Boxing Promoters

[Spud]

Boxing promoters are always taking flack …

So I am asking what makes a good promoter?

A phrase used a lot is “boxing is a business, and as such a promoter needs to make money to pay the bills ? What is your opinion on this point?

Is the promoters job to look after his business, the fans, or the fighters signed to his promotional company?

What do UK promoters need to do to improve the customer experience of the fans?

Over to you forum?

[Alba]

UK Promoters should align themselves with overseas Promoters

[joshj909]

What makes a good promoter? Regular, consistent, well matched and as high level as possible fights for the fans. As much money for the fighters as possible and opportunities for belts and high profile fights from a fighter perspective. Then from the personality standpoint having some sort of honesty and charisma without coming off like an asshole.

For the “boxing is a business" question, yes it is but the fans don't need to be milked. The fighters should be paid what they are worth and not necessarily more if it means fans are getting exploited for it. Making boxing inaccessible by pricing people out will only harm the future of the sport.

Is the promoters job to look after his business, the fans, or the fighters signed to his promotional company? All of the above but 90% of fights they only ever look out for two of the three.

In the UK they need to stop charging PPV for everything. Fights on free to air TV every now and then is also a good step. Stop treating the fans like idiots! We know this guy isn't the best in the world, we know his opponent isn't the best in the world and no matter how much you tell us, we don't believe you. Be more willing to work across promotional lines. Finally, stop being shady! I wouldn't trust Eddie and Frank with anything, they are sleazy.

[ashall2]

It’s a fine line between being a good promoter and a good businessman. They need to provide good value but generate good money too. Someone who puts on a stacked top to bottom card of world title fights on non-PPV would be a good promoter but a crap businessman.

[black panther]

Key is in the word "promoter" whose job is to "promote" their fighter.

1.support or actively encourage (a cause, venture, etc.); further the progress of.
"some regulation is still required to promote competition"

2.
raise (someone) to a higher position or rank.
"she was promoted to General Manager"

So get their fighters to a position where they can advance. Get them exposure, raise their profile, leverage connections, get them opportunities for titles, get punters emotionally invested in them.

Then everyone wins. Easier said than done. Boxing said by those in the trade is a mugs game. Most people be it promoters or boxers end up skint. A few at the top of the pile come out smelling of roses.

[coneye]

Quite simple really

A promotors job is to put on the best fights possible for the lowest money and highest profit , its buisness

A managers job is to get his boxer the easiest fights possible for the highest pay he can get , Look after the fighters interest .

Problem is when they cross over , which they do .

[Coco]

If I was a good fighter, I would def be knocking at Fast Cars door

[mickey1975]

Key is in the word "promoter" whose job is to "promote" their fighter.

1.support or actively encourage (a cause, venture, etc.); further the progress of.
"some regulation is still required to promote competition"

2.
raise (someone) to a higher position or rank.
"she was promoted to General Manager"

So get their fighters to a position where they can advance. Get them exposure, raise their profile, leverage connections, get them opportunities for titles, get punters emotionally invested in them.

Then everyone wins. Easier said than done. Boxing said by those in the trade is a mugs game. Most people be it promoters or boxers end up skint. A few at the top of the pile come out smelling of roses.

Not true. Carl Greaves, Steve Wood, Steve Goodwin, Mark Bateson, Hobson aren't skint. Yes, they have other business interests but the facts are if the boxing didn't turn a profit over the year they would pack it in. You simply can't box on their shows unless you cover the costs, so they can't go wrong, really. Sometimes something will happen and they lose out but they will recoup it. Maybe newbies lose their cash, or even the likes of Hatton promotions who had an idealist attitude to the sport. I remember some of their shows must have cost an absolute fortune.

[Frostieballs]

I am not so sure Mickey. There is a difference between covering your costs and making a profit.

There are loads of people in the sport who are addicted to it and just want to be involved - so are prepared to break even.

Other than the Clinton Woods ride, I’m not sure Hobson for instance has made steady money from the sport. I could be wrong through - he seems a clever operator with his other interests.

[mickey1975]

I am not so sure Mickey. There is a difference between covering your costs and making a profit.

There are loads of people in the sport who are addicted to it and just want to be involved - so are prepared to break even.

Other than the Clinton Woods ride, I’m not sure Hobson for instance has made steady money from the sport. I could be wrong through - he seems a clever operator with his other interests.

I thought about it before putting Hobson in. He has surely had huge highs and lows. Vegas with Hatton, Woods, Haye all the way to a car park in Sheffield. He would be the best man to ask on that one. Steady, definitely not. As for the others, I am pretty sure Greaves and Steffy Bull will, including managing. I doubt Bateson loses money on shows. He's a sadist if he does because he has them at the same venue every time and has done for years. He'd at least try something new if it wasn't working. Wood is still manager of a good few, including Josh Warrington. The ones with longevity must do ok or they wouldn't be doing it. I suppose Jon Pegg will be the man on here to ask. I do know a few who have promoted but used a license holder to 'front' it. They never got their own so maybe it isn't easy!

[Frostieballs]

I am not so sure Mickey. There is a difference between covering your costs and making a profit.

There are loads of people in the sport who are addicted to it and just want to be involved - so are prepared to break even.

Other than the Clinton Woods ride, I’m not sure Hobson for instance has made steady money from the sport. I could be wrong through - he seems a clever operator with his other interests.

I thought about it before putting Hobson in. He has surely had huge highs and lows. Vegas with Hatton, Woods, Haye all the way to a car park in Sheffield. He would be the best man to ask on that one. Steady, definitely not. As for the others, I am pretty sure Greaves and Steffy Bull will, including managing. I doubt Bateson loses money on shows. He's a sadist if he does because he has them at the same venue every time and has done for years. He'd at least try something new if it wasn't working. Wood is still manager of a good few, including Josh Warrington. The ones with longevity must do ok or they wouldn't be doing it. I suppose Jon Pegg will be the man on here to ask. I do know a few who have promoted but used a license holder to 'front' it. They never got their own so maybe it isn't easy!

It’s definitely not easy…. Even with TV money.

The costs of a running a show just keep coming!

Maybe management is a safer/steadier route! No outlay/less risk!

[Spud]

You got it right there “Frostie”

[Floydendizer]

Promotors don't help themselves sometimes, for example we've had no shows in Leeds for 6 months now , then up pops 2 shows on Friday 26th May from Bateson & Hobson makes absolutely no sense what so ever ? Why if the promoting game is so hard do this , stubborness?

[mickey1975]

Promotors don't help themselves sometimes, for example we've had no shows in Leeds for 6 months now , then up pops 2 shows on Friday 26th May from Bateson & Hobson makes absolutely no sense what so ever ? Why if the promoting game is so hard do this , stubborness?

It’s not really a Hobson show though, is it? I know a lot on that card and Nathan Shepherd alone will do a lot of tickets.

[Spud]

A lot of promoters dont put their fighters on the small hall shows until they have sold a certain amount of tickets.

[Floydendizer]

Bit of a strange one really with 6/7 York lads on it , why not have it in York ?

[mickey1975]

Bit of a strange one really with 6/7 York lads on it , why not have it in York ?

They even had publicity shots done outside York Barbican Centre. Obviously the numbers didn’t add up. As I was saying, Hobson will have wanted x amount guaranteed.

[Floydendizer]

Yep remember seeing that , George Davey having a strange career shifted 400+ tickets on his debut for allegedly , now 3 years down the line boxing on a small hall show in Leeds , dropped by Queensbury ?

[mickey1975]

Yep remember seeing that , George Davey having a strange career shifted 400+ tickets on his debut for allegedly , now 3 years down the line boxing on a small hall show in Leeds , dropped by Queensbury ?

No, he was on a Queensbury show last time out. He’s been lined up for other small hall shows before, he’s not a priority at Queensbury. These lads face the old gym problem of trying to sell tickets to the same people. Those 400 are going to be asked by all different lads now. I’ve already been asked by three. Shepherd is different. He’s from a well known family and his brother is a well known Rugby League player so has the whole club, etc behind him.

[gregregegg]

A Good promoter is someone that can convince you somthing is better than it is, but importantly only by a little bit so that you forget that by the time they’re selling you something else.

I would also say I good promoter to work with is someone that won’t spite you to spite a rival promoter, if the best opportunity is on a rivals card they let you take it.

Sad bit is promoters arnt trying to outdo there oppisition by improving, there trying to out do them by dragging there opposition down…

[mickey1975]

A Good promoter is someone that can convince you somthing is better than it is, but importantly only by a little bit so that you forget that by the time they’re selling you something else.

I would also say I good promoter to work with is someone that won’t spite you to spite a rival promoter, if the best opportunity is on a rivals card they let you take it.

Sad bit is promoters arnt trying to outdo there oppisition by improving, there trying to out do them by dragging there opposition down…

But the simple fact is, if you have a ticket seller, you're not letting him fight on a rivals show unless it's on tv.

[gregregegg]

A Good promoter is someone that can convince you somthing is better than it is, but importantly only by a little bit so that you forget that by the time they’re selling you something else.

I would also say I good promoter to work with is someone that won’t spite you to spite a rival promoter, if the best opportunity is on a rivals card they let you take it.

Sad bit is promoters arnt trying to outdo there oppisition by improving, there trying to out do them by dragging there opposition down…

But the simple fact is, if you have a ticket seller, you're not letting him fight on a rivals show unless it's on tv.

Yea probably not. Rare theres a great opportunity as the B-side at sub-TV levle these days, but still happens i guess. I never quite know the ins and outs of ticketsales its a weird and wonderfull world haha.

If i sell a ticket for 50 Quid how much of that do i get?

[mickey1975]

A Good promoter is someone that can convince you somthing is better than it is, but importantly only by a little bit so that you forget that by the time they’re selling you something else.

I would also say I good promoter to work with is someone that won’t spite you to spite a rival promoter, if the best opportunity is on a rivals card they let you take it.

Sad bit is promoters arnt trying to outdo there oppisition by improving, there trying to out do them by dragging there opposition down…

But the simple fact is, if you have a ticket seller, you're not letting him fight on a rivals show unless it's on tv.

Yea probably not. Rare theres a great opportunity as the B-side at sub-TV levle these days, but still happens i guess. I never quite know the ins and outs of ticketsales its a weird and wonderfull world haha.

If i sell a ticket for 50 Quid how much of that do i get?

Depends how many you sell. Nothing up to a certain number.

[Frostieballs]

It can also vary widely. Can be 5% can be 20%.

Some might be on ticket only deals, some might get nothing from ticket sales. For big names turning over and getting signing on fees, ticket sales can be an irrelevance.

[Twinkle Toes]

A good promoter is someone who can take a none ticket seller and turn them into one.