What do pro fighters do for living?

Post Reply
Cent0089
Super Middleweight
Posts: 3481
Joined: 03 May 2013, 13:02

What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by Cent0089 »

Obviously, not every pro fighter has big paycheck for fights and majority of them have full time job. What are most common jobs amongst pro boxers ? I personally know only amateur boxers, trainer in gym, two cops and one military
HomicideHenry
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 18722
Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by HomicideHenry »

The vast majority of people in boxing here in America, from my perspective, have the backing of some sort of sponsor because small time promotions who strictly do low-level boxing simply doesn't exist anymore.

Prior to the over regulation of boxing with the inclusion of federal IDs, etc--- every state in the Union had at least one small level boxing promotion, and most people in the boxing business were first tiersmen, second tiersmen and journeymen. The first three levels of the pros.

I don't know that many people who I'd legitimately class as a tiersman or journeyman today in the United States of America, because it seems like the entire sport has shifted its focus to trialhorse, gate keeper, and contender level competitors.

These amateurs turning pro today basically are automatically trialhorse or gatekeeper level. The skeleton of the business (tiersmen and journeymen) basically do not exist anymore. It died out for the most part a decade ago.

These people being styled as journeymen today are trialhorses in ability and quality. That's just my two cents. I'm sure many will disagree with me on it but what else is new. But if they are going to disagree with me find me more than five promotions in the entire United States where strictly low level professional boxing matches are staged. Good luck.

Before all the over regulation occurred in this sport you had boxers from every walk of life working virtually any job you can think of. Hell, Greg Haugen worked in a factory throughout his entire pro career even when he was champion.
Bandog
Featherweight
Posts: 2471
Joined: 27 Jul 2019, 08:02

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by Bandog »

Didn't a school teacher beat Manny Pac? :OhYes:
margaret thatcher
Featherweight
Posts: 39230
Joined: 22 Jul 2019, 15:43

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by margaret thatcher »

HomicideHenry wrote: 03 Dec 2021, 13:49 The vast majority of people in boxing here in America, from my perspective, have the backing of some sort of sponsor because small time promotions who strictly do low-level boxing simply doesn't exist anymore.

Prior to the over regulation of boxing with the inclusion of federal IDs, etc--- every state in the Union had at least one small level boxing promotion, and most people in the boxing business were first tiersmen, second tiersmen and journeymen. The first three levels of the pros.

I don't know that many people who I'd legitimately class as a tiersman or journeyman today in the United States of America, because it seems like the entire sport has shifted its focus to trialhorse, gate keeper, and contender level competitors.

These amateurs turning pro today basically are automatically trialhorse or gatekeeper level. The skeleton of the business (tiersmen and journeymen) basically do not exist anymore. It died out for the most part a decade ago.

These people being styled as journeymen today are trialhorses in ability and quality. That's just my two cents. I'm sure many will disagree with me on it but what else is new. But if they are going to disagree with me find me more than five promotions in the entire United States where strictly low level professional boxing matches are staged. Good luck.

Before all the over regulation occurred in this sport you had boxers from every walk of life working virtually any job you can think of. Hell, Greg Haugen worked in a factory throughout his entire pro career even when he was champion.
keep in mind there are thousands of american pro boxers, way more than any other country. i doubt most of them have much backing. most fights that take place in the usa we never see and hardly hear anything about. someone as bad as andrew hartley still found enough action to get 30 fights
HomicideHenry
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 18722
Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by HomicideHenry »

I'm not saying mismatches don't happen, where "opponents for hire" doesn't exist. I'm talking about small time promotions where the absolute bottom level of boxing still occurs.

I can't think of more than one or two promotions in the entire United States that's strictly does bottom level boxing. When Stacy Goodson closed his doors he effectively was the last of the full-time low level boxing promoters in the United States.

And what I mean by low level boxing I'm talking about 0-0-0 vs 1-5-0, 5-4-0 vs 0-10-0, etc type of matches on a card with maybe one decent guy in the main event. It just doesn't happen anymore. Maybe in West Virginia but that's about it.
brilo33
Middleweight
Posts: 7865
Joined: 07 Mar 2014, 16:05

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by brilo33 »

i suppose the good young olympians have been pro from day 1 , but as its a very much a working class sport , usually building trades or security, talking about that i remember there was a prominsing young boxer coming up i think he was a carpit fitter from manchester got hurt i think
Lackeos
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 3598
Joined: 26 Jan 2008, 03:05

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by Lackeos »

HomicideHenry wrote: 03 Dec 2021, 23:35 I'm not saying mismatches don't happen, where "opponents for hire" doesn't exist. I'm talking about small time promotions where the absolute bottom level of boxing still occurs.

I can't think of more than one or two promotions in the entire United States that's strictly does bottom level boxing. When Stacy Goodson closed his doors he effectively was the last of the full-time low level boxing promoters in the United States.

And what I mean by low level boxing I'm talking about 0-0-0 vs 1-5-0, 5-4-0 vs 0-10-0, etc type of matches on a card with maybe one decent guy in the main event. It just doesn't happen anymore. Maybe in West Virginia but that's about it.
Well, there's plenty of cards that are nothing but 3-0 guys fighting a debutant or TBA.

December 17, Mesquite Arena
promoter: Christian Montes (The Boxing Showcase)

December 10, Glendale Civic Center
promoter: Paul Pelletier (OG Boxing)

December 10, Quiet Cannon Country Club
promoter: Tom Loeffler

December 10, Performance Arts Center
promoter: Eric McGuire (A-Square Fight Promotions Llc.)

Caribe Royale Orlando
promoter: Jimmy Burchfield (CES Boxing)
HomicideHenry
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 18722
Joined: 08 Sep 2005, 00:43

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by HomicideHenry »

That's close I suppose but I guarantee those guys have amateur records too. But I have yet to see a promotion that has strictly losing record fighters competing against other losing record fighters, because that used to be quite common in the United States.
tonyevs
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 5841
Joined: 08 Feb 2004, 18:13

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by tonyevs »

Here in the UK I expect it to be the normal taxi driver, labourer, security type jobs. The type of casual low skilled/low qualification jobs open to people who didn't put much emphasis on education growing up.

Those from the Travelling community will typically do gardening, driveways, scrap .. roofing
Jeff_lacy_ko
Super Featherweight
Posts: 5710
Joined: 06 Sep 2018, 14:15

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by Jeff_lacy_ko »

Pro mma fighter i know is a nurse (although hes semi retired now)

Pro boxer i know was a bouncer/ security guard
peter barlow
Super Welterweight
Posts: 1397
Joined: 05 Aug 2014, 13:10

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by peter barlow »

Personal training, can be decent money in it and use the knowledge they already have
Boxing Prospect
Super Middleweight
Posts: 6592
Joined: 25 Jun 2012, 14:35

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by Boxing Prospect »

Teiru Kinoshita worked at the Portopia Hotel, the same venue that he faced Zolani Tete at... Talk about home advantage!
H8Usernames
Featherweight
Posts: 1196
Joined: 21 Mar 2020, 21:02

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by H8Usernames »

tonyevs wrote: 05 Dec 2021, 04:04 Here in the UK I expect it to be the normal taxi driver, labourer, security type jobs. The type of casual low skilled/low qualification jobs open to people who didn't put much emphasis on education growing up.

Those from the Travelling community will typically do gardening, driveways, scrap .. roofing
A slightly biggoted opinion. Not everyone is born into circumstances where educating yourself is easy, practical or possible. Yet some of these people regardless of their lack of education end up outperforming people like you.
AngryGoon38
Heavyweight
Heavyweight
Posts: 1837
Joined: 10 Jun 2008, 14:51

Re: What do pro fighters do for living?

Post by AngryGoon38 »

HomicideHenry wrote: 03 Dec 2021, 13:49 The vast majority of people in boxing here in America, from my perspective, have the backing of some sort of sponsor because small time promotions who strictly do low-level boxing simply doesn't exist anymore.

Prior to the over regulation of boxing with the inclusion of federal IDs, etc--- every state in the Union had at least one small level boxing promotion, and most people in the boxing business were first tiersmen, second tiersmen and journeymen. The first three levels of the pros.

I don't know that many people who I'd legitimately class as a tiersman or journeyman today in the United States of America, because it seems like the entire sport has shifted its focus to trialhorse, gate keeper, and contender level competitors.

These amateurs turning pro today basically are automatically trialhorse or gatekeeper level. The skeleton of the business (tiersmen and journeymen) basically do not exist anymore. It died out for the most part a decade ago.

These people being styled as journeymen today are trialhorses in ability and quality. That's just my two cents. I'm sure many will disagree with me on it but what else is new. But if they are going to disagree with me find me more than five promotions in the entire United States where strictly low level professional boxing matches are staged. Good luck.

Before all the over regulation occurred in this sport you had boxers from every walk of life working virtually any job you can think of. Hell, Greg Haugen worked in a factory throughout his entire pro career even when he was champion.
I redd one time that "Duane Bobick" worked in an automotive assembly factory facility.🏭
Apparently, he got severely injured while working in there as well. Severed finger,or Torn wrist tendon..?
🤔 :maybe:
Post Reply