I'm curious to know this, when there really is no need to. It's not like the fighters would get more money elsewhere. It messes things up when it's time to make a "big" fight. Why would Fighter A fight Fighter B for this much money, when he made this much to fight a mediocre fighter. For example, HBO payed Berto 750K to fight Urango in a stay busy fight I believe. If I were a boxer, I'd fight a couple of Urango level fighters each year & try to get a way with it for as long as I can. I can't even blame the fighters. Sad thing is they're paying guys like this that can't even draw
Urango isn't a pushover though...Even though he fights in a weightclass lighter you saw Berto had no answer to his power, and wasn't willing to trade with him, and fight inside. Hit, hold, repeat.
So you think that HBO should pay the fighters like peasants? HBO is just as guilty as the boxers themselves for some of these fights. They want to build up boxers for future mega fights and are happy to make stay busy fights if it means megabucks down the road. Spending money to make money.
Without question yes. Even showtime is guilty of this with a majority of their fighters. But with HBO they spoil their fighters even when they havent accomplished anything (Ortiz,Angulo,Arreloa)
One of the major complaints of HBO boxing executives with regard to the Klitschkos is that production costs are extremely high when they have to travel to Germany. My guess is they save a lot of money showing bouts in the states and that they simply pass that onto the fighter. There is also the very real possibility that they are trying to entice up an comers into signing long term contracts and deal. I'm not sure if Berto is under contract or not.
We know these guys deserve very good money for what they do.. But HBO is definitely spoiling these guys, as well as Showtime to a lesser extent.... That gives us as consumers a limited pool of what fights even are capable of happening...
Overpay?? Jeez, heaven forbid the guys who put their lives on the line for our entertainment should get paid decently, as opposed to having all the money go to the HBO suits! atsch
They are not stupid. If they can afford to pay what they do its because it is worth it to them. How much money does it take to make an episode of John From Cincinnati? Boxing is hard enough for fighters as it is without stirring up hatred for these guys for getting paid.
its just the standard for todays fighters thats wat they get paid but in comparison to the last decade fighters of the last years hav been getting paid far less since hbo cut the ppv bull**** there has been alot more free fights and alot less ppv's
HBO is trying to turn that around this year by culling payroll and forcing fighters to get in the ring with actual opponents. BTW, Urango wasn't a pushover, it was an interesting fight and still had the element of danger (Urango still held a belt at 140, Berto was considered a small Welter and Urango has given Hatton that good fight not too long ago back when Hatton was still 'good'), even the Quaintana fight looked much better on paper then it turned out to be in reality.
I agree... Even for the guys with glass jaws! I'm sure if HBO felt they could get away with paying them less, they would. Actually, that goes for anyone paying anything for anything.
Why not? Every fight these guys go in risking coming out permanently disabled or dead, why not make sure they get paid good?. The more these guys get paid the better.
Firemen put their lives on the line, boxers are sportsmen. Yes, I respect what they do and I think it takes guts. But this whole I put my life on the line could be said of anyone who engages in a contact sport. And remember, they're doing it for themselves. Not for any altruistic reason.