But you need someone to look you in the face and say, ‘No, you’re out of line.’ You can’t stay grounded if everyone’s just inflating your ego.”

If the entourage exists solely to say “yes,” then they’re not just useless—they’re dangerous. Fighters don’t just need hype; they need honesty. They need people who will challenge them, push them, and keep them in check. So, are fighters surrounding themselves with the right kind of people, or are they letting “yes men” steer them off course?

The Real Work Behind the Scenes: More Than Meets the Eye

A good entourage does much more than just cheer on the fighter. Behind the scenes, they’re the people making sure everything runs like clockwork. They handle everything from diet and nutrition to logistics, access, and schedules. They create a controlled environment that allows the fighter to perform at their peak. In an interview, Frank Warren explained the importance of the right team, saying, “A fighter’s entourage has to be on point. These people aren’t just there for show—they’re there to ensure that everything from training to mindset stays intact. When you have a tight team, you know the fighter is in the right headspace.”

These people are invaluable when they’re doing their jobs well. They’re the silent motivators, the ones ensuring the fighter stays focused, sticks to their diet, and meets the grueling demands of the training schedule. The best entourages work seamlessly behind the scenes, protecting the fighter’s mental clarity and keeping distractions at bay. But what happens when the entourage is made up of hangers-on and glory-seekers, people more focused on basking in the spotlight than making sure the fighter is prepared?

It’s a delicate balance. An entourage that truly supports the fighter will go unnoticed, staying out of the public eye, quietly managing things so the fighter doesn’t have to. But when entourages get loud, make scenes, or try to grab the limelight, they risk pulling focus from the fighter. Should the entourage be seen but not heard? Or does their role demand a certain level of public presence?

The Downside of Yes Men: Enabling, Not Empowering

An entourage can be a fighter’s best asset or their worst liability. When it’s made up of strong personalities who challenge the fighter, it keeps them on their toes. But when it’s full of “yes men,” the entourage can quickly turn into a dangerous enabler. In a sport where discipline and accountability are everything, is there anything worse than an entourage who tells a fighter what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear?

Dillian Whyte touched on this issue, saying, “You get people around you who just nod and agree with whatever you say. That’s not an entourage; that’s an echo chamber. You need people who’ll tell you the hard truth, not just feed your ego.” Whyte’s words are a sharp reminder that fighters can lose their way when surrounded by people too scared to challenge them.

An entourage of enablers will let a fighter skip training, ignore advice, or overlook mistakes. Worse, they create an atmosphere where the fighter starts to believe their own hype, becoming disconnected from the reality of what’s needed to stay at the top. In boxing, overconfidence can be deadly. So, are entourages who only offer praise setting fighters up for a fall?

Entourages with Agendas: Friends or Frenemies?

Another risk of entourages is that not everyone in them is there for the right reasons. Boxing has its fair share of opportunists—people who join the entourage to feel important, to bask in the fighter’s reflected glory, or worse, to gain something for themselves. An entourage member with their own agenda can be toxic, bringing distractions or even manipulating the fighter for personal gain.

As Bob Arum noted, “You have people in entourages who are only there because of the perks, not because they actually care about the fighter. That’s when problems start.” Fighters who aren’t careful about who they let into their circle can find themselves surrounded by people who drain their energy instead of supporting their success.

When the entourage includes hangers-on who have no real role, no stake in the fighter’s well-being, it’s a recipe for trouble. These people often stoke egos and create distractions, doing more harm than good. Fighters must be mindful of who they allow close. Is the entourage a support system, or is it a source of drama?

The Positive Side: A Fighter’s Lifeline and Emotional Anchor

But it’s important to look at the other side of the coin. For many fighters, an entourage isn’t just an accessory—it’s a lifeline. Boxing is one of the most solitary sports, and the emotional toll can be immense. When a fighter steps into the ring, they do so alone. But when they come out, it’s the familiar faces in their corner, the people who know them best, that remind them of who they are beyond the gloves.

For some fighters, having friends, family, and trusted coaches around is essential to their mental well-being. These people remind them of their roots, keep them connected to their values, and provide stability amidst the intense highs and lows of the sport. Anthony Joshua once shared that, “The people around me keep me balanced. They’re the ones who’ll tell me to stay humble, to remember where I came from.” For fighters like Joshua, a close-knit entourage is more than just support—it’s grounding. It’s a reminder that there’s a life outside the ring, a reality check that helps them stay focused on what really matters.

The right entourage can also keep the fighter motivated. They bring energy, they create hype, and they help manage the emotional rollercoaster that comes with winning and losing. A fighter’s career is full of grueling days, painful setbacks, and moments of self-doubt, and the right people can make all the difference. When the entourage is built on loyalty, honesty, and love, it’s a powerful tool that can push a fighter to greatness.

The Bottom Line: A Fighter’s Greatest Asset?

An entourage can be a fighter’s greatest asset—loyal supporters who handle the day-to-day tasks, manage distractions, and keep the fighter focused on the goal. They’re the ones who make sure the fighter’s meals are prepped, the training schedule is followed, and the mental game is sharp. But when entourages become too loud, too enabling, or filled with the wrong people, they can be a serious liability.

The question every fighter must ask is: Do I have the right people around me? Because, in a sport as brutal and unforgiving as boxing, there’s no room for distractions or ego trips. The best entourages are invisible, loyal, and focused on the fighter’s well-being above all else. But for those who let the wrong voices into their circle, the cost can be a career-defining mistake.

What do you think? Are entourages helping fighters stay grounded, or are they just distractions that make the road to success even harder? Share your thoughts.

Billie Sloane takes a ‘no holes barred’ approach as he has his say on some of the major talking points in the crazy world that is boxing.