How fast was Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950? Find out here.

[Elroy1]

Nothing but pure nonsense....don't you read the other replies you dope?

I'll respond to Joe, even if he eventually maintains the sport has not become more professional in the end.

But this guy is so far beyond reality it's ridiculous and deserves to be publically exposed and downgraded for his insolence.

Ray's story about glorious Roman Empire style gladiator tournaments neglects the fact that these guys often woke up the morning before these fights in a boxcar covered in a newspaper and were basically fighting for sandwiches, not money

[Elroy1]

We all know what would happen today if Wladimir Klitschko or MAnny Pacquaio lined up 20 "Box Car Joe" type fighters like Ali, Louis and Robinson did..

They would never lose a round, would knock every single opponent out and raise their KOratio to around 100%.

And the fans would be UTTERLY disgusted, and turn OFF their TV sets and cancel their PPV subscriptions.

And no LOL Somehow I doubt they would be flocking into local stadiums to watch WK or MAnny carry a bum a week from a local club several rounds even though they could flatten them in seconds.

That crap just doesn't cut it anymore.

If I wanted to see skilless, un-athletic swingers like Frazier, Galento and LaMotta I would go to the pub and watch it in far better quality!

The fact that the champ (Louis) was KD'd by Galento is an EXPOSURE of Louis and his entire era.

The fact that Robinson lost to and ALWAYS struggled with LAMotta is an EXPOSURE of Robinson and his entire era.

The fact that Ali lost to and ALWAYS struggled with Frazier is an EXPOSURE of Ali and his entire era.

These are the real facts Ray!

If thAT is even your real name!

[joeandthebums]

And the fans would be UTTERLY disgusted, and turn OFF their TV sets and cancel their PPV subscriptions.

Transporting this concept into the current era, I would not expect HBO or Showtime to carry these fights.

Though to build anticipation for upcoming bouts, due to length between contests they commissioned series such as 24/7 and 360 to keep boxers in public eye - you could equate this to previous eras regular contests to maintain interest and build name.

And no LOL Somehow I doubt they would be flocking into local stadiums to watch WK or MAnny carry a bum a week from a local club several rounds even though they could flatten them in seconds.

That crap just doesn't cut it anymore.

It doesn't cut it because of the business model of the sport.

Boxers could earn approx. 25% of their "big-fight" purses in tune-up contests.

I will use Manny Pacquiao as an example since you referenced him.


Pacquiao Tune-up

Manny Pacquiao vs.Sam Eggington, Copper Box Arena, London

If we place Pacquiao "big-fight" purse at $20 million, a 25% fee would give him a $5 million purse.


Expenditure:

Rental of Arena: $18,500
Additional Costs: $72,000
Purses: Pacquiao $5 million, Eggington $100,000
Undercard Purses: $100,000

Total: $5.3 million

Income:

Ticket Sales: $1 million *
Sponsorship: $250,000
Merchandise: $250,000

Total: $1.5 million

Promotional loss: $3.8 million


* Arena capacity: 7,500

$60 per ticket x 750: $45,000
$100 per ticket x 3,000: $300,000
$180 per ticket x 3,750: $675,000


I used a small arena to highlight the inability of the old business model to work for today's top boxers.

At a venue with a large capacity, for example 50,000 and using the same ticket pricing and distribution as above - ticket sales would generate $6.5 million.

However this would have to be offset against increased expenditure costs.

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Fans would attend these events, I cite a Mayweather open training session at Peac.ock's Gym, London - 2009.