Is Top Rank having money problems?

[Motorcity Cobra]

There's reason why when #HerringFrampton was announced it didn't include ESPN/ESPN+ component. No deal was made & Top Rank, while allowing fight to go forward with Warren promoting in UK, wasn't going to foot bill via its ESPN budget. Woulda paid some, but not bulk of $. Impasse. https://t.co/CZONKHIU8o

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) February 17, 2021

[TernceBudCharlo]

I think they are in the interview with fight hype today Bob said he can't afford to keep doing these fights without fans so he's intentionally waiting off until Vegas Nevada allows fans in the stands to have many fights

[The3]

Yes remember before covid19 the plan was to have top rank guys fight overseas boxing is dead in the USA

[Dodger07]

I'm sure all promotions are struggling atm but Top Rank in particular seems even more susceptible. They have a top heavy but thin stable of fighters. They've been overpaying guys like Loma and Crawford for years while feeding them lesser level fighters. With no revenue to attempt to break even, they can't afford to do that anymore.

[anonymous2.0]

They've been having trouble for years, that's part of the reason why they jumped to ESPN and also why Bob invested so heavily in Zhou Shiming, trying to break into the Chinese audience and Macau.

[Motorcity Cobra]

They've been having trouble for years, that's part of the reason why they jumped to ESPN and also why Bob invested so heavily in Zhou Shiming, trying to break into the Chinese audience and Macau.

Breaking into the Chinese market was smart. I don't think that was a big risk because they didn't invest much.

HBO was struggling that's why they went to ESPN.

This is one of the two belts they control at 130 & its not a bad fight.

[Blueboy3]

The well is drying up for everyone from the top guys to the bottom

[paulf]

There's not a promoter in boxing that isn't having money problems right now.

[Robi13]

There's not a promoter in boxing that isn't having money problems right now.

I beg to differ... Zuffa Boxing is doing just fine 👌

['b']

I think they are in the interview with fight hype today Bob said he can't afford to keep doing these fights without fans so he's intentionally waiting off until Vegas Nevada allows fans in the stands to have many fights

Most logical answer. Risk vs reward - promoting fights is an investment, you put money in to make money - these times of quarantine are hard and promoters will have to carefully manage the risk/reward and be selective of which fights they INVEST in.

EDIT: In conclusion, money problems or no we can only assume the coronavirus has made a big impact on financial decisions. Whether they return to 'business as usual' after COVID is anyone's guess.