Comments Thread For: Froch: Saudi Arabia's Millions Are 'Ruining' Boxing

[Eff Pandas]

I hear what you're saying but there are pros and cons to the Saudi involvement and the youtuber boxers. Yes, it's good that the Saudi's have enough cash to make big fights that would have otherwise had a small chance of happening but it also means less money and attention is going towards local cards in other parts of the world where there are a lot of up and coming boxers who are seeking opportunities to be seen on a broadcasted fight card. With less big fights happening in the UK and the US in particular, the undercard fights who would be on those cards now have to fight on even smaller cards for less money.
As for the youtubers, I honestly don't think they will bring that much more interest to boxing long term. Most of the youtube fans are interested in one thing, seeing their favourite youtubers in the ring. If such youtube boxers get beat or stop boxing for whatever reason, their legions of prepubescent lemming fans will most likely go away with them.

That in theory sounds like a bigger issue than it'll be in practice. The Saudis, from most accounts, are only planning on doing 6ish shows a year. If 6 shows mess up a whole countries boxing foundation I'd argue they didn't have much of a foundation to begin with. If they end up doing monthly or more frequent shows at some point maybe I could see an issue, but otherwise this feels like more of a fluke thing that could end tomorrow or it'll just help make fights that otherwise wouldn't be makeable like Fury vs Usyk or Beterbiev vs Bivol. So I don't think we will have legit issues, but if Saudi is doing 18-24 cards a year with the same marketing as these last few then I'd agree with you it could be a legit issue to other big players in the boxing sphere.

Go look at YT. Every 3rd popular YT guy gots boxing content somewhere on their channel now I think. Some regularly talk about it now. Many are pursuing it with that KSI misfits & other leagues. And its also exploded in the legit boxing guy creator community on YT. Go on YT during any big fight & you'll find multiple ppl doing live commentary & getting hundreds of dollars in tips. That was super rare in the past.

For sure this YT interest in boxing has helped the sport & in 10-15yrs I guarantee we'll have some P4P talent who'll say Jake Paul, KSI or Logan or maybe some guy who hasn't fought yet influenced him to start boxing.

[Ragga1]

I wonder if Carl Froch would be saying this if he was in his prime. Here’s £20 million to fight in Saudi Arabia or here’s £10 million to fight in the UK for the fans.

[TheOneAboveAll]

Noble thoughts from a retired fighter, but professional boxing will never be as organized as Froch imagines it could be. This sport will always be every man for himself, and that's fine. It's the way of the world.

[crimsonfalcon07]

Someone is jealous that he's no longer relevant enough to get those paydays himself.

[K--]

Saudi is just allowing boxing financials to continue as it has been without solving any the industries underlying problems. Once Saudi feels that they don't need boxing to promote tourism in their region - they won't be so cool with losing money on events like they have been. At which point boxers will be even more spoiled and no promoter will be able to make money on an event with the best and most famous fighters.

The goal should be some middle ground between the excesses that the Ali act has brought and the way the UFC runs their promotion.

[lilacp]

The exaggerated amount that the Saudis are paying are making fights possible. But it will bottle up other fighters in the future in taking big challenges standing by the Saudis to open their wallets.

Exactly. In the long run it can easily make things worse. But it's not just about the Saudis, it's a broader phenomenon that's become increasingly terrible Seeing the Saudis as saviors of the sport is a fantasy. More money in boxing isn't necessarily bad, of course, but it's the ways you use that money, where does it go, and what kind of impact that has on the boxing world in general.

As Froch is suggesting, most boxing promoters are there to make money off of boxers and then spit them out after they retire. That's a hard fact that every decent boxing historian (amateur or not) can showcase. There are exceptions of course, but most boxers end up with little money after a fight, even some of those who are in championship fights (remember those damn belt fees also). For the hell that boxers go through, putting their lives on the line every time they step into the ring, they should be much better taken care of than they are, and this isn't something that the Saudis (or Hearn for that matter) are particularly interested in. Yes, of course it's called prizefighting, but that doesn't make it morally alright.

[TyrantT316]

I think something that people overlook is Froch isn't saying that big fights happening is "bad". He is saying that we shouldn't act as if the Saudi money is "saving" the sport. It's surlely putting big fights on TV/PPV that might otherwise take longer to happen simply because there are larger round numbers behind it.

But it's not necessarily helping the sport as a whole. That includes the fighters who are getting into the business. That includes the retired fighters. That includes issues with sanctioning bodies, etc. So far it's proved to make the richest fighters richer. Saudi money isn't helping the young fighter turning pro looking for a trustworthy promoter who isn't held to a good standard. It's enticing the already 11 million dollar star fighter into becoming a 20 million dollar fighter. No one here knows what Froch has done for the sport of boxing enough to say "who has Froch helped?".

The Saudi money has put on some interesting cards and big HW bouts, but is it putting Canelo in with Benevidez? Is it producing a commission, rankings and belt system that benefits the prize for many fighters? Or is it just throwing a lot of money at the most entertaining HW fights only?

[Phase III]

The Saudi’s believe that throwing money at boxers and footballers is enough to white wash their horrific record on human rights and the killing of Kashoggi. Everyone is running for the Saudi blood money with no care in the world for their lack of a moral compass.

[lilacp]

I think something that people overlook is Froch isn't saying that big fights happening is "bad". He is saying that we shouldn't act as if the Saudi money is "saving" the sport. It's surlely putting big fights on TV/PPV that might otherwise take longer to happen simply because there are larger round numbers behind it.

But it's not necessarily helping the sport as a whole. That includes the fighters who are getting into the business. That includes the retired fighters. That includes issues with sanctioning bodies, etc. No one here knows what Froch has done for the sport of boxing enough to say "who has Froch helped?".

The Saudi money has put on some interesting cards and big HW bouts, but is it putting Canelo in with Benevidez? Is it producing a commission, rankings and belt system that benefits the prize for many fighters? Or is it just throwing a lot of money at the most entertaining HW fights only?

Exactly. Time will tell, of course, but anyone with at least some limited understanding how big money capitalists like the Saudi operate in general should know that it's all about maximizing profits and cutting losses. Sure, they may be fans of the sport, but ultimately it's all about generating capital, both directly and indirectly, by attracting big moneyed people's attention into their country and generating more investment in its economy.

[Wacked_Out]

The Saudis have the power to save boxing by offering ridiculous money only if a fighter IS NOT a runner. If everyone gets the big bag except runners, there would be no more runners.