BoxRec

If you were a boxer and please answer honestly….

Would you go for MONEY or LEGACY

Can you name boxers who went for the money before belts.

After working in the sport for years I see both sides and have splinters on my arse as a result of sitting on the fence.

Neither, both in the pro game will lead to your health going for a burton.

I would just stay amateur, especially with today's set up and I was at that level.

With a lot of pros - especially with the heavyweights where they can earn good money like Danny Williams, Julius Francis etc - legacy has nothing to do with it because I don't suppose legacy pays the bills, you always need a 'Plan B' in this life, moreso if you are boxing for a living.

I see you named Julius Francis … his fee for the Tyson fight was just over £400k

Spud wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 04:49 I see you named Julius Francis … his fee for the Tyson fight was just over £400k

Yeah, but he went though it, that's the problem, I suppose you need 'Plan B' whilst boxing. Probably got him a house and he is now mortgage free in London and he's invested but you still gotta eat in the meantime.

Fray Bentos wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 04:51

Spud wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 04:49 I see you named Julius Francis … his fee for the Tyson fight was just over £400k

Yeah, but it went though it, that's the problem, I suppose you need 'Plan B' whilst boxing. Probably got him a house and he is now mortgage free in London and he's invested but you still gotta eat in the meantime.

True

Julius went from 400k for the Tyson fight to a little over £30k for a British title shot

It’s all too easy to say ‘legacy’ from the sidelines. But if I was in that position myself, definitely the money. Boxing is a short, extremely dangerous career, maximising income is a no-brainer. Get your money and get out asap.

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 05:02 It’s all too easy to say ‘legacy’ from the sidelines. But if I was in that position myself, definitely the money. Boxing is a short, extremely dangerous career, maximising income is a no-brainer. Get your money and get out asap.

So why do boxers take so much sh it for not taking fights because the money on the B side is pittance

Spud wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 05:05

Boxerbeetle wrote: ↑20 May 2022, 05:02 It’s all too easy to say ‘legacy’ from the sidelines. But if I was in that position myself, definitely the money. Boxing is a short, extremely dangerous career, maximising income is a no-brainer. Get your money and get out asap.

So why do boxers take so much sh it for not taking fights because the money on the B side is pittance

Because we’re talking from the sidelines! A boxer’s bank balance makes no difference to the fans, we don’t get a cut. So we’ll always want the legacy fights.

Because we’re talking from the sidelines! A boxer’s bank balance makes no difference to the fans, we don’t get a cut. So we’ll always want the legacy fights.

Good post

You need to be able to afford a legacy!

Money

Legacy doesn't pay the bills.

Money all day long

Money. But sometimes you have to take less to make more in the long run.

Hmm, there is no carte blanche answer here. Depends at what point you are in your career, your potential, and what if any financial backing you have. A promising unbeaten young gun will believe in legacy, get a few losses on the scorecard then bigger money fights have to be the priority. A journeyman is solely for cash and then you have the ATG elite, who have fame and fortune together with losses who fight purely to prolong legacy. So yeah, different strokes for different folks.

The only legacy is for the individual boxer going through the process. They have to go through the cocoon. So as much money as they can possibly get is OK with me.

I know we as fans think. I'd want the greatest legacy in history and fight every top contender and champion, moving up weight classes and getting into wars to secure our legacy.
But in reality we would take the most money with the least risk. Legacy is great but it don't pay the bills

Boxer always want legacy ... people around him want money

Cent0089 wrote: ↑21 May 2022, 09:38 Boxer always want legacy ... people around him want money

Boxers want money too

John Murray had a sucessful career but didnt really have a penny to his name come retirement. Explains it on boxiing life stories.

Money is the driver for sure. As pretty much all successfully sports people - they will typically have neglected education for sporting success. So they have put all their eggs in one basket.

Whilst we have some articulate sports people who successfully moved to commentating, in most cases they are not intelligent enough or able to succeed in anything outside of their chosen sport .. hence if they earned some money they open a gym/coaching - which turns into a money pit, until they skint.

Only a few fortunate ones keep hold of the money; and that typically down to good people advising them.

Legacy for being rich is the only legacy a pro boxer wants.

Cent0089 wrote: ↑21 May 2022, 09:38 Boxer always want legacy ... people around him want money

Go ask any fighter if they want money or a lasting legacy.
I'd bet the majority of them would say show me the money.
Legacy doesn't pay the bills

Is there any fighter that we can name that has a legacy but no money?

Julius Francis has/had money but no legacy (Im presuming by legacy we are talking about a resume that includes a notable world title belt?)

Kell Brook has a legacy and therefore money

Amir Khan has a legacy and therefore money

From where im sat... Legacy = Money. if we are talking about the last 20 years or so.

rhino222 wrote: ↑22 May 2022, 13:08 Is there any fighter that we can name that has a legacy but no money?

Julius Francis has/had money but no legacy (Im presuming by legacy we are talking about a resume that includes a notable world title belt?)

Kell Brook has a legacy and therefore money

Amir Khan has a legacy and therefore money

From where im sat... Legacy = Money. if we are talking about the last 20 years or so.

Holyfield. Lost most of his cash. Has a huge legacy.

Ken Buchanan

Joe Louis is the most famous example. One of the best heavyweights of all time. Was skint.

Looking at more recent guys who haven't won world titles, Cheeseman, Kerman Lejurra(sp)
Great value but I bet would be going back to the day job if retired.
Most at feather and below, Ingle, Brodie, Steve Robinson, Scott Harrison spring to mind. I don't think Robinson is skint but I bet his legacy is much bigger than his wallet!