Boxers selling their own tickets....

[rhino222]

When is this going to change? Surely boxing needs to move on from the 1930s. Why do the boxers (whilst concentrating on working full time and boxing training) have to self promote themselves and sell their own tickets.

Promoters should promote, they should certainly do more than they do for their 20-25% of the boxers purse

Managers also seem to do very little for their 20-25%

Kel Brook has the latter base covered by using his father as his manager, this tactic at least keeps the dosh in the family.

The trainer, who invests a lots of time and effort into training a fighter certainly gets the naff end of the purse, along with the actual boxer.

The BBBC and other global bodies need some new rules ie - Managers 5-10% ........ Promoter 10% ...... Trainer 30% or a set figure based on contractual agreement between boxer/trainer. Maybe 5% of purses should go to the BBBC to fund officials and their expenses. Hopefully this would then be better controlled if it was the BBBC's own coffers. Maybe a small percentage should go into a fund/insurance for injured fighters.

[JamesPhilips]

I largely agree with this. I mean I was a bit shocked when I realised small hall fighters who don’t sell tickets to pay for their opponent don’t even fight.

But then again you could argue that without these sales the small shows wouldn’t happen.

[rhino222]

I largely agree with this. I mean I was a bit shocked when I realised small hall fighters who don’t sell tickets to pay for their opponent don’t even fight.

But then again you could argue that without these sales the small shows wouldn’t happen.

Even worse is that sometimes they do fight but they get paid no money. Their opponent grabs a couple of K for turning up at short notice. This is why the journeymen opponents turn up in new rangerovers and the home fighter in a 2007 Renault Clio.

I know Ben 'the catweazle' Hudson pretty well and Ben wouldnt answer the phone at short notice for less than 4k during the latter part of his journeyman career.

[JamesPhilips]

I largely agree with this. I mean I was a bit shocked when I realised small hall fighters who don’t sell tickets to pay for their opponent don’t even fight.

But then again you could argue that without these sales the small shows wouldn’t happen.

Even worse is that sometimes they do fight but they get paid no money. Their opponent grabs a couple of K for turning up at short notice. This is why the journeymen opponents turn up in new rangerovers and the home fighter in a 2007 Renault Clio.

I know Ben 'the catweazle' Hudson pretty well and Ben wouldnt answer the phone at short notice for less than 4k during the latter part of his journeyman career.

Really? That’s a good insight on the pay at that level. Hudson got quite far in the ABAs but I guess saw where the money was. His sister went to Cambridge Uni I think and was attracting a bit of press at one stage as a female amateur boxer.

[jimmystone]

A lot of small hall fighters wouldn't be professional fighters if they weren't selling their own tickets. They guilt trip family in friends into buying tickets to watch their borderline fixed fights. A promoter couldn't do that.

Lads with some genuine ability who can sell tickets because of their personality and ability to people who aren't blood relatives, friends and friends of friends could leave it to the promoters but they'll get a better pay day if they sell them personally e.g. Farnell, Gomez, Hatton

Top level lads with national publicity e.g. Joshua can leave it to their promoters.

[rhino222]

A lot of small hall fighters wouldn't be professional fighters if they weren't selling their own tickets. They guilt trip family in friends into buying tickets to watch their borderline fixed fights. A promoter couldn't do that.

Lads with some genuine ability who can sell tickets because of their personality and ability to people who aren't blood relatives, friends and friends of friends could leave it to the promoters but they'll get a better pay day if they sell them personally e.g. Farnell, Gomez, Hatton

Top level lads with national publicity e.g. Joshua can leave it to their promoters.

Yes thats understood. But imagine if Woking town were playing against Guildford and the players were expected to sell the tickets and their weekly wage would be based on ticket sales. It just doesnt happen in other sports, therefore it needs a huge revamp.

[rhino222]

There is also a massive conflict of interest which surely is illegal....

The bigger the fighters purse (negotiated between and decided between promoter and manager) then the bigger percentage the promoter and manager get and they are already pulling 50% between them. It really is a F***ING joke.

[jimmystone]

You'd do away with small hall pro boxing then? Fighters selling their own tickets is the only way for it to work.

You can't compare boxing at that level to football. A lot of small hall fighters are no better than 5-a-side level let alone Woking Town level. Literally the only people who will ever want to watch them are their own family and friends, so who better to sell the tickets than the fighters themselves?

I'm playing Devil's Advocate btw. I wouldn't miss small hall pro shows, I think lads should stay amateur and concentrate on trying to win trophies rather than blagging it as pros.

[maverick23]

There is also a massive conflict of interest which surely is illegal....

The bigger the fighters purse (negotiated between and decided between promoter and manager) then the bigger percentage the promoter and manager get and they are already pulling 50% between them. It really is a F***ING joke.

It’d be very rare for promoters to get a % of a fighters purse. They normally negotiate a deal with a fighter/their manager and pay them a set amount per fight. So the manager has an incentive to get the best deal out of the promoter. I do find it dodgy when the promoter/manager are the same person - it’s allowed in the U.K. but not in the US.

Promoters tend to only get the % commission if their boxer fights on someone else’s show through purse bids or on big PPVs.

The promoter then takes the risk on the show making money by making sure the income outweighs the costs of the boxers, production, venue, marketing etc.

I do wonder what certain managers do for their fighters to warrant their cut. They should be helping guide their careers matchmaking wise, getting strong deals with promoters, and getting them commercial deals.

[KiwiRider]

It's also a way of building a fan base.
Selling tickets makes fighters get out there and self promote..
Old school word of mouth, as long as the fighter performs and entertains. Which is also another benefit to fans, fighters selling tickets because they do perform and entertain.
Early on Ted Cheeseman was doing a heck of a lot of self promotion along with his family.
Putting bums on seats and entertaining them got Ted his opportunities with Eddie and a pretty decent career for what he is. It also built a fan base and he (win or lose) entertained.

[mickey1975]

A very close friend of mine had £20 deducted from his purse because he had something to eat and a coke after he fought on a dinner show.

[jonp]

I largely agree with this. I mean I was a bit shocked when I realised small hall fighters who don’t sell tickets to pay for their opponent don’t even fight.

But then again you could argue that without these sales the small shows wouldn’t happen.

Even worse is that sometimes they do fight but they get paid no money. Their opponent grabs a couple of K for turning up at short notice. This is why the journeymen opponents turn up in new rangerovers and the home fighter in a 2007 Renault Clio.

I know Ben 'the catweazle' Hudson pretty well and Ben wouldnt answer the phone at short notice for less than 4k during the latter part of his journeyman career.

That must have been on tv shows because Ben came along at short notice for me for less than a third than that on a grassroots show

[rhino222]

I can only go on what Ben told me at the end of his career. Im not his accountant not am i the taxman.

[John]

From my experience, on small hall shows it is next to impossible to get home fighters to take even remotely competitive fights let alone 50/50. So you have a product which is unappealing to most boxing fans. Thus the only possible financial model is to sell tickets to the supporters of the home fighters.

[Coco]

I largely agree with this. I mean I was a bit shocked when I realised small hall fighters who don’t sell tickets to pay for their opponent don’t even fight.

But then again you could argue that without these sales the small shows wouldn’t happen.

Even worse is that sometimes they do fight but they get paid no money. Their opponent grabs a couple of K for turning up at short notice. This is why the journeymen opponents turn up in new rangerovers and the home fighter in a 2007 Renault Clio.

I know Ben 'the catweazle' Hudson pretty well and Ben wouldnt answer the phone at short notice for less than 4k during the latter part of his journeyman career.

Ive known a number of fighters to exaggerate their purses

[coneye]

Promoter cant afford to pay for the night he should,nt be promoting its buisness and like any buisness venture youu lose you lose you win you win, After all if he makes good money he,s not gonna give you more Whatz more ÀLL PURSES should be fronted up and given to the relevant authorities BEFORE the fight,, Obviously your Fury , Aj fights are different

[KiwiRider]

In small hall shows in NZ we have "Corporate fights" where companies shout their staff a big table and some door entry tickets to help generate revenue for the event. Then they might have one 3 rounder of maybe a staff member or friend of the company having a crap fight.
Luckily the beers are very cheap which helps getting through these opening boxercise bouts

[mickey1975]

I can only go on what Ben told me at the end of his career. Im not his accountant not am i the taxman.

He boxed Danny Reynolds for a lot less than that.

[jonp]

From my experience, on small hall shows it is next to impossible to get home fighters to take even remotely competitive fights let alone 50/50. So you have a product which is unappealing to most boxing fans. Thus the only possible financial model is to sell tickets to the supporters of the home fighters.

Here is the main point of it where people are pointing out that boxers are having to sell tickets unlike other sports.theres not many other sports where the participants and there teams can pick the opp they want even if they are levels and levels below.If boxers were in a league basis fighting even fights on a much more regular basis shows would definatly sell them selves like they did in the older times and stop the need for people to sell there own tickets.
A promoter should sell the tickets but if the boxer is struggling to sell to his own friends and loved ones because they are really not impressed with him fighting another away guy with a poor record what chance has the box office got of selling them to complete strangers.
Fighters who go out there box in the away corner or take entertaining 50 50 fights and capture the imagination of the public are not required to sell a huge amount of tickets (although a fan base is always an advantage )

[rhino222]

I can only go on what Ben told me at the end of his career. Im not his accountant not am i the taxman.

He boxed Danny Reynolds for a lot less than that.

In fairness i did say the tail end of Bens career. That to me means about his last half dozen fights.

[Spud]

For professional boxing to continue in the UK on small hall shows, boxers must sell tickets, with the promoter doing what he can to promote the show on the social media platforms and local press.

[Dioufy]

Must be devastating when tickets for undercard fighters are being sold on Stubhub, Ticketmaster, ect, and their fans buy on there not knowing that it’s incredibly beneficial to buy from the boxer personally that they’re actually supporting.

[mickey1975]

Must be devastating when tickets for undercard fighters are being sold on Stubhub, Ticketmaster, ect, and their fans buy on there not knowing that it’s incredibly beneficial to buy from the boxer personally that they’re actually supporting.

But they will know their supporters.

[jonp]

I can only go on what Ben told me at the end of his career. Im not his accountant not am i the taxman.

He boxed Danny Reynolds for a lot less than that.

In fairness i did say the tail end of Bens career. That to me means about his last half dozen fights.

His last fight was on a bham show

[slapbangwhallop]

Must be devastating when tickets for undercard fighters are being sold on Stubhub, Ticketmaster, ect, and their fans buy on there not knowing that it’s incredibly beneficial to buy from the boxer personally that they’re actually supporting.

not really no. They will often be on a straight purse when they get to the big shows and often will have been selected to be on the big show because they've a proven track record of being a good ticket seller.