Question concerning the business side of boxing

yes. networks "buy" fights, and the right to make sure no other competing network is carrying the fight. it's generally that purchase that pays the bulk of a fighter's purse. promotors take the entire gross of the event (sponsorship, gate, and TV money being the big three,) and subtract the cost of running the event (renting the venue, paying the fighters being the two biggies, but also every little aspect of promoting a fight costs money ) what's left over is the profit

Yes most big purses come from TV. There's also gate and other sources of income but most of it is TV money

Im young and im really trying to understand the business side of boxing. Fighters only make good money when its televised on HBO or showtime, right? Is that where all the REAL money for a purse comes from? I was thinking about the idea of Macklin-Lee at MSG around paddys day next year, but I don't think HBO or showtime would have any interest in it as neither lee or macklin are A level fighters. So the fight ultimately wont happen because the money wouldn't match the risk. And im guessing this is why fighters aren't active, because if they don't have a TV date they'll have to take an extremely small payday to fight?? In addition to the money from the network the fighters could get a piece of the gate which for a Macklin-Lee St. Paddy's day scarp at the garden would be a nice bonus.