By Robert “Big Moe” Elmore: How many of made a career choice because of what somebody else said, but deep in your heart it’s not really what you wanted? How many of us have made financial decisions that concerned your family or just in general that did not sit well with those around you? Did you care? You made the decision based on what was best for you or your family and hopefully you stuck by it.
It probably made people upset, but they’ll be alright. How many people have worked a job, moved up the ladder, is now sitting in a high position, only to have the boss come and say, “We have to cut your salary by 15 percent”. Wouldn’t that set you off? In your mind, you’ve EARNED the right, paid your dues; to make the kind of money you make. How would you feel about doing junior executive work, but getting mail room pay? And that’s how some, not all fans, think when they say “just make the fight happen”.
Boxers are no different from us. They make decisions that are not popular, but beneficial. But those fans who criticize will have the uneducated casual fans thinking that fighters are cowards and divas.
For example, in Marvin Hagler’s post fight interview after beating Wilford Sypion, he said he was tired of fighting guys that brought no money in. So Hagler grew tired of defending his titles against fighters who made no money? Gee, what a shock. A few fights later, Hagler would take on Roberto Duran who was a not bonafide middleweights and made cash doing it. Duran brought his fans from his lightweight days, and fights with Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns. Compare that with Floyd Mayweather and Ricky Hatton. Hatton was not a bonafied welterweight, but at least he fought and won a world title in that division. Hatton had a huge UK following and a fighting style that brought even more excitement. The pay per view match was a complete success financially. Jack Johnson made a business decision to ONLY fight white fighters after he became world heavyweight champ claiming there was more money in fighting whites than blacks.
I can see why some boxers shun the idea of strictly fighting for the fans because fans can be fickle. They can turn on a boxer in a heartbeat. And have. They will boo a knockout artist if he goes 12 rounds. They will call a fighter a coward if a certain fight doesn’t come off and a diva from standing their ground for trying to make sure their financial end is secured. And if at the end of a boxer’s career, they have nothing to show for their labor, its “He should’ve been taking care of things on the business side”. Or how about this.
An exciting fighter, going all out in the ring, no defense, just all offense fighters, ends up feeling the effects of slurring and brain damage when they hang up the gloves, it’s usually “He shouldn’t have taken so many blows to the head”. But this is what people cheered for. This is what they demanded to “get their monies worth” for a fight. Major networks also make business decisions that aren’t popular. They are not into losing ratings. It’s about maintaining them and building at the same time. Take the Gennady “The Tripster” Golovkin. Trip was set to fight Osumanu Adama in Monte Carlo in February of last year. HBO said their equipment could not accommodate the arena.
That decision to me was based clearly on the opponent. Trip is set to fight in Monte Carlo again against Martin Murray and HBO’s equipment will have no problem accommodating this event. Murray is a decent opponent and has somewhat of a name. He made a name for himself against Sergio Martinez in bout in which many believed Murray won. Fans shouldn’t be so up in arms when a fighter doesn’t make a decision that doesn’t necessarily benefit them. Put yourself in the boxer’s shoes for a minute. Or better yet, the next time you make a business decision it will be what is best for you and/or your family despite what everyone else is saying around you.
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