Centralized Boxing Organization?

This issue has been brought up before but has gained more traction because of the fights not being made and the monopoly that Top Rank and Golden Boy have over the sport.

Is this possible? I think so. I'm no expert but I have some ideas that I think could help...

A) Start a union - A lot of people think this is unrealistic. Why would any of the top fights agree to a union? Answer: They wouldn't. The union would have to start at the bottom. Retired fighters that receive no benefits and have suffered long term hardships would need to go to sue the current governing bodies. And younger fighters would have to protest for rights (and hopefully gain public support).

It sounds bad (and maybe even immoral) but if the suit is successful and fighters complain long and hard enough, it could lead to new standards that the governing bodies have to follow (things like occupational safety and health rules). These regulations could lead to further boxer rights like minimum wages and a stronger say in the sport itself.

B) Higher standard of "professional" - The NFL, NHL, NBA (etc.) have a high standard as what constitutes a professional and what doesn't. A handful of amateur fights and wins over other "professional" fighters with 2-14-12 records shouldn't cut it. Pros should be drafted- let me expand…

C) Competition between current governing bodies - WBA, WBO, WBC (etc.) should have to compete to be the premier league. This relates to the definition of professional. These organizations should draft boxers and in essence, become a league. This would give them the ability to schedule fights. They would want to schedule the best fights, with the best fighters in order to become the premier organization (think USFL vs NFL). It would limit the amount of "professionals" but it would also give the true, deserving, professionals the basic union benefits.

D) Turn promoters into owners - Instead of giving schmucks like Bob Arum complete control over who fights who, where and when, these promoters/owners would have to function within these governing bodies. They also have to work with the boxing unions. Most importantly, the ability to schedule fights would be taken out of their hands. They can still make a hell of a profit but the governing body would make the fights (an elected commissioner). Jerry Jones and Bob Kraft make a hell of a lot of money working within the rules of the NFL, why can't Arum do the same?

Summary: Only the strong will survive - Eventually one of the governing bodies would prove to be the best. The one who signs the best fighters, gets the best judges, insures fairness, schedules the best fights and offers the best pay and benefits to the fighters will win. They will be the one to get the big TV contracts.

This may sound utopian but I don't think it's impossible. I can see some influential people in the boxing world getting behind something like this (obviously not the money men but people with a voice). Us fans would need to make our voices heard as well because after all, we are the ones who really pay for boxing.

Feel free to poke holes in my argument and/or add some ideas. I'm trying to start a dialogue…

 

*You'd also have to abolish the state athletic commissions and replace them with a singular commission.

 

No, that's the thing... UFC is a promotional company with one owner/CEO, Dana White. UFC promotes MMA. I'm trying to formulate a scenario similar to the NFL.

The NFL itself is a non-profit organization that governs football.