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

There are two in my area and Dobbs and his partner have cards on a regular basis (every two to three months). I just have to get my tail down to the gym and other spots to scout out some folks.

 

How would it be harder today?

And when you say pay for fights what exactly do you mean? Because I have a friend who just turned pro and hes looking to get as many fights under his belt as he can.

 

Well the money guy thing is a no go. Lol.

He has a very exciting fighter. As an amat he won by ko most of the time and he was able to get people to watch him localy. So without any money, how should he go about getting more fights and exposure?

He has the talent, its just a matter of getting people to see him.

 

Where did you read the part about Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton paying for Tyson & his opponents purses in his early days?

 

Or if they manager doesnt have any money the fighter can chose to fight for free right?

What would be the best way for a newly turned pro to get a good start and get experience and exposure quickly. Would getting a promoter be the best way or taking the route that tyson did?

I also read that tysons team would also film all of his fights and send them out to the top sports writters in the country. I could imagine that would get someone know quickly too.

 

You can end up fighting for free trust me i know pro's that have they only got paid on ticket sales took too many tickets that friends,family etc said they were going to go & pulled out.They covered the shortfall 100% fact.
Prospects without decent management struggle for this reason alone because the prospect often has to sell enough to cover the oppt you would be VERY suprised the 'journeyman' oppt often earns but the prospect is working on tight margins pressure to win & build interest again comes down to your team.
Tyson was certainly having to buy opponents early days.Look up his early career fighting every couple of weeks highlight reel early k.o's momentum followed & everyone was interested.The heavyweight scene was so open at the time opportunity knocked he took it because of the team behind him they were all pulling in the same direction no ego's.
Take D'amato he had a heavyweight champ many moon's back Patterson who got destroyed by Liston x2.D'amato at his age it wasn't about the money Tyson was his Liston the type of heavyweight any trainer,manager or promoter dreams about.

 

Thanks man. Appreciate the advise. Ill tell him tomorrow what you said.

What promoter do you think would be good for him? Like a promoter that wont take advantage of him. Or does that come with the territory?

 

Tonight we have a fighter that had no place getting a title shot but opportunity knocked let down himself his manager & promoters & the fans.
Lee Purdy from here in the uk failing on the scales for the record this is the second fight on the trot this has happened. Purdy given the opportunity of a lifetime B side fighter who now because of his unprofesionalism it becomes a non-title fight.

The promoters are fuming rightly so & brings heat onto the manager of Purdy as the TV companies are also unhappy both sides of the pond.
It has happened before will happen again no doubt but trust me 9 times out of 10 when the B side fighter fails on the scales it's because they may well have written off their own chances before the bell has rung.

The manager has already hinted the 2 hours given to sweat off the excess wasn't exactly met with any great ambition to do so.
The tale being just as great opportunities open those doors quickly shut unless you are a real top talent Rios for example the fall out for Purdy will be there will be no third chance to let people down.

 

When boxing fans get together the conversations always start around favourite fighters,longevity,who they fought,who they avoided P4P lists etc.

At some point we ALWAYS talk about a fighters heart the question then naturally progresses to a fighters chin.There is a fighter from France that no-one can question this aspect of his resume.HOF fighter from France the great Marcel Cerdan?No we are talking about a fighter that fought either side of the 1st WW Eugene Criqui a flyweight who made his debut in 1910.Within two years he had won his domestic title however in 1914 he was TKO by Charles LeDoux.Maybe not such a great chin?

It was to be Criqui's last fight before being drafted into the French army to face the P4P heavyweight Germany it was a challenge that the little man was more than up to he was a decorated serving soldier however his campaign on that field was also to be cut short.While on guard duty in the killing fields of the Verdun his jaw was shattered by a German sniper's bullet it blew the left side of his jaw away.

Criqui's war was over so he was told was his boxing career the doctors advised him they could restructure his jaw it would never be strong enough to withstand right's & left's.
He thought otherwise if a German bullet couldn't keep him counted out nothing could.
Two painful years he spent having operations wire,silver plates,plastic & a story about grafted goat's bone tell you all you need to know about his determination to return there was unfinished business to attend to.

He certainly did return to the ring as a featherweight embarking on a long unbeaten run the jaw holding up nicely.1921 saw him win the domestic featherweight title the first defence was to come against LeDoux how would his chin hold up against the man that stopped him in 10.Well LeDoux came out confidently Criqui unleashed a barrage of blows & the fight was over in the opening stanza.Redemption had been sweet & he was on a roll.

The European title followed as did three quick defences he had maneuvered his way into the world featherweight title picture standing in his way Johnny Kilbane 11 year featherweight title holder.Fazed not likely it was to be Criqui's USA debut & he was written off as a easy defence for the ring veteran.

In 6 rounds in New York Criqui stunned the boxing writers betting fraternity & fans with a stunning 6 round ko victory against all the odds he was on top of the world.

Sadly it was to be a short lived title reign part of the contract was he had to defend it against the top ranked opponent within two months he was badly managed this was widely accepted by the USA sport scribes of the day.The fearsome future HOF fighter Johnny Dundee was to be his first defence.Dundee had waited 13 years to win the title.Criqui had held the title 54 days.

Criqui took 15 rounds of punishment he never won a round a count of 9 in the first.Three counts of 9 in the second the pattern went on for 45 minutes of the Frenchman with the scars of bullet wounds being pounded on.He kept getting up he kept walking forward pre war a skilful fighter had changed into a crowding puncher let's face it with his experience life had taught him meet everything head on.

The fight ended a new champion was crowned the little Frenchman with a massive heart & unquestioned chin shook Dundee's hand smiling in the centre of the ring.His face had been contorted by war.The fight left him with both eyes near closed,cut & a broken nose still he smiled he had seen & felt a lot worse.The partisan USA New York crowd couldn't help but admire him he was guts,determination personified.He was given an ovation out of the ring on a par with the new champion.

He went back to France with $41,000 for his only defence he was & still is a national hero sporting & otherwise remembered as the man they couldn't break his heart,will or chin.

When the question comes up again at some point when you are sitting with your friends in a bar & a fighters chin is discussed.My advice sit back listen at the arguments & mention Criqui & his unique story it's a argument that is hard to beat.Criqui yes he certainly could take a shot in more ways than one.

 

what is the best options to buy a heavy bag for home excersice?I need to last long time if i use it every day..