In your opinions, what are some of the main differences between matchmaking in general during 1900-1920 versus 2016?
Matchmakers at that time had more power and many more fighters to choose from. Today a matchmaker has fewer fighters to choose from and it's much harder to make a fight. Believe it or not sometimes the opponents get paid more or just as much as the house fighter. Back then the boxing commissions weren't involved in matchmaking now the commissions tell the matchmaker what fights can be approved.
A lot of the time the best fought the best from 1900-1920. Mainly because there was 1 title and guys were tough as nails so it wasn't like they were scared. In 2016 a guy can hold the majority of the titles in a division and fight nothing but low level competition. In 1900-1920 not too many guys got as shot at the title without beating top contenders. Jack Dempsey for example.
It's changed substantially even in the last 30-40 yrs, not to mention 90-100 yrs In the old days, fighters learned by fighting tough competition. Glossy records weren't as important. Look at the '70s with the Philly middleweights and guys like Saad Muhammad. Back then, you really had to earn a title shot. And a titles meant more, even when there were two in most divsions - as opposed to the plethora you have now.
In addition to there simply being more active fighters back then, I THINK until recently promoters couldn't sign fighters to exclusive contracts. It was considered a conflict of interest. Thus promoters and their matchmakers had a plethora of boxers they could offer fights to. These boxers were essentially independent contractors. Don King got around this restriction by having fighters sign with his son Carl as their exclusive manager. I think the Duvas did similar - parts of the family (i.e. Dan Duva) promoted fights, other family members managed fighters. I'm not sure when or how this law was changed, but these days we sure hear of a lot of fighters signing with promoters. Any clarifications or corrections on this matter by more knowledgable posters would be most welcome.
well on the promoting side there is no comparison. back in the day promoters had to go on tbe road and really sell fighters. they had to or people wouldnt know or care about tbe fight nowadays you have youtube, 24/7 and what not...the promoters job is done for them already in alot of ways. as far as matchmaking, fans have a greater voice with social media, but of course nowadays money blocks alot of fights that otherwise would have been made back in the day on the flipside, back in the day fight game was seggregated preventing many of the best fighters from getting their oppprtunity
Another big factor that came into play in the 80's was television. HBO and Showtime and Sky. When they sign a guy, they have a vested interest in that fighter winning. You even used to have casiono's signing guys to contracts. Anyone that has ever spent time talking to a matchmaker for a promoter or one of the above certainly know what the game is. And that game is to simply keep their guy winning via matchmaking. They are not in that job of their's to have the house fighter lose. So simple really and it all goes back to the #1 rule---follow the money.
