For the Pros

[Squabbles94806]

Can somebody explain to me (preferably a pro) what's the purpose of having a promotion team?

Can't fighters promote themselves? I'm just wondering about the business aspect of boxing.

Someone break down the whole promotional production procedure purpose?

[larryx]

same reason rappers have street teams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!boxers are suppose to train and fight...they can only promote so much

[The Gambler1981]

Well, you have a promotion team to help get the word out about the fight. A fighter needs to worry about getting prepared for the fight so if they have to take on to much that could lead to bad things happeaning them to the ring. Don't get me wrong the fighter needs to be invovled in the promotion to make any fight as big as it can be, they just can not be handling ever little detail, so they pay people to do it for them.

[Mr. Ryan]

Can somebody explain to me (preferably a pro) what's the purpose of having a promotion team?

Can't fighters promote themselves? I'm just wondering about the business aspect of boxing.

Someone break down the whole promotional production procedure purpose?

A fighter has to train and concentrate on the opponent. The fight coming up has to take priority over that.

So if a fighter promotes himself, everything he needs to finance to make the show come off has to come out of his own pocket. That means he has to put the down payment on the venue, the insurance, the advertising, the flights and contracts for the fighters, the television production.

That's a lot to worry about before a fight, right?

If it's a big venue, say 20K capacity, it can cost like 60K for the venue booking fee and insurance alone. Throw on the cost of travel for the fighters and their trainers, you're looking at an addition 80K for an 8 fight card.

Then you have to advertise, because no one will know about the fight and buy a ticket. After advertising, you have to follow up with the media and make sure they do coverage.

At the same time, you're running around doing radio and television interviews, exposing yourself to the elements. You have to make public appearances and sign autographs and hawk tickets as well.

Then you have to spend hours on the phone with managers and matchmakers finding fights that work inside your budget.

On fight night, you have to warm up for the fight and get ready and stay focused. Who is running the show when you're in the dressing room?

Also, your opponent is well rested, had time to fully prepare and has been focused on one task: Kicking your ass. You see how it can be a total disadvantage now, right?

[Squabbles94806]

Hmmmm....i see. So you got a promoter, a trainer/manager, and fighter.

On "Strikeforce" (MMA promotion based in San Jose) the fighters get paid based on how many tickets they personally sell. But boxing is a multi-million dollar enterprise because........?

Explain the "production" title. So DLH is a producer, technically? The promoters put up the money for fights?

[Mr. Ryan]

Hmmmm....i see. So you got a promoter, a trainer/manager, and fighter.

On "Strikeforce" (MMA promotion based in San Jose) the fighters get paid based on how many tickets they personally sell. But boxing is a multi-million dollar enterprise because........?

Explain the "production" title. So DLH is a producer, technically? The promoters put up the money for fights?

Undercard fighters fight for tickets all the time. On a local show, the "A side" fighter (the favorite), is brought in as a local attraction to entice fans in. To pay for his purse, it will be contractually stipulated that he must sell say, $1500 in tickets, and after that he will receive 10% of the net ticket sales he brings in. The ticket money must be turned in at the weigh-in. Here is the language.

Purse Agreement between Promoter and Boxer is as follows: Boxer shall sell $1,500 in tickets. After that amount is reached, boxer will receive 10% of net ticket sales.

His opponent will not have to fight for tickets, he gets paid because he's just there as a punching bag.

DLH is not a producer because HBO produces the fights, so since they spent the money to film it, they own the rights to the film. Unless the promoter buys the rights from them, then they can sell it overseas to other networks, minus the HBO commentary.