Incentives to Remain an Amateur?

[rmz]

So I was reading this month's Boxing Monthly magazine and they had an article about the British Olympic Boxing team. In the article they interviewed various British Boxing personalities about whether they thought certain British Amateurs should turn professional or stay amateurs. A lot of the people said that the fighters should turn professional while others said they should remain amateurs if the British ABA gave them good incentives to stay amateurs, especially because the Olympics will be held in London in 2012. According to them, the British Olympic Committee wants as many athletes as possible to medal in London because they're the hosts.

I know in countries like Russia and Thailand, Amateurs are often given cars, apartments, money etc for winning a medal at the Olympics and staying Amateurs. I was wondering if USA Boxing offers incentives to their top Amateurs to stay Amateurs instead of turning pro? If not, wouldn't it make sense to? Or somehow find a way to get athletes sponsored through private funding? I think a lot of Olympians who turn pro would have better success if they just stayed Amateurs. But if they need money and USA Boxing isn't offering them any support, they don't have a choice but to turn professional.

And I guess "Amateur" for boxing refers more to the style than it does to say, NCAA Amateur status, which means you can't get paid to do athletics?

[Dennis]

USAB gives the Olympians monthly stipends during the training for the Olympics. I think Rau'shee Warren was given a stipend for the whole 4 years to stay amateur (2004-2008). The stipends vary in amount. Some boxers get a few hundred a month while others get several thousand per month. Boxers can get additional sponsorships from corporations, etc., but they have to give the money to USAB to put into a special account for the boxer. USAB controls the use of the money by the boxer and there are limits on how much they can use each month.

[rmz]

That's pretty interesting, I did not know that...so do you think that the main reason for fighters moving from the amateurs to the professional ranks is a frustration with the amateur system and/or fame/fortune/etc?

[Dennis]

It depends on the boxers. Some don't have a style that works for the amateur scoring system. Others want to try for the fame and money. Some do it for both reasons and I'm sure there are many other reasons.

[boxmel]

But if they need money and USA Boxing isn't offering them any support, they don't have a choice but to turn professional.

You have to remember, when hearing/reading about money and cars and etc. given by other countries, that the U.S. is the only country whose sports are not government funded. The money for the top 3/4 stipends comes from the USOC, not USAB. Any money USAB raises outside of USOC funding goes for programs and expenses at the national level.

[JMac]

USAB has offered Mike Hunter and Raynel Williams good money to stay amateur. I'm not going to say what the figure that I heard is but it is real good for two elite boxers like them and probably more than they would make boxing 4 rounders as a pro.
My response is that it is about time USAB does something like that if they want to win gold medals in the Olympics. Think about how many kids signed up for boxing after the '76 Olympics when USA won 5 golds when all countries were there. Times have changed but success breads success.

[Dennis]

I hope Ray stays amateur for awhile. He is very talented, but young. He could clean up in the U.S. and start to dominate in international competition over the next 4 years (assuming he sticks around until 2012).

[boxmel]

USAB has offered Mike Hunter and Raynel Williams good money to stay amateur.

Hopefully, this means that USAB is getting an influx of money; would be nice to know where from. D

[rmz]

But if they need money and USA Boxing isn't offering them any support, they don't have a choice but to turn professional.

You have to remember, when hearing/reading about money and cars and etc. given by other countries, that the U.S. is the only country whose sports are not government funded. The money for the top 3/4 stipends comes from the USOC, not USAB. Any money USAB raises outside of USOC funding goes for programs and expenses at the national level.

That makes sense. Most of our athletes if not all of them seem to live off of their private sponsorships. Can amateur boxers receive endorsements like gymnasts and swimmers?

It's good to hear that Raynell Williams is being offered some incentive to stay an amateur. I think he's a real talent and he fights pretty well under the amateur system. He did well in his first fight at the Games and I thought his second fight was close, but he didn't bring his A game. He would be 22 or 23 at the next games which is still pretty young.

[boxmel]

Can amateur boxers receive endorsements like gymnasts and swimmers?

Elite amateur boxers can receive monies that are put into a trust fund and given out upon request. Local boxers can have expenses paid for them by sponsors (attire, etc.) but cannot receive the monies directly.

[Dennis]

Sponsors can donate money to boxing gyms and it might even be a tax-deductible charitable contribution as long as the gym is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The gym can then pay the travel expenses for their boxers and buy uniforms and equipment. It is a nice way to help support your favorite boxer.

[skept]

the money sounds good.

[DCAmateurBoxing]

The money that US amateur boxers receive is nothing compare to other countries. It's really not much of an incentive to stay amateur compared with the prospects of going pro. Even a $2500/month stiped pales in comparison the 6 and 7-figure amounts other boxers get around the world.Like Mel said in other countries the govt is involved in the payments and monies raised.

Featherweight boxer Somluck Khamsing (THA) was paid a $1,600,000USD bonus for gold in 1996. Manus Boonjumnong was paid $600,000USD for gold in Athens. Standard payments for medals for Thailand are (USD): Gold: $309,802, Silver: $185,881, Bronze: $123,935

In the UK, UK Sport contributes Lottery funding of £1.5million per year ($2,500,000USD) to 30 elite amateur boxers on the GB program. That's about $90,000USD per year, per elite boxer on avereage. 16 boxers are in a so - called ' Podium Group' earmarked for medals, and 14 youngsters from a development group whose potential was identified for championships after Beijing. This is topped up by £560,000 per year of Government money. That's about another $1,000,000USD per year from the British government. All accommodation, travel, coaching, conditioning, nutrition and technical analysis is supposed to be taken care of. The boxers are on at least £60,000 a year (that's $97,000USD per year per boxer) in some case much more, supposedly to ensure they are in the best possible condition for their country.

Other countries have similar arrangements. Compare that with $1500/2000 a month. . .

[skept]

The money that US amateur boxers receive is nothing compare to other countries. It's really not much of an incentive to stay amateur compared with the prospects of going pro. Even a $2500/month stiped pales in comparison the 6 and 7-figure amounts other boxers get around the world.Like Mel said in other countries the govt is involved in the payments and monies raised.

Featherweight boxer Somluck Khamsing (THA) was paid a 1.6 million bonus for gold in 1996. Manus Boonjumnong was paid $600,000USD for gold in Athens. Standard payments for medals for Thailand are (USD): Gold: $309,802, Silver: $185,881, Bronze: $123,935

In the UK, UK Sport contributes Lottery funding of £1.5million per year ($2,500,000USD) to 30 elite amateur boxers on the GB program. That's about $90,000USD per year, per elite boxer on avereage. 16 boxers are in a so - called ' Podium Group' earmarked for medals, and 14 youngsters from a development group whose potential was identified for championships after Beijing. This is topped up by £560,000 per year of Government money. That's about another $1,000,000USD per year from the British government. All accommodation, travel, coaching, conditioning, nutrition and technical analysis is supposed to be taken care of. The boxers are on at least £60,000 a year (that's $97,000USD per year per boxer) in some case much more, supposedly to ensure they are in the best possible condition for their country.

Other countries have similar arrangements. Compare that with $1500/2000 a month. . .

this is real talk right here.