By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Virgil Hunter, trainer for unbeaten challenger Andre Ward (30-0, 15KOs), had a full storm attack on Main Events - claiming the New Jersey-based promotional company is underpaying their fighter, WBO/IBF/WBA light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (30-0, 26KOs).
According to the paperwork filed with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Ward has a guarantee of $5 million for the fight - which is twice the amount that Kovalev is receiving at $2 million.
Their HBO Pay-Per-View showdown is taking place on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena, with HBO Pay-Per-View distributing the event.
At Thursday's final press conference, Hunter had spoke to the media in attendance and explained his anger over Kovalev being paid less than 50% of what Ward was making as the challenger. Although, there are many in the industry who believe Ward is being overpaid.
"This is a 50-50 fight, but the pay doesn't reflect that. How does the challenger make a boat-load of money, but the champion don't? I don't understand that. I think those are some questions that need to be asking. I'm really torn by it. Until you've been in my shoes and worked with young men and seen the suffering of things, you never know," Hunter said.
" I don't understand it. Maybe he is fine with it, or maybe its not true - and that would be the best news I could get. It is something that really bothered me. But if everyone is fine with it, then its fine with me. But it really bothered me."
Of course, Hunter brought up the subject a few more times as he detailed how it was like for fighters in the 40s and 50s, making a point that foreign fighters were often "hoodwinked" into taking less money while the promoters absorbed the bulk of the profit.
"You fight, I'll do your business and you look up and you have no money, but in the meantime my grand-kids are going to college on your blood sweat and tears," Hunter said.
"I encourage all fighters to be businessmen, don't be a robot. And its easy from the foreign countries to get that type of fighter and pay him what you want to pay him and they should be happy with it. I just encourage them all to be businessmen. Athletes are businessmen and no longer robots."
