I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Fighters fall out with managers over money that's a given.Fighters fall out with managers because they believe they don't get the fights they deserve or title fights that is a given.Very rarely have a fighter & manager fallen out over who chose to fight at a location.It wasn't as straightforward as you think.

Barry McGuigan & Barney Eastwood were on top of the world summer of 85'.Eastwood had negotiated a title fight in london against long reigning WBA FWGT champ Eusebio Pedroza who was on the way down.McGuigan triumphed in front of 26,000 fans all Ireland celebrated as did the UK a man had crossed many divides to unite different religions & nations.He became coverted Sports Personality of the Year massive accolade in the UK at the time.Sponsorships,endorsements & just as many well meaning advisors soon followed.

They had been through a lot together very close working relationship McGuigan had suffered two early setbacks losing to Peter Eubank in his third pro fight(Chris brother)& the death of Young Ali in his 12th he nearly gave up but overcame the heartache of his 6th round ko of Ali.McGuigan's Dad Pat & also Eastwood claimed he was also fighting for two & to carry on he did.

Little over a year later they were never to speak again other than in court.Two defences of the title against Taylor then Cabrera had passed.McGuigan signed to fight in Caesars Palace in june 86' against Steve Cruz a plumber by trade paid $15,000 it was the fight to get him across in the USA.Cruz written off as a club fighter.

In 110 degree heat McGuigan wilted after being well ahead by the mid point of the fight.Knocked down in the 10th & 15th rounds due to exhaustion rather than the punches he dropped a UD.McGuigan spent the night in hospital due to dehydration fingers were pointed at Eastwood why make that fight in that heat?Madness.

They split Eastwood eventually won damages many years later in court over McGuigan's autobiography.

Eastwood never wanted him to fight Cruz in the open stifling Vegas heat McGuigan had lots of other advisors telling him otherwise.Just like he never wanted McGuigan to fight Azumah Nelson a fight McGuigan wanted Nelson was a beast UK world rated Pat Cowdell living proof how dangerous he was in a highlight reel KO loss.

Eastwood still had a copy of a 750,000$ contract Wilfredo Gomez had agreed to for a fight in either MSG or Dublin venue pending.Gomez like Pedroza it had to be said had seen better days.

 

Its well known that Amir Khan had his family dictating his management until he lost and the right move to Freddie Roach was made.

 

With family it is a case of the old line 'we know best we care for you we are your family' in some cases often it isn't.A good manager in any walk of life esp boxing has the one ingredient missing experience good & bad.How to move a career along going well what do we do when it goes off track.Plan A is great but if i was a fighter i am just as interested about Plan B it's called realism.

Any fighter with potential star quality has to endure the hangers on again a given unless surrounded by the right management & family or the fighter themselves is aware enough of the signs.Sadly the hangers on ARE often the family the fighter viewed as a living breathing lottery winning ticket the guilt trips then start & everybody tries to get a peice.The phonecalls,visits & emotional support good & bad soon dry up if a career doesn't go to plan.

Khan is a great example family & hangers on all blowing smoke up him 24/7 been through loads of different trainers family made decisions not 100% Khan's call by any means that word advisors pop up.A fighter IMO needs to get a feel for a trainer & his manager trust is hard to build easy to break.Often the people they believe they should trust (the family in most cases)let them down simply because they are out of their depth & potentially swimming with sharks!

 

Its not just Boxing, thats Life :rofl.

 

Surprisingly it does, Ego's are everywhere.

 

Definitely not to the extent that it happens in boxing tho...

 

There are single team coaching staffs for football, baseball, and hockey teams, right?

Players associations and unions that help with rights management.

Licensing for many managers, which helps players avoid outright criminals.

Fighting is not centralized into one league, or governed by the same rules, regulations or oversights as other sports.

On top of that, fighters come from working class backgrounds and don't often have an idea how to manage themselves.

 

Scrap very true in some parts!

The difference between Boxing & pretty much all other pro sports is the actual structure of a contract.If you are not fighting you are not earning simply because of maybe bad management or limited contacts.No union protection try treating pro's in other sports this way wouldn't happen!

Team sports of course totally different contract guarantees basic earnings be it football here or any US sport.If you are not picked frozen out half the players couldn't care less they will be paid regardless.

A bad contract in boxing is a whole different conundrum!

 

One side of me agrees with you,but I work with Sports People across the Board. My Feedback tells a different story.