Is boxing now about money rather than glory?

[JJRod]

It is called Prize Fighting lol. Professional Sports athletes get paid... I'm not sure how people would survive if everyone just worked for free. A lot of these boxers get paid peanuts compared to the wear and tear put on them mentally and physically. Only the upper echelon get paid handsomely. You also forget the money spent on taxes, trainers, equipment, travel fare, manager fee, etc... that the fighter pays himself. Then you have fat cats like Bob Arum raping his cash cow of 27% of his money off the top. Blame the networks, promoters, managers, trainers, etc... along with the fighter for asking for too much money. Quit just blaming the fighters who don't make as much as it seems.

I can't wait to see how this Haymon NBC deal goes. I'd like boxing to become mainstream again. Boxers without any network to tie them down exclusively. I can't stand that I didn't get to see fights because of HBO exclusive and Showtime exclusive deals. I can't stand the promoters having so much say over the fighters like Bob Arum. I noticed most Haymon fighters are not signed to any certain promoter. The fighters need to have more say in who they fight rather than be handed certain options from the matchmakers of the promoter, discussed with the boxers manager(some managers like Koncz paid by the promoter to keep promoters best interest at hand), and then you get a minuscule list of possible fights that you can now sign. Also there are too many belts and corrupt belt organizations along with athletic commissions. There needs to be a true 1 ONE belt organization along with STRICT full random olympic style drug testing and forced mandatories.

Bob Arum also invests a lot in other fighters. There are fighters that he takes losses on for several years before he turns a profit on them. Same with other promoters.

This is really why sometimes we don't get the fights we want right away. A promoter is investing a lot of money in fighter A and he might feel he might not be ready for fighter B. Doesn't want to throw away all that investment, if he knows his fighter isn't ready and might get destroyed and ruined.

[Jc8804]

PrizeFighting

[CJRock]

PrizeFighting

There can be no greater feeling than to hear your name introduced as..

THE WINNER & THE NEW UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!

I DREAMED ABOUT IT OFTEN AS A KID

[bigfo0t]

Different strokes for different folks. Some fighters actually DO care more about things like legacy, reputation, greatness, pride, glory, and immortality in the history books.. That is the ultimate "prize" in their minds. That is their dream. As long as they are making enough to live comfortably, those things will matter more to these guys than potentially making a lot more money and living large in luxury at the cost of their reputation. These types are a dying breed IMHO..

More and more "fighters" just seem to care way more about money nowadays, too brainwashed in our current materialistic culture, they tend to believe money is everything and can buy them anything.. but the thing is, you can't buy legacy or reputation.. but a great legacy can potentially make you a lot of money later on after you retire. Just my 2¢..

[Tony Trick-Pony]

Different strokes for different folks. Some fighters actually DO care more about things like legacy, reputation, greatness, pride, glory, and immortality in the history books.. That is the ultimate "prize" in their minds. That is their dream. As long as they are making enough to live comfortably, those things will matter more to these guys than potentially making a lot more money and living large in luxury at the cost of their reputation. These types are a dying breed IMHO..

More and more "fighters" just seem to care way more about money nowadays, too brainwashed in our current materialistic culture, they tend to believe money is everything and can buy them anything.. but the thing is, you can't buy legacy or reputation.. but a great legacy can potentially make you a lot of money later on after you retire. Just my 2¢..

Well put. Each one is different. I think Hopkins and Marquez and Pacquiao definitely care abut legacy. Morales said he had plenty of money when he came back and that it wasn't about money. I think when they reach the point to where they can comfortably get by from here on out, it isn't necessarily about money anymore. Ksotya Tszyu thought about coming despite having plenty of money. Said his problem was he had to stay busy. He didn't come back but definitely could have.

As far as materialist, Mayweather is probably the worst.

[tjones1989]

Boxing has become a joke. All the fighters care about is money, which I obviously can't blame them for. But from a fan perspective it SUCKS. With all the ducking going on all around we should just raname this sport track and field.

[CANELOLUJAH]

It always have been but before you had to actually fight and become a legit champion before you seen that money now you can maneuver and duck and hide your way into that type of money today thats why people are more likely to duck fighters today.

[joesaiditstrue]

of course not.

Belt holders in the same division always fight each other without their titles on the line, and in 10 round fights, at catchweights.

It's the norm bruh

[joseph5620]

It used to be all about glory... for the top fighters.

The sport itself has always been about the Money with close ties to the criminal underground.

This generation's greater emphasis on materialism has shifted the mentality of most fighters, especially with guys like Mayweather and Broner to look up to.

It's never been just about glory. If you believe that you're living in a fantasy world.

[HAY-B]

For the fighter, yes boxing is more about the money now but the business of boxing has always been about the money. If it was not about money it would not be here now.