Is Boxing Really "Just a Business"?

[FRKO]

What are your opinions on this?

Of course, I believe that boxers should be well paid, after all, they put their lives on the line every time they step into the ring and I have nothing but respect for that, but is it really all about the cash? In my opinion, it shouldn't be. Money should be secondary. It's fights such as Mayweather - De la Hoya II that give boxing a bad name because they really are about generating as much money as possible. What are your thoughts?

[MANGLER]

In a perfect world the paydays wouldn't matter and the best would strive to fight the best all the time and settle for nothing less than the toughest fights possible. But that **** ain't never gonna happen. You'll always have guys that'll take on anybody, anytime, for any price and guys who balk for more cash. It's easy to be salty about it as fans though cuz we ain't in it. If all I had to do was spar and work out for 8 weeks then beat up some chump to make a few mil I wouldn't be complaining.

[Guest]

For the thousands of "professional fighters" who work full time jobs that have to train after work and on weekends, and get a couple hundred of dollars to fight, they probably wish it was a business and all about the cash.

After being broke a long time and finally getting a good fight, of course they are going to be very cash motivated.

They only have a finite amount of times they can get paid for boxing in their lives, so it's silly not to take full advantage.

If you think about it, most major sports command gigantic revenues, so it's definitely about the cash. Pro sportsmen hold out for more cash all the time in many major sports.

That's the way it is. It's an entertainment business like every other sport.

[MIAMI CANE]

At The End Of The Day, It's Just A Business. Love What You Do, But Dont Be Blind. Get Your Paper And Get Out.boxing Is A Brutal ****ing Sport. These Cats Train Day In And Day Out, Taking There Body Through **** Normal Cats Cant Even Fathom. Yes They Do It For Love, But Money Should Be The #1 Motivation.

[guzi815]

The mess up part is Oscar De La Hoya set out to "CLEAN-UP" the corruption surrounding Boxing. With his vastly wealthy Organization, and his immense contributions, you would think that may be the case. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that GBP is monopolizing the Sport. Like Bill Gates' empire, you CAN NOT purchase, endorse, or affiliate any computor program "WITHOUT" going through "MICROSOFT" first. Like forementioned, Promoters are having to go through Golden Boy Promotions to bring an event to a neighborhood near you. Call it Genius, call business man..but it all comes down to greed, which in turn is another word for corruption.

[abadger]

IMO boxing is as much a business as its possible to be, at least at the high profile levels. Lower down its about young up and coming fighters making names for themselves and experienced pros competing, more or less for the love of it, so there I think it is a sport.

At elite level, all involved are already proven to be exceptional and at that stage it becomes about getting what you can from the sport. There is nothing wrong with that, at the end of the day thats why everybody works, whatever they do, it just sometimes appears a bit cynical to the fans.

All of this is not the fighters fault though. There is no longer any real infrastructure to the sport because of the number of belts, sanctioning bodies, and the money, power and politics that go with it.

I welcome the increased prominence of the Ring belts and the increased trend to deride the alphabets. Best of all would be if some mega-rich billionaire took the whole thing over like Kerry Packer did with cricket and introduced proper, uncontestable rankings and enforced defences. Most other sports have systems like this in place without any bother, so why not boxing? It could only serve to make it more credible, more popular, and be good for the fighter's pockets too.
________
FETISH SMOKING

[FRKO]

For the thousands of "professional fighters" who work full time jobs that have to train after work and on weekends, and get a couple hundred of dollars to fight, they probably wish it was a business and all about the cash.

After being broke a long time and finally getting a good fight, of course they are going to be very cash motivated.

They only have a finite amount of times they can get paid for boxing in their lives, so it's silly not to take full advantage.

If you think about it, most major sports command gigantic revenues, so it's definitely about the cash. Pro sportsmen hold out for more cash all the time in many major sports.

That's the way it is. It's an entertainment business like every other sport.

I see your point. What I don't understand is comments such as one I saw earlier about "Floyd won't fight Cotto because he won't make 20 million out of it." The same forum member also mentioned that Floyd is waiting for Cotto to make a name for himself outside NYC.

WTF?

As I said, I understand what you're saying, but there comes a point where it all gets a bit ridiculous. How much money does Mayweather Jr. really need? I saw another article which stated that Floyd would earn around $170 million this year, even without any endorsements, yet he's not willing to fight Cotto because it won't generate enough millions?

I really don't get it.

This is not just a ***** about Floyd, btw, I'm just using that as one example.

[wmute]

I see your point. What I don't understand is comments such as one I saw earlier about "Floyd won't fight Cotto because he won't make 20 million out of it." The same forum member also mentioned that Floyd is waiting for Cotto to make a name for himself outside NYC.

WTF?

As I said, I understand what you're saying, but there comes a point where it all gets a bit ridiculous. How much money does Mayweather Jr. really need? I saw another article which stated that Floyd would earn around $170 million this year, even without any endorsements, yet he's not willing to fight Cotto because it won't generate enough millions?

I really don't get it.

This is not just a ***** about Floyd, btw, I'm just using that as one example.

He needs much less than what he already has.

Like almost everyone one earth (regardless of wealth) he still wants more.

Tough ****. that's life.

I would love to see that ****er fight every month and fight who I want, but if I was in his pants I would so the same. And those who say otherwise are lieing to everyone including themselves.

[wmute]

In a perfect world the paydays wouldn't matter and the best would strive to fight the best all the time and settle for nothing less than the toughest fights possible. But that **** ain't never gonna happen. You'll always have guys that'll take on anybody, anytime, for any price and guys who balk for more cash. It's easy to be salty about it as fans though cuz we ain't in it. If all I had to do was spar and work out for 8 weeks then beat up some chump to make a few mil I wouldn't be complaining.

really? like who? who would give up a payday to pick the fight you or I want?

[sarlick]

yep look at frank warren all he wants to do is make money out of his boxers