Micheal Gomez Vs Ryan Davies tonight in Blackpool

[curtis wood]

yea good article thats whats needed just a bit of help i think fighters who dedicate there life to the sport deserve at least that cheers for the article ian

[Berbick]

Here's his last 'contest' if it's of interest gents:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN_H2xL-DHU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-RiUnO1dhg

It's not particularly edifying I must warn you

First post by the way

HELLO

[Andypittcov]

No disrespect to ian and Curtis as their clearly compassionate about the welfare of their boxers, but given that it's been widely reported that a large percentage of boxers develop drink or drug problems after retirement maybe releasing a lump sum of cash to them aged 35 or whenever could make matters far worse

[Coco]

No disrespect to ian and Curtis as their clearly compassionate about the welfare of their boxers, but given that it's been widely reported that a large percentage of boxers develop drink or drug problems after retirement maybe releasing a lump sum of cash to them aged 35 or whenever could make matters far worse

Large percentage??? You read too much tabloid press

The real problem with a scheme like that is that it is unworkable because most boxers do not earn enough, and that goes for the majority of domestic champs, it´s only a few at the top, a tiny percentage where this could apply to

[curtis wood]

10% i think is about right after you have paid your manager and trainer what ever is left 10% goes into a fund that the board hold until you are retired it wouldnt leave fighters with huge money but it would maybe give them enough to get them started in there new life its better than being left with nothing and if a fighter wants to spend it in a pub or a knocking shop thats up to them but at least you have given them options some might spend it on a college course and retrain as something else you cant just write people off and say they are going to waste the money thats not right

[Des1]

not wanting to go on about my football days but when i first signed my 1st pro contract at 17 i had a pension set up by the pfa that automatically took a percentage of my wages each month that went into a fund that i can get when im 35 i never got the money in my wages so i never missed it if you know what i mean i think this should be done with all fighters at every level if nothing else it gives you a nice pot of money tax free also whatever you pay into your pension the pfa then make a contribution based on how much you have paid in which can sometimes doulble your lump sum and give you incentive to pay into it i think fighters should be made to do it when i was young i thought i was gunna play for manchester united and score the winning goal in the world cup final so i didnt even give my pension a second thought when i got a bit older and realised my future was away from football i was glad id set the fund up to give me options its the same with fighters some will think of world domination but 95% will not get there and might need a little bit of money to fall back on there must be something the board can set up? the thought of one of my heros (gomez) getting beaten up for 500 quid doesnt sit well with me

Good post Curtis....

[Andypittcov]

But fighters just like everybody else already have the option of saving or investing 10% of what they earn so why does it need to be enforced

[SweetLikeSugar]

Footballers have a union. Boxers don't (as far as I'm aware). It's the footballer's union that set up the pensions of it's members, the footballing equivilent of the BBBoC - the FA - have no involvement.

I don't think a professional boxers union would work, given the way the business side of things work in the sport, but I think the board should advise pros to invest in their future and offer to provide some sort of help.

[curtis wood]

its true maybe fighters need to be a bit more switched on financially i dont know the answer i just think there needs to be more done for ex fighters how to do it im not sure i was just giving a example of how football did it and if boxing could do something on the same level

[Andypittcov]

Yes mate one thing I'll defo agree on is if footballers can be looked after then why can't boxers.

[SweetLikeSugar]

Actually, there should definitely be some sort of boxing union. It would help with things like pensions or anything else that is a problem for boxers. It could go a long way to making sure no fighters are ripped off from promoters too.

The only reason I can think of why there isn't one is that there would not be enough members to generate a substantial income. How many pros are there in the UK?

[Des1]

No disrespect to ian and Curtis as their clearly compassionate about the welfare of their boxers, but given that it's been widely reported that a large percentage of boxers develop drink or drug problems after retirement maybe releasing a lump sum of cash to them aged 35 or whenever could make matters far worse

Thats not the answer, its not as simple as that as its not the underlying problem. The underlying problem is depression and whether you have your hands on alot of money or not if you fall on that ground you'll always find enough money for the drink and drugs as we see in society. Its not just large percentage of boxers who develope the drink and drug problems, I' say just as many footballers do but for everyone who does you get those that dont fall on that ground

[Coco]

Yes mate one thing I'll defo agree on is if footballers can be looked after then why can't boxers.

Because there is much more money it football

[Andypittcov]

DES mate that's what I'm saying, if the underlying problem is depression which resulsts in drink or whatever why not look into that instead of handing them the cash to drink themselves to death

[dondada]

The real problem with a scheme like that is that it is unworkable because most boxers do not earn enough, and that goes for the majority of domestic champs, it´s only a few at the top, a tiny percentage where this could apply to

I dunno mate - it might not be a huge amount but even if (perhaps with a little bit added from the Board from their fees?) a fighter got £1500 aged 35/40 - it might help them go and re-train, get a deposit down on a van...better than what they currently get.

[Des1]

DES mate that's what I'm saying, if the underlying problem is depression which resulsts in drink or whatever why not look into that instead of handing them the cash to drink themselves to death

Yes, I see what your saying now

[tear up]

10% i think is about right after you have paid your manager and trainer what ever is left 10% goes into a fund that the board hold until you are retired it wouldnt leave fighters with huge money but it would maybe give them enough to get them started in there new life its better than being left with nothing and if a fighter wants to spend it in a pub or a knocking shop thats up to them but at least you have given them options some might spend it on a college course and retrain as something else you cant just write people off and say they are going to waste the money thats not right

i recentley retired and thats a great idea i was lucky invested in property but if i didnt at the time would of easy went you live the fast life as fast money comes in from chinning people which is easy when ya trained to do it the board should bring the rule out 10 perc even if you have only a few fights you gettin somethink saved

[kochamp]

10% of every fight, how much would Pete Buckley have got when he retired :-)

A great idea, didn't mickey cantwell try to set up a union of some form?

[curtis wood]

the fighters that are labelled journeymen will probably benefit the most with the amount of times they fight and they are the ones who probably have the toughest careers wouldnt it be nice for somebody like peter buckley who gave a lot to the sport to pick up a nice cheque for 5 or 10 grand when he hung his gloves up if he put 50 or 100 quid a fight away which isnt much he would have had a nice little pension if something would have been in place for him i know people will say he could have set one up himself but like i said whos thinking long term when your a young kid thats why i think it should be compulsory

[Roars Like Me]

not wanting to go on about my football days but when i first signed my 1st pro contract at 17 i had a pension set up by the pfa that automatically took a percentage of my wages each month that went into a fund that i can get when im 35 i never got the money in my wages so i never missed it if you know what i mean i think this should be done with all fighters at every level if nothing else it gives you a nice pot of money tax free also whatever you pay into your pension the pfa then make a contribution based on how much you have paid in which can sometimes doulble your lump sum and give you incentive to pay into it i think fighters should be made to do it when i was young i thought i was gunna play for manchester united and score the winning goal in the world cup final so i didnt even give my pension a second thought when i got a bit older and realised my future was away from football i was glad id set the fund up to give me options its the same with fighters some will think of world domination but 95% will not get there and might need a little bit of money to fall back on there must be something the board can set up? the thought of one of my heros (gomez) getting beaten up for 500 quid doesnt sit well with me

Good post Curtis....

I agree with that too apart from one point.. I nearly pass out reading your posts as you don't use full stops

British boxing should at least advise their fighters regarding pensions if not go down the same route as other sports/businesses and take it automatically (although they do ask if you want to opt out). I must admit I didn't have one for 5 or 6 years even though my company matched the contribution as I needed every penny at the time. Luckily i did in the end and have a modest but handy ammount now.

[LeedsLad]

Maybe a % of the revenue from boxing websites could be fed into a fund?

Websites such as this, ESB, Boxing News, Boxing Monthly etc etc.

Has the board ever considered staging their own promotions?

The board does a brilliant job protecting the safety of the fighters and suchlike, but there are many areas where they can smarten up their act when it comes to promoting and protecting the interests of those that keep it going - i.e. boxers, trainers etc.

[curtis wood]

i would put full stops and and commers in my writing but i dont know where they go so i just leave it sorry!

[Roars Like Me]

i would put full stops and and commers in my writing but i dont know where they go so i just leave it sorry!

Just mucking about fella - if you read and need to draw breath then that's the full stop moment.

Good luck with with your boxing career, I hope you get the belt you that you crave.

[curtis wood]

cheers pal

[palooka]

Curtis; you'll still do ok. You can't become an experienced boxer overnight and you don't become a poor fighter overnight; (no digs but it's a good thing the Frankie Gavin bout didn't come off; hope you get a good variety of sparring for the future).