i dont fully understand how the buesiness of boxing works, with belts, promoters, networls etc etc. Is there a good book on this stuff? I know the skill side but have never quite figured out how the business side works..
Someone would have to write a new book every quarter, as the ABC´s keep making up new **** all the time.
Interviews I've seen with Larry Holmes, Michael Dokes ,Tim Witherspoon and Tyson talking about Don King will tell you quite a bit about boxing.
The think Eddie Hearns ifltv interviews also reveal a fair amount of the business side. Over the years picked up a fair amount about sanctioning fees, deals being brokered and negotiations
I don’t think they want people like us to know how exactly it works as it would make it harder for them to siphon money off fighters/networks and fans
ya its a bit of a mirage IMO i dont understand why belts are important, who pays for them, why, etc etc. Alot of weird hands in the pot and not sure what is going on
This is a good question. You would think with boxing's long history someone would have written a book by now. It seems boxing is happy to continue passing on this knowledge from the old generation to the new generation through verbal communication. That must be how boxers learn the business side of boxing, like starting your own promotional company, knowing which belts actually matter, and picking opponents with the best risk-reward that move you up the rankings as safely as possible etc.
I strongly recommend you read the book The Black Lights by Thomas Hauser it follows 80’s JW champ Billy Costello as he prepares for a title fight. along the way it delves into a multitude of aspects of the fight game. also I recommend A Savage Business, another great book about Tyson but it goes into the dark world of the boxing biz
Belts are important for the promotion of an event. TV networks and casual fans buying tickets are much easier to sel to historically if you can market it as a world title fight. The fighter also wants to be known as the champ as it’s the pinnacle of your career. the sanctioning fees of the governing body are usually a percentage of a boxers purse as they benefit from the additional sales. The promotional company usually also cover rooms and board for a contingent from the governing body which is put down as a cost of the show in any profit share
