I have always assumed that some fights get fixed from time-to-time but I guess I’ve always liked to think that it’s not completely widespread, at least at the highest levels. However, I recently came across this article by former boxing manager Charles Farrell on Deadspin titled “Why I Fixed Fights”: https://deadspin.com/why-i-fixed-fights-1535114232 The article is about four years old now, and I believe it may have been discussed on here before briefly, but this was my first time reading the whole thing. It is a very interesting read but is honestly pretty depressing. This guy makes it sound like the majority of fights, at least when a fighter is working his way up the ranks, are fixed. So I was just wondering how often you guys think fixing occurs. Do you think it’s mostly at the lower levels, or is it just as widespread at the elite level? Also, how do you think most fights are fixed...through outright agreements with fighters to lose, or by manipulating judges, referees, and commissions? Anyway, if you haven’t read the article, it is definitely a good read but sad at the same time.
I kinda take this article with a grain of salt, since the man who wrote it, Charles Farrell was the same person who said Wilder vs Ortiz was gonna be fixed fight where Ortiz purposely loses early and we all know he was wrong. Fixed fights still occur, but on a less regular basis. Definitely less than in the 40's or 50's.
Here are 2 fights, which I think may have been fixed. This content is protected This content is protected
All the time. Depending on who the fighters are involved with and how little they make. You don't have to go very far into Deontay Wilders recorded to find half a dozen fixed fights.
But do you think it happens often in actual title fights, or mainly when guys are on the way up and trying to pad their records?
Mike Tyson said Don King used to tell him he had paid off the judges. Mike said he didn’t believe him but he was never really sure.
Does not happen think about Most people these days cant keep their mouth shut for five minutes Everybody would know if it was happening
Not as prevalent as some would believe simply because it's easier and cheaper to just cherry pick opposition to make your guy look good, instead of paying a load of bribes to a fighter, ref, officials, commission etc. It's pretty obvious when some journeymen has come to just lay down, question is was he paid to do so, or is it more likely a case of him, just wanting to get an easy paycheck without having to get hurt. I think such corruption is much more common in amateur boxing where the tournament style of arranging fights makes it impossible to cherry pick your way to a significant title and so there a greater likelihood of corruption to get the desired result. At the top level I'd say it's even rarer but it obviously happens, we've seen enough horrible decisions to suggest it does happen when a fighter is risking something in losing.
the rules are in place to pretty much predict the out come. they cant 100% fix fights. but you sure can get judges and reffs on your side no doubt we see it happen.
