It’s all about the Benjamin’s.When money hurts boxing.
Mike Cassell “The
I am certainly not a communist when it comes to the economics of the game boxing. If you want to get right down to it, boxing may be the only sport left, which practices the “purest” form of capitalism in the world. There is no “revenue sharing”, or collective bargaining, like the NFL, which in essence, is based on socialistic principles.
But like anything, if you put your complete bottom line on the almighty dollar, even if you win the round, you may lose the fight in the long run. In order for boxing to succeed, the matchmakers need to see the bigger picture, instead of the more immediately visible bank account balances. Is taking one step back financially, to go two steps forward professionally, a bad thing?
When Antonio Margarito offered Floyd Mayweather Jr. 6 million for a fight, but almost in the same breath, said he wouldn’t fight for Jose Antonio Rivera’s 154lb title, and all the “Champion” wanted was a measly 1 million. That said loads about the state of the boxing game now. Everybody wants the bacon, and titles seem unimportant. If it is all about money, then why have titles? What do they mean? What is the point of working your whole life to obtain a title, only to watch more “visible” fighters, battle for less achievement, but more money?
Let’s just put a dollar amount on each fighters head. Forget about belts and sanctioning bodies. Everybody will just walk around with a number, and the highest numbers will fight, and the lowest numbers will try to get on HBO or SHOWTIME to get their numbers higher. Forget about styles, or ability, or putting together matches that are exciting. Let’s just look at the value they could bring in that day. That is all that really matters right? So every fighter has a number that is visible, like on the back of their shirt. And they can get them all together, in a big area, and the matchmakers can walk around, pick the biggest numbers, and make those matches. Sounds a lot like prison, just ask Jr. Middleweight Champion Jose Rivera, whose number is low, but is a professional success story in his own rite.
Sometimes matches have to made, that will not generate “big” money now, but will generate interest in a sport, that is losing ground yearly. You can only go to the Well so many times before it starts to run dry. With the rise of UFC, and PRIDE fighting over the past five years, the writing may be on the wall for boxing promoters and matchmakers. Make fights that will be exciting to watch, regardless of promoter, or financial return. Look at the big picture. Today you have a choice, tomorrow you may not.
Mike Cassell
ESPN RADIO 920