Let me enlighten you to the real reason why top fighters are avoiding fighting frequently

I'm sure it's a factor but have you considered that twice a year may be optimum for the superstar PPV fighters?

Firstly, how much will the market stand? They're asking fans to fork out $80 a time for their PPV's or alternatively mega bucks for a ticket to the venue as well as flights, hotels etc. How often will their bank balance, holiday time etc allow them to do this?

Big events requires preparation. Press conferences, publicity, plenty of talk from the respective promoters, plenty of preview shows and interviews on sports magazine shows, talk shows etc. If a superstar boxer is going to draw a huge audience including more casual fans it needs to be an 'event'.

As fans we'd like to see the top boxers more active. My guess is that if you crunched the numbers you'd conclude it's better to have two massive events per year and thus maintain the mystique and demand for seeing Canelo / AJ / Manny being in the ring. That mystique can in turn be translated into other income streams.

I'll use AJ as an example. Eddie Hearn will tell you that AJ makes more from commercial sponsorship deals than many top HW's purses. I see AJ's face every time I'm in my gym and regularly when I do my shopping. He's working with different manufacturers in the UK and overseas, capitalising on his fame and building his personal brand. That requires some time investment on his part. Photo shoots, corporate appearances, filming commercials, charitable functions. Each company he signs with will get some AJ time. Where does that time come from in a 3 fight per year schedule?

Twice a year may help for cycling, but it also allows the fighter to properly rest and recuperate, it gives plenty of time for training and maintaining and enhancing skills. That in turn could extend their career at the top by years and those additional years are the ones where they'll earn the most money. I think you'll find if AJ fought three times a year he'd have a shorter career, box at a lower level, sustain more damage impacting his long term health and make less money both during and after his boxing career ends.

 

The more you fight, the higher the risk of a slip-up and taking a loss.

Lose 1 fight and boxing fans toss you in the garbage.

You have to be very careful managing your career. Boxing fans are fickle.

 

Once you get to a top level, 2-3 times a year is acceptable.

Big fights take time to get made, then take into consideration that camps are about 10 weeks long, and recovery from a tough 12 round fight, then it becomes more obvious why elite guys don't fight that often.

 

You're on a roll Contro, I' agree . I think it's better to stay in shape and fight 4 times a year at least than spar constantly to get back in shape. Remember the non title fights? Roberto Duran I'd say was the last guy to do them, they are gone now.

 

One word - Al Haymon

 

Actually, saturation of PPV is to blame, in conjunction with too many belts.

As a result we have risk and reward mechanics. This is prize fighting. The whole point is to make as much money as possible, taking the least amount of long term damage so you can enjoy the fruits of your labour. Fighters only take on dangerous challenges if it makes business sense, or if it's a fight which can take them to next level to earn big money in the future. Why wouldn't it be like that? The only reason that fighters want to create a legacy is to earn the big rewards that come with it. They don't place being respected by the fans, especially on internet forums, ahead of their long term prosperity.

 

Hes the reason that fighters on other platforms and promotional outfits also only fight about 2-3 times a year?