Has the BBBofC a responsibility to new boxers ?

[dalcumly]

In light of recent court cases involving boxers and their managers/promoters, should the Board put in place a procedure whereby boxers applying for a licence would need to have a 'one to one' with their Area Steward to outline the implications of any potential contract they enter into? For instance they need to know exactly WHO their contract is with and have the 'small print' explained to them.

This process should continue when their contracts are being renewed. Many a young lad, with no formal education, seeing the ££££ signs would sign virtually anything, and who can blame them.

The answer for top level boxers is to form themselves into a limited company and enter into contracts as a limited company ,and then sign up for contracts with their manager and promoter. This type of advice should be provided free by the Board.

[bripez]

I can't see the Board going anywhere near giving what could be deemed as legal advice - as they could be sued themselves.

The big problem is that in theory the boxer employs the manager and promoter, whereas in reality (apart from one or two at the very top) the opposite is true.

The likes of Amir Khan can dictate their own terms and state what is what, 99.9% of boxers cannot - they will be offered a contract and told to sign or not.

[littlepug]

Think the board will give advice to a certain extent but its a legal minefield isn't it ? when I boxed in the 90s I once went to a regional board meeting to apply for a "northern boxer advisor" position which meant I would mediate between a fellow pro and his management if they were having problems, anyway I got voted in but quit boxing a few months later so never had to do anything but that's about the extent the board will help, on a side note my name must have remained on the boards books cos when Watson sued the board for damages I received a load of legal paperwork in the post detailing all the details of the case plus all the figures of the payout ! pretty sure it wasn't meant for my eyes its still up in me loft somewhere

[Parson Cross]

Dalcumly,
That is not the Board's role.
Boxers invariably wont instruct a Solicitor to take a look at a Contract because they have to pay for the service.
Short sighted.
Boxers can be self managed and don't have to have a Promoter.

[mickey1975]

Dalcumly,
That is not the Board's role.
Boxers invariably wont instruct a Solicitor to take a look at a Contract because they have to pay for the service.
Short sighted.
Boxers can be self managed and don't have to have a Promoter.

In your experience, do the managers/promoters get pissed off when boxers do turn up with a Solicitor?

[sweetscience]

Dalcumly,
That is not the Board's role.
Boxers invariably wont instruct a Solicitor to take a look at a Contract because they have to pay for the service.
Short sighted.
Boxers can be self managed and don't have to have a Promoter.

Don't you have to be licensed a year before you can self manage?

[expe]

Dalcumly,
That is not the Board's role.
Boxers invariably wont instruct a Solicitor to take a look at a Contract because they have to pay for the service.
Short sighted.
Boxers can be self managed and don't have to have a Promoter.

Don't you have to be licensed a year before you can self manage?

I think so and unless a fighters a huge name, good luck getting by without a promoter or big financial backing behind them.

[STEVE WOOD]

3 years before you can self manage

[zero]

If fighters aren’t getting paid the board should suspend the promoters licence until the fees are paid.

[keirw]

The problem is that young lads starting out haven't made any money yet and can't afford to get a solicitor to check a contract on their behalf.

[ppb]

A new boxer signs the exact same contract as Groves, Degale,Froch et al.
The pre populated contract is on the board's website and can be downloaded at any time, nothing can be added, subtracted or amended.
The problem lies with addendums when the boxer re- signs or extends, these are outwith the board's remit and they will not deal / adjudicate with a private agreement that isn't on board documentation.

[whiskey]

Sadly the IQ in boxing is pretty low.

[Jack B]

Boxers could set up a union? It's been tried before and wasn't successful but no reason why it couldn't work with the right leadership etc.

[spudder56]

A new boxer signs the exact same contract as Groves, Degale,Froch et al.
The pre populated contract is on the board's website and can be downloaded at any time, nothing can be added, subtracted or amended.
The problem lies with addendums when the boxer re- signs or extends, these are outwith the board's remit and they will not deal / adjudicate with a private agreement that isn't on board documentation.

Spot on mate and then some boxers sign contracts with limited companies which arent worth the paper their written on if the limited company goes belly up The role of the manager is to look after the boxers interest so imo if they sign contracts that are not recognised by the board why slag the board off when it all goes pear shaped

[spudder56]

3 years before you can self manage

100 % correct 3 years before you can apply for a managers licence you obviously know your job and the regulations Steve

[palooka]

Is it surprising that there seem to be few contractual arguments/law suits with boxers aligned with managers such as Steve Wood, Goodwin etc.

[spudder56]

Is it surprising that there seem to be few contractual arguments/law suits with boxers aligned with managers such as Steve Wood, Goodwin etc.

That's a fair point mate

[Boxing Prospect]

No, the BBBofC shouldn't be looking over the contracts, however, the BBBofC should be able to revoke or pause a promoters license if purses aren't paid in a timely manner. Likewise a promoter who fails to pay and declares his company bankrupt shouldn't be allowed a new license until a timely punishment has been served.

[spudder56]

No, the BBBofC shouldn't be looking over the contracts, however, the BBBofC should be able to revoke or pause a promoters license if purses aren't paid in a timely manner. Likewise a promoter who fails to pay and declares his company bankrupt shouldn't be allowed a new license until a timely punishment has been served.

The protection is already in place mate it's called a board contract and the board only recognise a promotor not a limited company so why oh why do people sign contracts outside the board contract ?

[palooka]

The boxer is likely 'encouraged' to sign, the manager/promoter maybe says that all bets are off if a further agreement is not signed.

[spudder56]

The boxer is likely 'encouraged' to sign, the manager/promoter maybe says that all bets are off if a further agreement is not signed.

If that's the case the manager is not looking after the boxers interest which he is paid to do

[palooka]

The boxer is likely 'encouraged' to sign, the manager/promoter maybe says that all bets are off if a further agreement is not signed.

If that's the case the manager is not looking after the boxers interest which he is paid to do

I agree and with some of the things that become public knowledge it seems the boxers needs come quite down the list; it seems the boxer is there to feather the nest of managers and promoters. It looks like legal theft.