Why dont modern day fighters, fight more often?

They figured out how to make more money and fight less through promotion/advertising/PPV.

 

That and back in the day, there was no 'amatuer' career for the most part...

 

Pretty much this.

And in all honesty fighting twice a year with only 2 training camps>>>>>Fighting every day of the week & twice on Sunday

 

The game has changed.

 

What difference does that make?

Fighters back then went pro at around the same age as fighters today.

 

Although they dont fight as often as in the old days i believe they should fight more often, not 2 times a year but 4 times is reasonable.

 

u would of been seeing more elite boxers fighting bums,

 

more would,


how many tv dates can a guy get in a month think about it,

Sure they could fight in small halls but without tv I dotn think that would cover the medicals , let alone getting paid


Only chance is when guys start out m if they have a good manager that can get them lots of undercard fites and you gotta travel

Toeny had 22 in a year I think

 

For one thing,they make enough money that they dont need to.

Especially the title holders.

Back in the old days,some champs of the world lived on the same block as the fans watching him.

Blue collar guys.

 

They're lazy and scared of losing. If you fight 8 times a year it is far more likely to get sparked by some random bum. That's why many modern day fighters just fight 1-2 times a year and spend the rest of the year running their mouth how exciting and great they are.

 

Couldnt agree more, but in alot of ways its the top fighters calling the shots, unlike in the past, where they were nothing more than cattle.

 

To say they're lazy is nonsense. Prospects when coming through the ranks fight more because they have to generally. To say that someone who doesn't fight is "lazy" or "scared" to lose is ridiculous.

First and foremost boxing is a brutal sport and I wouldn't encourage anyone to fight that often past 6 rounds (hence why prospects can fight that often).

Secondly, Stateside, boxing isn't shown on free American tv networks thus the pool of money is smaller. Also, because the promoters tend to NOT work with each other all that often, you'll have more mismatches..

Now I do think 3 times is sufficient for established guys...

 

Mainly because of money. Big name fighters get paid enough so they don't have to.

Back in the early 20th century, the HW champions were still well-paid. They often fought in exhibitions rather than actual title defenses, because they were well-paid for it. Before Joe Louis, look at how frequent the HW champs defended their titles.

Jack Johnson: Wins HW title in late 1908. 4 title defenses in 1909. 1 title defense in 1910. No fights in 1911. 1 title defense in 1912. 1 title defense in 1913 (considered by some to not be on the level). 2 fights, 1 title defense in 1914. 1 title fight in 1915.

Jess Willard: After beating Johnson for the title, his first defense was 11 months later. Non-title fight 6 months later. Next fight, the loss to Jack Dempsey, was 3 years later.

Jack Dempsey: Wins title from Williard in 1919. Two title defenses in 1920. One title defense in 1921. One title defense in 1922. Two title defenses in 1923. Inactive for the next three years, until losing the title to Gene Tunney.

Gene Tunney: After winning the title from Dempsey, his first defense was a year later, a rematch. Next fight was 10 months later, then he retired.

Max Schmeling: Wins HW title in June 1930 with a win over Jack Sharkey. Next fight is a title defense in July 1931. Next fight is a loss to Sharkey, in June 1932.

Jack Sharkey: Loses in his first title defense to Primo Carnera, a year after winning the title.

Primo Carnera: He was an active HW champ. 3 title defenses in a year, losing to Max Baer.

Max Baer: Loses in his first title defense to Jim Braddock, a year after winning the belt.

Jim Braddock: Loses in his first title defense to Joe Louis, two years after winning the title.


Joe Louis was a really active HW champ, 21 defenses within the first 5 years of his reign. Since the HW champs were well-paid, they could afford to be inactive in defending their belts. Other fighters were not so lucky, so they fought all the time.

That's one thing I liked about Julio Cesar Chavez & James Toney. While being champions, and considered among the best fighters P4P, they were fighting half a dozen times a year, or more.