Matchmakers

[SeanBrennan]

Saw the matchmakers listed for the Sheffield card tonight as Steve Lillis and Al Siesta, two well known people from the sport. Made me think - how does that work? Do they get paid a fee, or have contracts, or retained services?

[SeanBrennan]

would be interested to hear from anyone in the know. Thanks in advance.

[The_Don1]

I would think they would be paid a fee and utilised as people who have existing contacts in the sport, with instructions as to the level and quality of opponent they are sourcing for for the home fighter. No ITK knowledge there, but would seem plausible to me.

[Frostieballs]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

[SeanBrennan]

I would think they would be paid a fee and utilised as people who have existing contacts in the sport, with instructions as to the level and quality of opponent they are sourcing for for the home fighter. No ITK knowledge there, but would seem plausible to me.

thanks Don

[SeanBrennan]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

thanks Frostie much appreciated. I remember Powell, often in the corner too wasn't he. RIP

[si7dog7]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

[SeanBrennan]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

ah, great that you met him.

[Coco]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

ah, great that you met him.

Classy bloke was Dean, everyone liked him

[SeanBrennan]

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

ah, great that you met him.

Classy bloke was Dean, everyone liked him

certainly did, so so many people from across the broad church of the sport thought so highly of him.

[Spud]

I know Tom Dallas is the matchmaker for Matchroom. He is on a salary. But I now for instance promoters on the smaller shows pay anything from £350 - £500 per show.

[Spud]

They operate in a couple of ways.

Some freelance and work on a fee per show.

Some promoters have an in house matchmaker, who may well be on a salary and match every show that promoter stages.

FW had Ernie Fossey working for him for years. Another well know matchmaker was Dean Powell (was at Panix in the 90’s). RIP both.

John Ingle was good back then as well.

I’m out of touch on the modern day matchmakers. I presume they still have to be licensed by the Board.

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

ah, great that you met him.

[Spud]

I do not know a single person who didn’t like Dean.

He was an avid reader of this place. He phoned me on a number of occasions disagreeing with what I wrote. Our best discussion went on for over an hour when he asked me to justify why I didn’t rate Joe Calzaghe.

[SeanBrennan]

he seemed to do lots of roles in boxing too, relied upon by lots of people.

[JackGlad]

Late to the party but I’m a Matchmaker full time I know of 3 ways people might get paid.

1. Per fight normally you have set price I have 2 prices 8 rounds and under or 10 rounds + set fees but sometimes you are offered more for a TV fight.

2. Set fee per show regardless of amount of fights you get same fee.

3. Monthly wage like a normal job but this is mostly just TV Matchmakers.

[SeanBrennan]

Late to the party but I’m a Matchmaker full time I know of 3 ways people might get paid.

1. Per fight normally you have set price I have 2 prices 8 rounds and under or 10 rounds + set fees but sometimes you are offered more for a TV fight.

2. Set fee per show regardless of amount of fights you get same fee.

3. Monthly wage like a normal job but this is mostly just TV Matchmakers.

thanks for posting Jack, really appreciated. Is it an enjoyable role? Must rely a lot on managing relationships. Sounds extremely interesting.

[JackGlad]

Late to the party but I’m a Matchmaker full time I know of 3 ways people might get paid.

1. Per fight normally you have set price I have 2 prices 8 rounds and under or 10 rounds + set fees but sometimes you are offered more for a TV fight.

2. Set fee per show regardless of amount of fights you get same fee.

3. Monthly wage like a normal job but this is mostly just TV Matchmakers.

thanks for posting Jack, really appreciated. Is it an enjoyable role? Must rely a lot on managing relationships. Sounds extremely interesting.

It’s a fun job but stressful particularly as I don’t have a normal job outside Boxing I have no one in Boxing I won’t work with if there’s money in it for us both never understand people who let it get personal.
When you start out you have to earn trust and respect but I have the balance pretty much down now and know what most managers are about.

[SeanBrennan]

Late to the party but I’m a Matchmaker full time I know of 3 ways people might get paid.

1. Per fight normally you have set price I have 2 prices 8 rounds and under or 10 rounds + set fees but sometimes you are offered more for a TV fight.

2. Set fee per show regardless of amount of fights you get same fee.

3. Monthly wage like a normal job but this is mostly just TV Matchmakers.

thanks for posting Jack, really appreciated. Is it an enjoyable role? Must rely a lot on managing relationships. Sounds extremely interesting.

It’s a fun job but stressful particularly as I don’t have a normal job outside Boxing I have no one in Boxing I won’t work with if there’s money in it for us both never understand people who let it get personal.
When you start out you have to earn trust and respect but I have the balance pretty much down now and know what most managers are about.

well the very best of luck to you with it Jack and thanks for sharing your insights, it's really interesting.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Met Dean at York Hall a couple of times. A lovely unassuming guy. Had lovely talks with him RIP absolutely. Knew the game inside out.

ah, great that you met him.

Classy bloke was Dean, everyone liked him

Never heard an ill word about Dean, very well respected.

[jonp]

https://boxrec.com/en/matchmaker/456384?offset=0

Been matching since before what it says on boxrec,started around 2006 I think. Quite a few shows missing off there as well. Id say its over 300 now.

[SeanBrennan]

https://boxrec.com/en/matchmaker/456384?offset=0

Been matching since before what it says on boxrec,started around 2006 I think. Quite a few shows missing off there as well. Id say its over 300 now.

how do you find matchmaking Jon? It is enjoyable? How does it compare to your other aspects of boxing mate?

[jonp]

https://boxrec.com/en/matchmaker/456384?offset=0

Been matching since before what it says on boxrec,started around 2006 I think. Quite a few shows missing off there as well. Id say its over 300 now.

how do you find matchmaking Jon? It is enjoyable? How does it compare to your other aspects of boxing mate?

Its a neccesary evil. Changed a lot, Lots of new matchmakers came in during and after covid and basically messed a lot of things up. For example didnt realise foriegn opponents got less wages to cover flights hotels etc and just started making matches with same wages as uk wages, only to be told what about the flights and hotels. Then the foriegn boxers refused to come for less creating huge issues with budgets. Also make a lot of silly matches made, because they want to keep the trainer happy, not realising a new road warrior if he gets chinned 3 times out of his first 4 is going to retire.
Now we are at a stage where not enough away guys, as theyv been over matched and retired or been suspended and the foriegn agents know people people when desperate will pay what ever they ask, so they hold it too ransom and over charge.
Me personally I would rather put a bout off until the next show than pay a stupid fee, but the trouble is a lot of the new guys are just desperate to keep the promoters and trainers happy so pay too much and make daft matches.

Apart from that its great lol

[SeanBrennan]

https://boxrec.com/en/matchmaker/456384?offset=0

Been matching since before what it says on boxrec,started around 2006 I think. Quite a few shows missing off there as well. Id say its over 300 now.

how do you find matchmaking Jon? It is enjoyable? How does it compare to your other aspects of boxing mate?

Its a neccesary evil. Changed a lot, Lots of new matchmakers came in during and after covid and basically messed a lot of things up. For example didnt realise foriegn opponents got less wages to cover flights hotels etc and just started making matches with same wages as uk wages, only to be told what about the flights and hotels. Then the foriegn boxers refused to come for less creating huge issues with budgets. Also make a lot of silly matches made, because they want to keep the trainer happy, not realising a new road warrior if he gets chinned 3 times out of his first 4 is going to retire.
Now we are at a stage where not enough away guys, as theyv been over matched and retired or been suspended and the foriegn agents know people people when desperate will pay what ever they ask, so they hold it too ransom and over charge.
Me personally I would rather put a bout off until the next show than pay a stupid fee, but the trouble is a lot of the new guys are just desperate to keep the promoters and trainers happy so pay too much and make daft matches.

Apart from that its great lol

thanks sincerely for taking the time to share this info and insight Jon, it is hugely informative and demonstrates the difficulties that matchmaking entails.

[jonp]

A forum is to chat and share experiences, If a person cant do that why bother going on there. I know some people love an arguement or to create a bit of drama but thats not for me. Enough drama in life anyway with out encouraging it with complete strangers to feel triumphant in a cyber debate

[samwbr]

https://boxrec.com/en/matchmaker/456384?offset=0

Been matching since before what it says on boxrec,started around 2006 I think. Quite a few shows missing off there as well. Id say its over 300 now.

how do you find matchmaking Jon? It is enjoyable? How does it compare to your other aspects of boxing mate?

Its a neccesary evil. Changed a lot, Lots of new matchmakers came in during and after covid and basically messed a lot of things up. For example didnt realise foriegn opponents got less wages to cover flights hotels etc and just started making matches with same wages as uk wages, only to be told what about the flights and hotels. Then the foriegn boxers refused to come for less creating huge issues with budgets. Also make a lot of silly matches made, because they want to keep the trainer happy, not realising a new road warrior if he gets chinned 3 times out of his first 4 is going to retire.
Now we are at a stage where not enough away guys, as theyv been over matched and retired or been suspended and the foriegn agents know people people when desperate will pay what ever they ask, so they hold it too ransom and over charge.
Me personally I would rather put a bout off until the next show than pay a stupid fee, but the trouble is a lot of the new guys are just desperate to keep the promoters and trainers happy so pay too much and make daft matches.

Apart from that its great lol

Sounds a lot of ball ache Jon. How do you fit all that in around training your fighters?