How should the A/B side be determined?

Marketing Power

duh...

 

But if there is no interest in Brook, how would he make money? Oh thats right, by fighting a ticket seller, like Khan.

Just bc you are champ, you do not dictate anything except maybe you walk to ring second and get introduced second.

 

Cotto - Martinez is a good example. Chavez Jr-Martinez is another good example. Chavez Jr basically earned twice as much as Martinez in their fight.

As much as we'd like to have an ideal world situation where the more accomplished fighter be the A-Side, the world doesn't work that way. The more popular fighter is always the A-Side.

There are exceptions of course. Take Kovalev for example...he wants to fight everyone, but can't get them in the ring. He's traveled to Canada to fight Pascal despite being the A-Side. And I'm pretty sure he'll give Ward or Stevenson parity just to get them into the ring, despite being the more popular fighter.

 

Its case by case. Whichever guy needs the other guy less than he needs him.

Sometimes guys with accolades need to fight a popular guy to get popular, or get a payday.

Occasionally a popular guy needs to fight a guy with accolades, and is willing to pay to get them. Usually its the guy who brings the money though, who is A-side.

Also there is an investment wild card. Where the popular guy might bring more money himself, but the other guy gets backing. Such as Klitchsko-Povetkin, where a Russian favoring Povetkin bought the purse bid. Wlad was the bigger name with both accolades and popularity, but Sasha was effectively A-side because his ally ran the event.

 

Why would it be an "ideal world" for champs to be A side? The A side in boxing, as in life, is the one who brings in the most money. They dictate terms.
Kovalev didnt have the fan following that Pascal did. Thus, Pascal made more money.

 

Putting butts in seats is what should count. If you are a good entertainer and you draw attention, everyone benefits.

 

Combination of both... Martinez should have been the A-side vs Cotto and Chavez even though they sold more, he'd achieved more and had a decent fanbase himself so it's not as if he were a nobody or a 'cult hero' fighter ya know.

 

Whoever has the biggest bank account.