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

Alrighty, thanks for tip. And when I mean hired trainer I hired a boxing personal trainer. I understand that I could have simply joined a boxing gym and pay a monthly fee and even take classes, but I didn't want a random Joe to teach me boxing. I actually hired David Diaz to teach me, knows his stuff and knows how to answer my questions.

 

One of the fights of the year at the weekend for me Provodnikov v Alvarado both earned every dollar of their purses $600k to the challenger & Mile High $1.3m.

What struck me & would like to hear others views obviously Dempsey & others the trend we always hear here in the UK for a fighter being 'big at the weight'.To me it's an individual basis some guys can cut a decent amount of weight safely rehydrate & come fight night if skillsets are pretty even the obvious advantage is worth it.Individual being the key not a given rule.

Alvarado had cut a lot of weight & boy did it tell even in the first Provodnikov though visibly smaller physically looked so strong & was getting through with hurtful shot's from the first.To me it looked like the ref got involved at the end of the 10th Tony Weeks made a great call because the 11th would have been a brutal stoppage.You live to fight another day.

For Alvarado he was given every chance & to me was lucky to be given the benefit of the doubt in the 8th as was rising on 9 many ref's would have waived it off.I hope his management team advise him to take a very long break & choose his next fight carefully & invest the money made.Alvarado his last three fights have been total wars Rios X2 & Provodnikov there are only so many wars a career can withstand.Provodnikov did a great job a real throwback 50's,60's type fighter makes you fight his fight exciting & made for TV.

 

Yeah, the very same. Have you ever worked with him or how did you guys ever meet up?

 

McDonnell & his situation with Hobson has certainly divided opinion this side of the pond you only have to read some of the views on the British forum.The statement backs up what I was told & posted the only alteration being he was made a 'derisory' offer I wasn't told even ballpark numbers.

He will have those figures in black & white on a contract $50k Hobson the managerial side obvious the promotional side with McDonnell is a grey area.IMO that side of the contract opens up a can of worms a decent lawyer (sports lawyer especially) will rip any such agreement to shreds I have to state again there are ways to directly or indirectly have total control on a fighter.Not going to add more on that point but there is one telling sentence in his statement.

You have here a case of 'conflict of interest' in Hobson's handling of
McDonnell if those figures are correct.To put those figures in perspective British title fights at the lower weights £15k-25k ($25-40k) is a realistic contract to offer basic...without ticket sale cut & other add on's.

The fighter wanted to fight on SKY his manager agreed to a deal on Boxnation against his wishes.Possibly because the agenda suited the promotional side of the contract?If so who's interests were being protected pretty clear to me.

The line in McDonnell's statement-'termination of any alleged promotional agreement's' more than fills in the blanks for me with regards how a obvious 'conflict of interest' has occurred.

 

This rule has been about years. Mickey Duff was the only one opposing it when it came in, as the Cartel had it covered, lol. ******s Fighters who He managed, who Boxed on His Shows, He didnt take any of His 25%, think He was the first.

 

Dempsey something we have discussed before but as a young kid watching the breakfast news hoping to hear Johnny Owen had pulled off a miracle then hearing the tragic news he was in a coma.Then it really struck home how dangerous the fight game is 'beautiful brutality' it has been called & it sums up the reality of boxing for me.

He was a beautiful pure boxer Owen 'the matchstick man' was his nickname & Pintor was a step too far at the time but many had made the mistake of looking at him & thinking he looks like a choirboy he can't fight.Was British,Commonwealth & European champion at the time had just outboxed unbeaten John Feeney at Wembley (British & Commonwealth title) & the fight before Juan Rodriguez(European) where he avenged his only previous defeat.
He had lost to a hometown decision in Spain robbed on the cards he boxed the Spaniards head off back in Wales.

Fight he did & that's all he loved to do teetotal & had to constantly train to make bantamweight was 5ft 8 inches tall pencil thin.The chance came in Sept 1980 Pintor a top,top fighter heavy hands Owen actually brang the fight to Pintor.The fight going against him in the 9th Owen sustaining a massive laceration lower lip (had severed) it would no doubt have been stopped today.It was something his father (who was his trainer) beat himself up about the fighter brave as ever wanted to go on.

He was knocked down twice in the 12th the second he never recovered from & spent two months in a coma & passed a brave,brave kid there is a statue in Merthyr Tydfil of him in rememberance of him.

Pintor actually came over to Wales years later & met his family a documentary was filmed about it 'the long journey' a hard watch in places as I recall.

It turned out many years later & as medical checks on fighters & safety have improved Johnny Owen had an abnormally thin skull.The reality being it could of happened to that brave young man anytime a real tragedy yes.

But Johnny Owen lived & died doing something he loved & certainly the people of Wales & my generation always remember 'The Matchstick Man'.

His manager Mickey Duff I have a decent (funny) story about which I will post up later just want to double check the story with a friend a shrewd man inside in fight game & out of it even in failing health.

 

Two very good friends of mine are black cab drivers here in London & we used to go to shows around London.A few of us would go to the shows the guys would work come in for the main event & stay for a while & go back to work.

One of my friends got a contact so would be booked to pick up a lot of the fighters,managers & promoters & got my other friend a bit of work.It became quite regular & depending on who you got & if they won quite a decent booking.My friend picked up Duff quite a lot & used to wind up my first friend he 'had no money on him' a running joke always paid & good for a story & a tip.

Anyway my other friend got his booking for the first time & picked him up a few years ago.Mickey's health was on the wane got talking to my other friend the conversation went like this...

Duff-'So you went to the show tonight son..?Must be a big fight fan then I havn't got any money on me i'll pay you when I get home is that o.k?' There was another guy with Duff & started rolling his eyes yep he had heard it before.

My friend-joking 'No problem as it's a fair distance (£50 fare) how about instead of paying me sort me out with a couple of tickets for a show?'

Duff-straight faced 'OK son here is a number you can get me on seems fair.' Gave him a tatty old business card the other guy in the cab was smiling out the window apparently.

My friend switched the meter off & they chatted away Duff telling him stories that were on loop & dropped him off the other guy gave him a £5 tip still smiling shaking his head.

We trained the next morning.One friend to the other...'I had your regular fare last night Micky Duff great stories said he was potless (London slang no money)so I took his number off him & getting some tickets in exchange!' smiling at the rest of us.

My other friend started laughing 'oh no you didn't fall for that one did you old business card it's the wrong number you mug he always likes to use that joke but he tips well!'

My friends face dropped embarrassed 'ah well he seemed genuine enough you lot won't be laughing if I get sorted out with tickets!'

My other friend 'I doubt it mate.....he probably won't remember you anyway....he's recently been diagnosed with dementia!'

Even in his fading years Duff was still able to make a deal go his way.

 

Off subject real quick. Thanks for the PM Dempsey. I assumed that is your guy. Keep me posted. Thanks again. Carry on.