Poll: Is boxing more about the money than the love of the sport nowadays?

El Guapo!

Saw this on the Ring and got to wondering is there many boxers left who arent so money orientated and fight for the glory anymore??



Negotiations for a proposed fight between Tomasz Adamek and Bernard Hopkins in July have broken off.

Hopkins, a partner in Golden Boy Promotions, offered the world cruiserweight champion a flat fee of $500,000 to fight the former four-time title holder at the 200-pound limit but Adamek and his promoter, Main Events, turned it down.

Adamek wanted a 60-40 splite of the profits, which would’ve earned him considerably more than a half million. However, Hopkins wouldn’t budge.

The sides ended talks when it became clear they were too far apart to ever reach an agreement.

“If I were Adamek’s promoter, I would definitely want him to fight a 44-year-old legend because it would open doors for him if he wins,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy. “He would break out of the $300,000, $400,000 purse range and become a huge star. It would open the door to huge fights.

“And if he loses, he lost to Bernard Hopkins. It would be a similar situation to Kelly Pavlik (who lost to Hopkins).”

Kathy Duva, owner of Main Events, told ESPN.com that the flat fee didn’t take into account that which Adamek brings to the table, including THE RING and IBF titles, and a strong fan base in New Jersey, the proposed site of the fight.

"The only offer they made was to give us $500,000," Duva told ESPN.com. "I didn't even take that seriously. They wanted all the control even though they were going for the champion, the guy who sells all the tickets and the guy who isn't 44."

Schaefer said Hopkins, who has been dictated to for much of his career, has earned the right to do some dictating.

cowzerp

Pro boxing is and was always about the money, the true love of boxing is fighters trying to win olympic golds, nationals, provincials etc.. at amateur level, Pro boxing is ALL about the money.. nothing new there though.

walshb

NO

I will add that it's no different than any other sport. Money rules all and if anyone deserves their pay check, it's some of those fighters.

When you look at the likes of Duff and Keane earning 70 and 80k a week, it really hits home and Dunne earning a measley 76k. It's madness.

ShaunD

walshb wrote: »

I will add that it's no different than any other sport. Money rules all and if anyone deserves their pay check, it's some of those fighters.

When you look at the likes of Duff and Keane earning 70 and 80k a week, it really hits home and Dunne earning a measley 76k. It's madness.

That's a good point, when you think that fighters literally put their life on the line everytime they step into the ring.
There is always that risk.
The amount footballers get paid is an absolute joke.

El Guapo!

NO

walshb wrote: »

I will add that it's no different than any other sport. Money rules all and if anyone deserves their pay check, it's some of those fighters.

When you look at the likes of Duff and Keane earning 70 and 80k a week, it really hits home and Dunne earning a measley 76k. It's madness.

+1

I agree 100% that boxers should be on more money than they are. And their sport is much more physically demanding than football. I know they have to earn a living, and what a hard way to do it, but do you not think theres too much emphasis put on the purse and some potentially great fights arent being held because of arguments over the money?

walshb

NO

Dean, absolutely there is too much emphasis
put on the purse, but by whom?

It's the money men in suits, the unscrupulous
divils who are wrecking this sport.

May I add, only the real cream get the big bucks.
Think of the thousands of fights every
year across the globe where fighters are
in barn burners and getting paid feck all.

I think back to Henry Coyle's fight in
Castlebar recently and the Russian opponent.
Both battered each other for 8 rds and did they
ever deserve their money. That's only one example.

Politics and corruption are the problem and behind
this is the cause, MONEY!

T-K-O

I have always had the belief and still do to this day - that the majority of top sports people get to where they are with a love of the game and money doesn't come in to it.


Now you cant blame footballers for earning crazy money - it's better of in their pocket and some director.

Also with the Hopkins fight you cant blame the guy for turning the fight down and its also IMO is not a sign of greed.

If the going rate is 1 million and Hopkins is offering 1/2 that no body in their right mind would take that deal. Would you be happy if a co-worker was on double your wages.

Running Bing

walshb wrote: »

I will add that it's no different than any other sport. Money rules all and if anyone deserves their pay check, it's some of those fighters.

Dont think I would agree with that.

Boxing is not like other sports imo. If there was no money in football most footballers would still play the game (we say they would'nt but really they would), if there was no money in boxing you would be very very hard pressed to find men to go into a ring and get hit very hard in the head.

I do believe boxers enjoy the challenge of the sport, the competing and pushing themselves but you cant compare it to things like Tennis or football which are often very enjoyable to participate in (boxing can be satisfying to compete in but I dont think you could ever call it enjoyable).

Dodge

ShaunD wrote: »

That's a good point, when you think that fighters literally put their life on the line everytime they step into the ring.
There is always that risk.
The amount footballers get paid is an absolute joke.

Yeah but footballers earn their clubs more money than boxers earn their promoters.

unknown13

NO

Definitely more about the money. Frank Maloney was asked if Sutherland, DeGale, Jefferies and Groves will ever fight each other rregardless of which fighter was with which promoter and his reply was they will all fight each other but money will make the fights happen.

joepenguin

NO

same as any other pro sports. would a top premiership player take a 30k salary?

And thats just the players. Ronaldo makes say 140k per week or something like that. What I want to know is, how much is the guy who signs his paycheque on?:eek: