Booth has never knowingly under valued his services but any Fighter who signs with him knows that. It's interesting that Booth stopped training Groves a week before the first fight with Froch. Booth had prepared Groves to perfection and he never hit those heights again. I can't think of a Fighter who has left Booth and improved and that's what you pay for.
Judge Booth on everything but not the percentage he takes, because the fighter agrees that themselves. If they don't know about it then that's their fault no one elses. Fighters need to smarten up in that regard honestly, the whole notion of "I just fight whoever is put in front of me" is embarrassing we've moved on from the gladiator days. Top fighters have like three fights a year. That leaves plenty of time to sort out your finances. Boxingforum24's favourite fighter Andre Ward took his management to court over his finances being messed about because he recognised that its his responsibility.
I watched the podcast on YT and my take was that what GG was saying was mostly true but obviously left out parts which suited him. I mean I doubt Booth suddenly decided on the week of the Froch fight that he just didn't want to train him anymore , there were clearly problems in the run up to the fight, like someone mentioned GG may have tried to put Booth on a flat fee or something , I remember hearing something at the time. Think Booth tried calling his bluff about the press conference and when GG agreed he was probably kicking himself a bit. Two sides to very story though . GG also said how hard it was in the run up to the rematch as he was basically managing himself and it was alot of work, you get what you pay for alot of the time.
he didnt just decide to stop training him, he was messing george about before the press conference, George called hi on it, booth spat the dummy and said he wouldn't train him
That is not the point of the post though, the point being, Booth stopped training him the week before the biggest fight of his career and left him with no trainer, left in a very difficult position, but Booth decided for his own benefit, he will stay on as manager and take the 25%, the 25% is not the issue as such, the issue is Booth deciding that he won't train him but will still manage him and take the 25%. As other have alluded to, if the relationship had broken down so bad, Booth should have stepped away as manager and trainer, especially as Groves no longer wanted him to manage him, but it would seem Booth wanted to ensure he continued to benefit to the tune of 25% regardless of how bad the relationship had been. of course there will be another side to this story, however i would be surprised if what groves has said was not generally what happened.
My late Dad used to say there are 3 ! sides to most story's : 1st persons side- 2nd persons side- and the TRUTH .
Does it with a few of his fighters. Quite a few do. It's ok when the trainer/fighter relationship is going well. The issue occurs if and when it breaks down.
I agree with the majority that Booth seems very awkward and difficult to deal with, listening to the podcast made me like Groves even more and I’ve always been a massive fan.. talk about being your own man. Will always be one of my favourite British fighters
I remember Groves in the run up to the second Froch fight. He was absolutely everywhere, he did a great job for himself. He was even on the Paul O’Grady show with a cut out ‘cardboard Carl’ (I think this was a dig at Froch’s boxing) Groves must have made him and Froch an extra few hundred grand minimum from non boxing people with his exploits in the run up. What a slime ball Booth is! I remember a big hour long interview (possibly on IFL) after the first Froch fight. I’m sure he was all on Groves’ side. Now it makes sense, if he was getting 25% for absolutely nothing then why not. Evidence suggests he can’t a likeable character as several fighters have tried him out for a short period and then leave. I’m sure David Price And Eubank jr are a couple of them.
I'm a fan of Adam Booth as a trainer - some of his boxer's have had tremendous performances under him, and his gameplan's are regularly spot on. The way he had George Groves box James Degale was sublime, and a few of Haye's gameplan's under him were also very good. However I'm not convinced of him as a manager. If you say Groves & Haye are his best boxers, then in reality they managed themselves if we're honest. Booth did well with Groves on the domestic scene, but in terms of actually making himself a name it was all Groves himself after the split. Haye has been one of the biggest self-promoters in british boxing since Eubank.
