Money vs legacy - What do you think and what would you do?

[Controversial]

As we all know boxing is a dangerous and short career. The vast majority of fighters don't end up rich and many suffer after retirement with injuries, brain issues, depression, money problems etc..

In many ways I don't blame fighters for cashing out and going for the pay day. You are soon forgotten and even the greatest fighters in history have their haters so you definitely can't please everyone no matter what you achieve or do.

So do you really blame fighters like Benn for chasing the money and not really caring about belts or legacy? David Haye certainly chased the money in the last part of his career, lots of big talk but fought De Mori, Gjergjaj and had two fights with Bellew when he was clearly a broken fighter.

What would you do as a fighter, try and go down the path of winning area belts, British belt, Commonwealth, European and then world or given the choice would you just take the easiest fights you could for the most money and not care what people thought about it.

I know Benn has his haters but chances are he will retire in a few years with multi millions in the bank. They are prize fighters at the end of the day, money is why they do it.

[Boxerbeetle]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

[joshj909]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

[Coco]

Many of the top fighters already have the money and legacy, the issue is that the bigger the spotlight it the harder it is to step out of it

[Coco]

But boxing is a job, you gotta earn, money comes first

[smiling assassin]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

Benn would lose to the welter southern area champion Joel Kodua. He should carry on doing what he is doing and banking coin. If he ever had a change of heart and wanted to start winning belts he will get beat at almost all levels

[Coco]

And a fight v Tommy Fury would earn big too

[gp.]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

"Hi grandchildren, come watch me fighting Regis Prograis at Spurs stadium on this massive cinema system in our big house"
"But weren't you ever English champion, grandpa?"

[Coco]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

"Hi grandchildren, come watch me fighting Regis Prograis at Spurs stadium on this massive cinema system in our big house"
"But weren't you ever English champion, grandpa?"

The grandkids said from their Australian beachfront mansion

[joshj909]

I think a lot simply depends on how good you are. It’s pointless for Conor to go for ‘legacy’ as he just isn’t anywhere near genuine world level, particularly when off the drugs, so he should go for money all day long.

For the better fighters, I think they need to carefully strike a balance as best they can. The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

"Hi grandchildren, come watch me fighting Regis Prograis at Spurs stadium on this massive cinema system in our big house"
"But weren't you ever English champion, grandpa?"

Why can't he show them his regional belts from his at home cinema?

[Sweet Dick Willie]

The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

Is Andrade officially retired?

[Sweet Dick Willie]

I liked to watch him but yeah, one of the most frustrating careers of our times

[gp.]

I think you can do both though to an extent. Not everyone can't be a world champion. Someone like Benn can't win a world title but he should believe in himself enough to win the English, commonwealth, euro or British belt if he cherry picks the right opponent at the right weightclass? He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

"Hi grandchildren, come watch me fighting Regis Prograis at Spurs stadium on this massive cinema system in our big house"
"But weren't you ever English champion, grandpa?"

Why can't he show them his regional belts from his at home cinema?

Because he wouldnt have the home cinema if hs wasted his time fighting for the Southern Area title.

[Boxerbeetle]

The most frustrating are the guys like Demetrius Andrade who seemingly refused to challenge himself until the very end, so probably didn’t even earn that much money compared to what he could have earned against bigger & better opposition, plus leaves an incredibly weak legacy to boot.

Is Andrade officially retired?

I dunno tbh, but assumed he had.

[Controversial]

He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

Do you think he will? I doubt it'll even cross his mind, a British belt means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at the stick Curtis Woodhouse gets and he won a British title. Some fighters end up selling their belts later in life as they are skint, I'm sure Benn would get more satisfaction from fighting "big names" in rammed venues in front of millions worldwide and getting paid millions for it.

[joshj909]

He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

Do you think he will? I doubt it'll even cross his mind, a British belt means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at the stick Curtis Woodhouse gets and he won a British title. Some fighters end up selling their belts later in life as they are skint, I'm sure Benn would get more satisfaction from fighting "big names" in rammed venues in front of millions worldwide and getting paid millions for it.

I don't reckon his grandkids will possibly know any of the names he's faced except Eubank and that's because of his dad, not him. The value of financial achievements can diminish when you already have money he can't never say he was the best at any level which is an actual achievement.

There is an obvious balance needed. Allen for example is one that I imagine will regret not picking up an easy belt when it was possible instead of some of the cans he faced because he's good enough to beat some of the English and euro champs but he probably won't regret the big paydays.

[Controversial]

He'll regret not picking up something as an old man when he can't tell his grandkids that he was a champion of sorts.

Do you think he will? I doubt it'll even cross his mind, a British belt means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at the stick Curtis Woodhouse gets and he won a British title. Some fighters end up selling their belts later in life as they are skint, I'm sure Benn would get more satisfaction from fighting "big names" in rammed venues in front of millions worldwide and getting paid millions for it.

I don't reckon his grandkids will possibly know any of the names he's faced except Eubank and that's because of his dad, not him. The value of financial achievements can diminish when you already have money he can't never say he was the best at any level which is an actual achievement.

They are less likely to know a British level opponent though so I doubt his grandkids will say "I'm really disappointed you didn't win a British belt". Benn really won't care, he's already said he'll be forgotten in a few years. He's sold out venues and has huge fame already, 99% of fighters don't get near to that. He's all about the money.

[joshj909]

Do you think he will? I doubt it'll even cross his mind, a British belt means very little in the grand scheme of things. Look at the stick Curtis Woodhouse gets and he won a British title. Some fighters end up selling their belts later in life as they are skint, I'm sure Benn would get more satisfaction from fighting "big names" in rammed venues in front of millions worldwide and getting paid millions for it.

I don't reckon his grandkids will possibly know any of the names he's faced except Eubank and that's because of his dad, not him. The value of financial achievements can diminish when you already have money he can't never say he was the best at any level which is an actual achievement.

They are less likely to know a British level opponent though so I doubt his grandkids will say "I'm really disappointed you didn't win a British belt". Benn really won't care, he's already said he'll be forgotten in a few years. He's sold out venues and has huge fame already, 99% of fighters don't get near to that. He's all about the money.

If there's something that Benn desperately craves, it's recognition. He's crying out for it every time he speaks.

[gilgamesh]

For the most part the big money fights and the legacy defining fights are usually gonna be the same thing. That's not always the case, but usually the fight the fans want to see the most is also gonna be the most lucrative.

[Glass Joe]

From what i remember listening to robin Reid on boxing life stories I'm pretty sure he would swap his world titles for life changing money or just live comfortably. Hadn't seen much off reid since bare knuckle work. Hope hes doing okay

[gilgamesh]

I didn't even know Reid won any world titles.

[Ezzard]

It's tricky. Many go for the money ad it makes sense, only to lose it all anyway. Yout accomplishments never fade.

Usually the two go together and beating up a few YouTubers now and then does not hurt as ling as you are still fighting properly on a regular basis.

[Controversial]

From what i remember listening to robin Reid on boxing life stories I'm pretty sure he would swap his world titles for life changing money or just live comfortably. Hadn't seen much off reid since bare knuckle work. Hope hes doing okay

He was definitely struggling after boxing with finances and depression. I saw on his Twitter account he is advertising himself as a personal trainer. But yes I think when their careers are over a lot of these guys realise how little they made and how quickly forgotten they were. Belts don’t pay the bills for most. I seem to recall him trying to get Calzaghe back in the ring not so long ago

[lefthook82]

Money every day of the week and twice on Sundays

[Coco]

Seems like these days that most world champs earn reasonable retirement money