boxing managers trying to sign me to a contract, questions

[thealfa]

I wouldn't sign **** saying they can steal you if I was you... you can turn pro whenever you want, so go to the Golden Gloves Tournament and do your best, after that if you feel you would like to go pro then keep your options open, contact those guys and some other guys and see what is the best deal.

Just a little advice mate, cause the steal you bit sounds extremely dodgy to me to be honest.

Another good idea would be to ask your coach, in all fairness its easy to ask us other guys when we are not in the same position, maybe if you ask a coach at your gym as well as asking for some feedback from us he might be able to give you some better advice.

I am in the U.S. (Chicago), I'm not sure you can turn pro whenever you want, if that's the case I would have done it already on my own. There is no money in amateurs. This manager I'm talkin to mentioned something about having 10-15 amateur fights before turning pro. Winning a Golden Gloves would be a plus for marketing he said. No money in it, just national recognition and trophies.

The thing that this manager likes about me is that I am not afraid to turn pro, and very enthusiastic about it actually. He managed a Golden Gloves heavyweight local champion few years back, he wasn't a national champion, but a local (Chicago), and was scared to turn pro, so the manager just dropped everything. Then I came into the picture, wanting to turn pro ASAP. Another thing he likes about me is that I am from the Philippines, born in Manila (Philippines), grew up in the U.S. and there might be some marketability to this (i.e. could face Manny Pacquiao in 2 years if he doesn't retire?) Who knows? I'm working on dropping down to his weight class since I am 5' 7" and 160 (currently). Who knows? Filipino vs. Filipino could be interesting...

[alphaqfrankie]

No I'm not a minor. It is rare that a manager would give a contract that will screw him/or her in the end by having a fighter that was nurtured or got started by him/or her, then at 18, the boxer runs off with another manager. this is called screwing someone over. no smart business person would ever write a contract that could screw him/or her over in the end. if people have heart, they will know what's fair. we sometimes have to take chances you know?

haha I know that man. I was just making a point that you weren't trap. I dont know why you come on here looking for advice. It seems you think you know what your doing... going by the way you answer some of the questions. good luck man

[thealfa]

haha I know that man. I was just making a point that you weren't trap. I dont know why you come on here looking for advice. It seems you think you know what your doing... going by the way you answer some of the questions. good luck man

nothing wrong with hearing out what you and others have to say. Well atleast I think i know what I'm doing is better than having zero clue at all. I could probably use more advice as well though that's why I came here.

[thealfa]

ok here we go. the manager is named claude davis, he claims he fought as a heavyweight under the name mohammad staffoo davis (who?) in the 70's. I can't a find a record on this guy, which is funny. He claims he is Ali's friend and have fought under Ali's undercards (The Ali, Cassius Clay). I have not signed a contract with this guy cause I smell something fishy. He has a fighter that is turning pro now. The thing is this manager wants me to do him a favor (pick this fighter up from the Southside of Chicago and drop him off to his, the manager's house in suburbia Illinois so they can get his eye exam). A favor means it's free. I'd be a driver to this guy for free. I'd spend more than 2 hours driving this guy to where he needs to be and I go home, all for free. No money. Is this manager broke, a scam, or what? Shouldn't he be financing this guy's activities? Like pay for his ****ing cab? The fighter is coming from East Chicago, IN (border of Southside Chicago), and from what I'm told he is 22 and have no car or real/regular job. I DO!!! Like I said I have not signed a thing with this manager yet. Once I go to his place to drop this fighter off, he will give me a contract to sign. All this scenario appears as if "intimidation" will come to play for me to sign it. No such thing works with me. I am a ****ing monster as well. I moved to Chicago all on my own dime this past May, by way of Maryland (I trained in Laurel, then Baltimore, Maryland). Intimidation and "******" of Chicago doesn't scare me. It is laughable actually. ha! ha! Another thing about this guy is he ask me to train in the Southside of Chicago, this takes me 18 miles to get to, another 18 to get back home. I live in Northside of Chicago (the city, not the suburbs). All on my own dime when there is a gym near me (under 1 mile) that I should have been training in. These are park district boxing gyms meaning it is FREE and owned and operated by the city! Some trainers are slackers because they want a little something extra (money) on the side to train and take fighters to amateur fights then eventually the Golden Gloves (and other tournaments?). Are these trainers on a salary? If so, I then figured. Much like teachers who are on salary they do a half-assed job, still get paid either way. We've all had them in the great U.S.A.

I'm 26, I'm old enough, I work, I live on my own, I have my own money, and to me it does appear that I AM MY OWN MANAGER! Should I even continue talking to this guy? I know a scumbag when I see or hear one talk. I could call up a lawyer to read my contract. How much does Shelly Finkel charge?

If anyone here have a better option or people they know that I should talk to in Chicago, talk to me please! I am dead serious. I will pay a trainer to take me to the fight night as an amateur, how much? Not much. Maybe $100 a fight? If I have to? I'd get another job to finance my boxing career, if I have to? I want to get a Golden Gloves so that way I can be the ONE to manage and negotiate deals. Like I said if you think I am a rookie, that want money or be taken care of by anyone, a manager, you are wrong, I take care of myself, all I want is someone legit and honest (which is lacking in boxing).

And yeah, Mike Tyson got a free ride from Cus D'Amato. He was a kid back then after all. I'm not! So whoever is legit and honest here, and want to move forward with this, talk to me.

This manager I am talkin to is offering a 3 page contract. He mentioned amateurs can't be in a contract only pros, so therefore he calls this "sponsorship" contract. Tricky. So when I turn out to be good, he can turn me into pro, thus "owning" me. I don't know how long the contract is for. Doesn't sponsoring someone require offering financial means? Well then where is the money?

Like I said I have doubts and questions about people in the boxing game. Anyone here honest enough to come out of the closet?

[lparm]

here's the thing: there is a manager who wants to sign me to a contract while I'm still doing the amateur thing and leaning towards the Golden Gloves tournament next year, so that way if I turn out to be good no other managers/people in boxing would "steal me".

What's the advice?

Eat a baby ostrich, call Pacquiao a ***** then put it on youtube you'll have promoters and managers lining up.

[Rockin']

When do you ever pay a promoter from your purse, never heard of that bs..................Rockin'

[Rockin']

you have to pay trainers to take you to fights? Never heard of that either.

If your as bad as you say then go buy your pro license and talk to the promoters in town.

I know one in chicago and a few in detroit. tell me your age weight and when you'll be ready to roll and we could probably set something up for you. Dont expect to be spoon fed...................Rockin'

[MindBat]

I'd say before signing anything, do background check on those managers to get a feel for their status on integrity.

Look over any contracts with an attorney who's not connected, and go through it with a fine tooth comb.

I would avoid anything long term until you get to know you're way around the industry.

The sharks be swimming after fresh, promising talent.

[Rockin']

Honestly, I dont believe much of what Im reading in this thread....................Rockin'

[Rockin']

The sharks be swimming after fresh, promising talent.

its called fresh meat in this case, not talent....................Rockin'