This erratical, now overused term became popular during Floyd's run as 'Money' Mayweather. Since then, a lot of fighters (specifically PBC fighters) have claimed to be the A-side in fights when they either: - Have never done a ppv - Have done a ppv(s), but it does under 500k, (most barely do 300k) - Make 1m or less per fight - Duck top opposition While I'm no fan & I feel he's responsible for the current climate of why fighters think like this, Mayweather earned his way in becoming the 'A-side' (really hate that term) early in his career by fighting the best opposition around. If he had done what these current fighters are doing today - he would only be remembered as a footnote in boxing, and that's they way many of these fighters are heading if they don't step up.
You summed it up it is merely a term, the paymasters decide if you are the A side, are they going to earn bigger bucks because of you rather than your opponent if so wear the A side badge if you so wish.
100%. Boxer primes are short, a lot of these guys are going to age themselves to be the next generation's stepping stones while waiting.
That's true, but what I'm saying is that they're using their 'A-side' status as an excuse to not fight certain fighters or price themselves out claiming that they were lowballed.
Well if they are champions it the sanctioning/governing bodies who should be acting if rightful challengers are denied title shot. Non champions playing the A side game to not face certain other fighters are just choosing who not to fight and using this as a justifiable' excuse, we the boxing fans may miss out on good match ups as a result but there is nothing we can do about that.
You are right. Mayweather done a lot of good for the sport but he also done a lot of damage... this is the perfect example.
Mayweather stopped fighting the best around when he became Money Mayweather !! Instead of Money he should be known as Duckie !1 lol
I agree to an extent that the Mayweather mentality makes many fighters price themselves out. However, I blame the promoters more than I do the fighters. Fighters should absolutely try and get as much money as they can. Promoters should be doing more to promote boxing and getting the general public more aware of who the fighters are and what boxing is about. Boxers shouldn't be expected to do most of the promotion or be caught in the middle of promoters childish fights amongst each others. If promoters worked more with each other and TV networks there would be a lot more money to go around and more fights happening on a regular basis.
The basic concept of fighters using their leverage has always been there. The two Sugar Rays were big divas. Robinson was a hard negotiator and pissed off many people with his demands. Leonard demanded the large percentage of the purse all the time. Aaron Pryor rejected $500k, and then I think again at $750k for a Leonard fight because Leonard was going to make a lot more. The first Duran fight almost fell apart because Leonard’s team was only offering $500k. Eventually Duran was guaranteed $1.5 mil and Leonard more than five times that of Duran. Keep in mind, Leonard had been champ for about 6 months and Duran had been a lightweight champ for about 6 years back in the 70s. One thing that is probably coming into play now is that some fighters have such good financial options elsewhere now other than their main rival and (perceived) toughest opponent. Look at Crawford and Spence. Crawford got at least $6 million to face Amir Freakin Khan, who barely had a snowball’s chance in hell in beating Crawford. Spence still makes good money fighting lesser risks than Crawford. I think fighters and their teams may figure they can just milk the public for as long as they can and then go take the riskier, more lucrative fight. Their lesser fights are still lucrative. We saw this to some extent back in the 90s on HBO when HBO gave those deals to Riddick Bowe and Roy Jones. For comparisons, Duran had made $250k in 1978 for a LW unification bout with Dejesus, and $250k to face Palomino a few months before Montreal. He was guaranteed at least 6 times that for the first Leonard fight. There were fewer options so he had to take the short end of the stick to get a million dollar purse. Everyone weighs the risk/reward, obviously different fighters weigh them at different extents...but the situations can just make it easy for the fighters to keep taking the less risky fights. They would have more motivation to change this if fans didn’t watch these lesser fights
