I am a boxing manager: if you have questions about the boxing biz, ask!

Maybe we agree to disagree on this Scrap & to clarify IMO from a boxing POV a bad contract can mean going from being underpaid to overmatched to signing future rights away all at a %.With no real safety net to the fighter.

The cost of a bad night at the office boxing wise has more repercussions than most other sports hence the need to trust the people that look after you.You make valid points also.

 

Anyway decent story about a missed $1 dolllar purse with the fighter totally to blame.

1982 Roberto Duran is coming off the back of a UD loss against Benitez the plan being get him a decent tune up fight at WW & get him a rematch at LMW v Benitez.

There was lots of fighting about Duran going on outside the ring both King & Arum courting a fighter that at the time could sell tickets in a empty room massive large,loyal fanbase.

A few names were tossed about & a chance call by DK to Mickey Duff brang up the name Kirkland Laing.King & Duran's team gave it the ok.

Laing's nickname was the gifted one & was supremley talented often he beat himself by his womanising,gambling & his love for marijuana.You would say he was one of the best British fighters never to win a world title the differnce being self inflicted.

Laing took the fight told both Duff & his trainer Joe Ryan 'You will see the best of me this is the first fighter i am scared of!'

The fight went ahead Laing fought the fight of his life winning a SD that was not even close.No argument from Duran he knew the better man on the night won.

The aftermarth Laing had oppt lined up against Milton McCrory or Donald Curry up to $1m purse. Laing went missing for 6 months his ship then sailed.In the same year Duran made a conservative $3m+ dollars.

Don King at that point fell out with Mickey Duff claiming he had been in his own words 'had over' he never spoke to Duff for nearly four years after that cue the irony.

 

All True. what a character.

 

Dempsey,
What do you make of Price being put back in with Thompson without a tune up real gamble for me.
One thing Maloney has had to pay Thompson very well to get the re-match & should Price lose he really is in no mans land.
Interesting read for those that are interested google boxers fight purses couldn't be sure the figures are correct on all fights but has several sources quoting the same figures.
Will open a few eyes some of the PPV revenue figures are so big wouldn't register as an overseas phone number!

 

what was the best site you had for finding purses? most im finding are just articles

 

So you didnt do Business with Him .

 

Here is a tale of how sometimes opportunity knocks a fighter staying in shape & a manager staying by his phone.

The Cinderella Man guess most of us have seen the film & know the story of James Braddock v Max Baer.Baer a great fighter big punch & had been involved in ring tragedies fair to say his family were not too impressed with the hollywood version.....no not that version the welsh one.

Rueben Palacios v John Davison WBO FWGT title fight 17/04/93.Check weight's done physical medicals completed however the fight is called off two days prior.Title vacated.

Routine blood checks & Palacios has failed a HIV test,stripped of his title & back on a plane to Columbia.He never fights again dead by 40 & within a year of the fight being called off doing 4 years for drug trafficking in the USA things change quickly.

The fight due to be on tv tickets have been sold & a opponent needed last minute or not.Calls were made & as you read down the rankings fighters are turning it down.No suprise why two days notice,fighters are overweight & purse demands that had no chance of being met.

Dai Gardner takes a call & the promoters are desperate he manages Steve Robinson at the time 13w-9d-1 draw.Robinson had taken short notice fights before always in shape weight no issue & working as a storeman part-time at Debenhams in Cardiff for £50 a week the money is very welcome.Two days notice WBO title where do we sign?

Robinson wins a SD.Davison a real heavy favourite interviewed years later said 'My head was gone 3 times the Palacios fight was on & off just couldn't peak again but the money was great 40k & Robinson went on to be a worthy champ good luck to him'.

Indeed he was & made seven defences beating some very good opponents in McMillan(who had lost the title to Palacios),Hodkinson & Duke McKenzie fitness & workrate getting him through at times.Training full time made all the difference he said.

He was eventually beaten by Prince Naseem in 1995.He also said in retirement he took that fight on just over 3 weeks notice as he was on honeymoon!The money was good & being the welsh Cinderella Man the opportunity just too good to turn down.

 

Terrance Crawford comes into my mind recently who snatched his chance and impressed lots of people in the Rios Vs Alvarado 2 undercard.

Ok it wasnt a championship fight or anything but he really made the best out of his chance that he got.

 

Without getting away from the main part of the thread the last story about opportunity.Fighters to a man even one of the all time best MW's only get so many chances if you are not a big ticket seller,talker or even connected the road to glory can be long & arduos expect & get no favours.

You are 28 years old boast a record of 49-2-2 you have fought some of the best your weight class offers in 2013 you would no doubt have held a MW version of the title.Yet you are almost at the last chance saloon you know you have been avoided the pressure is on & you know in the back of your mind you must win by stoppage,no scorecards you have been down that road before.

This is 1980 Marvin Hagler knows this is his last real opportunity he has made himself mandatory challenger to Alan Minter away from home at Wembley Arena London.Minter is also confident he had beaten Vito Antuofermo.Hagler had drawn with Antuofermo 10 months prior to the Minter fight he should of won clearly.But he knows sometimes when you leave it in the judges hands it doesn't fall your way.

Years earlier he had experienced it at the Spectrum in Philly.The fights he had there were the dubbed the Philly wars the atmosphere & fan reaction would stand him in good stead at Wembley he drew on all those experiences & more.

The build up to the fight Minter makes a comment that goes national on tv & radio a comment that he retracts afterwards Hagler will not win his title not based on ability but how he looks.Hagler after accepts the apology.

The day of the fight Minter was the slight favourite 4/5 against Hagler at even money something had even gone wrong in the last few days of Hagler's preparation he weighs in 1/2 pound over.The weight is shifted very quickly part of the mind games maybe?When did he struggle to make weight before or after?He never did a true profesional.

The fight is a three round war both fighting from the southpaw stance Minter a fighter that was known for coming on strong in the second half of fights decides to try & push the pace.Hagler slips leads & punishes Minter opening cuts around his eyes.The fight goes the same length as the famous fight years later against Hearns three rounds this one in many ways more important.

The third round & it's all over Hagler's celebrations are cut short as bottles are cascading into the ring his managers & entourage protect him back to the dressing room.
He goes from being in the last chance saloon to being undisputed MW champion from 1980-87.

The $50 dollar debut purse dewarfed by the estimated $11-12m dollar purse he recieved for fighting SRL.Every cent earned the boy from Brockton had made good.