Why British fighters go to America

By Boxing News - 01/31/2013 - Comments

khan1By Mark Calooke: You don’t need me to tell you, boxing is huge in America. The venues add to the event, whether it’s the history of Madison square garden or the glitz and glamour of Vegas. But that’s not why British boxers want to go to America. The reason is cash.

Boxing is watched by a bigger audience in the States. It’s not that America is has more passion for boxing, it’s because the population is bigger. Boxing is ingrained in the history of Britain, but they see it as a noble sport. America has produced great champions in the past and see boxing as a business. Proof of this is the various ways in which revenue in gained.

PPV is a big thing in America. Britain doesn’t pay for its boxing. PPV was once charged for big fights but not so much anymore. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fights are free. Apparently PPV in the States can cost $50. British fans don’t realize how lucky they have it, because they would never pay that. But them getting fights free is the exact reasons why British boxers say they will fight in America, and I don’t blame them. Of course some get paid millions to fight, but not many.

Mayweather and Pacquiao often get upwards of $30 million. Their opponents get around $5 million. No one in Britain would get that. The combined earnings of both boxers and promoter isn’t that high. A highly regarded champion like Carl Froch only gets a few million, because without PPV, where does the money come from? Ticket sales, advertisement and television rights. But since the television channels aren’t PPV they don’t cost as much as some countries.

It’s great that we are getting the best fights in the world for free, it’s also the reason why are best boxers are forced to fight in other places.



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