good question everything for me centres around discrediting the federations which are the core of all problems within the sport..but that is more of a 'fantasy' power since all those unnecessary belts will always be used as leverage and promotion, when most should be thrown in the garbage the federations don't because a fighter who transcends the sport and becomes a cash cow (Oscar, Floyd, pacquiao) doesn't need the leverage they bring or the rankings either. their rep/notoriety/ revenue generation alone guarantees them marquee fights i'd have to say these types of fighters hold the most power they can pick and choose who they want to fight because who's going to reject a golden goose payday?
ah, i forgot to include santioning bodies as a choice. f them. i think rigo is a good example: - fans didnt turn up to his last fight in atlantic city vs agbeko - hbo viewing numbers were low - arum calls him boring - hbo fire rigo. the fans triggered the move by hbo to blackball rigo so ultimately the fans have most power. just like the fans dont give a fk when theres a paper belt on the line or not. e.g. floyd - mosley there was no belt on line. if fighters dont wanna pay santioning fees but still wanna call themselves recognised worlds best , then just win the ring magazine belt.
None of the above imo. It's the sanctioning bodies, which are full of corruption and nepotism. The sport of professional boxing has got to be the most shittiest of all in terms of how it's organized.
but they will keep paying any recognized belt is leverage and a negotiating tool, and outside of the US they are used by lesser tier fighters to promote a bogus world champion, stay at home and fight b-grade opponents for big $$$ cleverly, bute, sturm, danny green, ottke....there are many
Without the fans appreciation of the skill and money support, this sport would have died a long time ago. Not one man controls boxing, that is why those who have powers are always trying hard to sway the fans.
The men who pay the money. No tv no boxing. Sanctioning bodies , promoters , agents and managers all have to make their pitches to the TV Guys. Without HBO and Showtime there is no Floyd Mayweather.
The Networks both HBO and Showtime combined, Mayweather isn't the most powerful in all of boxing most powerful fighter for sure but he isn't boxing. Showtime and HBO control the 2 biggest stables in boxing Top Rank and GBP they are the only PPV outlet and any well known fighter fights on either of these networks to be a future star you need to be fighting on either HBO or Showtime its the only way people will know who you are really in the States anyway in Britain its the same with Sky unless your on there casuals won't no your name.