All money, no glory

Boxing is slightly different to other sports, accross the board, they do not get paid huge amounts of money compared to Football (American or English), Basketball, Baseball etc. With a few exceptions and with no disrespect intended to the majority, they aren't known for academic or business knowledge. The super rich like mayweather, could spend the next 500 years throwing $30k a day away in nightclubs and it wouldn't dent their stash, but the majority are likely to piss away the earnings from their short lived careers, or be conned by agents, managers or hangers on. This silent majority of boxers, the journeymen, the failed contenders are as vunerable a group as any sportsmen and this probably influences the lucky ones when they have to pick a fight - risk versus return; several losses can reduce your earning power, more quickly than a ducking jibe in the press. Obviously, if you keep ducking, no one will pay to see you, which is where the risk and return decision sways to taking the riskier fight (as it raises your stock again). A boxing union is a very good idea, only 5% of professional boxers can secure a living from fighting alone according to research. Barry McGuigan set up one in the UK, but I don't know how far he got with it. Imagine if even a 0.5 or 1% levy was placed on all pay per view matches and that money went into a trust fund specifically to look after boxers that had fallen on hard times (managed strictly so it didn't go to hangers on). You could on the other hand take the view, they pissed the money away, its their fault, but to me they risk their lives for our entertainment, so they should get our support when the gloves are hung up.

It is their career, their livelihood, and their source of income. The business they are in is very dangerous, and almost always short term. Boxers have no union, no pension, and very few guarantees. When a match is made the fighter doesn't care nearly as much who they are fighting as how much they are going to make. No matter what any fighter says, it's always about the money. And it should be. SO would you say they don't mind being beaten as long as they are paid good money?

It's just like any other sport.

Its probably just me, but does anyone find that most boxers just want huge amounts of money. High demands, and if a boxer doesn't want to fight someone who he thinks will beat him, he just "prices" himself out of the fight, so frustrating. So many good match ups over the years have been missed just because of one fighters ridiculous demands. You hear boxers saying all the time, "i'll fight him as long as the money's right", or "I wasn't offered enough to fight him" etc. Where's the glory and integrity gone, has it always been like this? Ok its a dangerous sport, you can be putting your health and life on the line but where is the idea of wanting to be the best in the sport. Be the champion, fight the best and be the best. Not just "I'll only fight him if the money's right"? It is their career, their livelihood, and their source of income. The business they are in is very dangerous, and almost always short term. Boxers have no union, no pension, and very few guarantees. When a match is made the fighter doesn't care nearly as much who they are fighting as how much they are going to make. No matter what any fighter says, it's always about the money. And it should be.

most fighters have always been about money, it's just more well known today. look at the old days when the hw champs were so well paid. hw champs pre-louis didn't defend their title often and instead often fought in well-paid exhibitions. ray robinson, the consensus g.o.a.t., said "i never enjoyed the sport, it's a business to me".