Matchmaking in boxing

Are you saying the 0 isn’t a marketing tool?

I’m not talking about their resumes. Nor am I saying guys without an O can’t be marketed. Of course they can.

The promoters use the O constantly as a means of showing a fighter’s bonafides, or prospects toward greatness. The longer they can do that, the more interest they can generate.

“Undefeated” “Still undefeated”. “Someone’s O has got to go.”

And yes it is casuals they are marketing this to. To add them to that fighter’s fanbase.

Fight freaks will watch most any fight you put in front of them. O or no O. And we’ll jump thru many hoops to watch our faves. They know this, which is why we PPV and pay monthly subscriptions.

Casuals watch casually, when there is a major event. Or when there is a specific interest, and part of generating that interest is by marketing, and part of that marketing is the O. Although it is not a requirement.

The PPV megastars are very few and far between. They are where everyone is trying to get to. That’s what the marketing is geared toward.

 

Of course it´s a marketing tool.
But it´s not as effective as the promoters think it is.
Casual fans will watch what is marketed to them. This is why UFC has done so well. They make great fights. Sure, they market the occasional 0 that they have, but it doesn´t really matter to the fans.

The 0s importance is overstated. Plenty of guys have had a seriously padded record and no fans.

 

Well, casuals watch casually and career is career.
I had a lot of exp how this works even in local fights scene.
First guy who get lesson: his fight record looks that was 6-0-0 and he didn't looked bad and event's promoter matched him up with another local boxer, both were young kids, this guy was 1-0-0 boxer and he defeated this guy.
This was last pro fight this lad with now 6-1-0 record had.
Another guy, he get a bit too tough debut fight and looked not bad. Then climbed up by winning couple of fights.
His team picked for him young, supposedly ring rusty boxer with 1-0-0 record without KO win.
Outcome was that he beated out from prospect health gradually, slowly and methodically. One round, next, next round and poor lad was not capable to continue. He get serious beatup and almost year after this still didn't had active licence due to health. Later he get licence but considered to pick up another career.
Boxer had damaged his hand and ribs.

 

I think we are in agreement, for the most part.

They are using that O to try to get them the fans to make them a draw.

 

MMA, KB and MT fans are a bit different. In pro boxing since end of 80 ies widely is used word " undefeated " when boxer is advertised and/ or titles he does have or even did had. Boxing fans are less forgiving and if in mma 5-5 fighter with last 4 fights won might be considered as improved in boxing this might look as a some random journeyman and low level journeyman.

Stadium MT champion might have for example 155-25 fights record and this is cool record if his last fights were good and he had fought notable ppl.

We are too unforgiving society and I do know some managers who does have MMA guys and boxers.
If for mma they doesn't worry that much about guy's record, more about that guy will not get damaged. Pro boxing? Naw, there calculation is done like to prepare for chess match with good player.

media prefers : very big well known names, fights with 2 undefeated prospects, current champs, former champs, upcoming young lion vs old lion etc yeah.

 

Absolutely. And it is something that probably also works in high profile fights.
But it´s not that effective of a tool.
Loosing ones 0 won´t really take anyone's ability to draw eyes on them. However it affects them in the eyes of promoters.
This is why managers are careful with their prospects.
Sergio Martinez had an infamously hard time finding a U.S. promoter. Dibella himself was shocked. He knew he had a star on his hands.

 

Well, Canelo did have big PPV sales before GGG... vs Floyd 2.2 mil, vs Chavez Jr 1 million, vs Cotto 900,000. It was only the Callum Smith PPV that did 300,000. But that proves your point, that fans want big name fights. Of course the occasional viewer is not going to buy a PPV with Callum Smith, I completely agree. And believe me, I'm with you, boxing needs to put on way more fights that fans want to see. Boxing should be trying to cater to their fans at this point. The problem becomes the pay structure, ego, fighters sense of self worth, managers belief of their own fighters worth, promotional differences, even petty garbage like who gets announced last etc. The business side of boxing is very broken and very greedy. No idea how to fix it.

 

also not skilled fans and even local media etc.

The same casual fans now are thinking that Povetkin is in his prime and not over the hill and see, ppl might buy this: book old uncle and get good resume for your fighter.
Ali's shadow too was with the same usage and a lot other boxers too.
Ppl are delusional and for them a lot might be had sold.

 

I do think you’re underestimating how much the idea of a shiny, “undefeated” “ label draws in interest from casual viewers. Casuals is a broad term, and it isn’t a monolithic thing. Many will see that label, see the guy pummel some overmatched opponent, or perservere in a dogfight, and want to watch the rise of the next great thing(potentially).

 

Isn't of course.
There still are flowcharts used in pro boxing.
Prospects development. how should look prospects fight record, KO % etc.

 

This is exactly what happens. In ufc, there is 1 title per division so the best have to fight the best. Boxing would be much better with 1 belt per division.

 

The UFC is a promotion within MMA. It would be the equivalent of the PBC having their own belts for each division. Now, they do have the majority of talent in the sport, but in reality, it’s still just a promotion within the sport of MMA.

 

Yeah, still MMA doesn't gave so much about holy 0 on fighters record.
I had experienced stuff like this: I offer to fight with boxer almost for free and his manager told: no.
While he had booked bum for his boxer to fight with for damn higher price than I had asked.
Not only this episode.

 

Indeed but it's the biggest promotion with the best fighters. I guess it is the aim of all mma fighters to get into ufc and challenge for their belts.

 

Not much....I am speaking about most fighters. The Manager and Promoter are also vested financially in the fighter and do most all of the matchmaking. The most power a fighter has is to demand the fight or refuse to fight. Generally when a fighter is calling out for a certain fight it is coordinated eith the team to build interest.....the call outs are generally aimed at the management team of the fighter being called out. The bottom line is it is today a business where the game is to build interest and value in a fighters brand. I know thrre are personal beefs and on occasion a fighter will pick the fight but usually everything is a business decision.

Boxings model is slightly different than UFC for example....UFC is the brand not the fighter and the top 10 is highly competirive exciting fighters csrefully selected from the other organizations. So preserving a popular champion victories through matchmaking is bear impossible. Champs do not last long in MMA therefore building up every fighter as the best thing going is their philosophy ...all their fighters are selected for ability because of turnover. MMA proves that they can put any two fighters in the ring and sell and that is why the fighters have so little leverage.

In a way MMA runs like Pro Wrestling type in house promotions....