By Robert Elmore: 2016 is going to be a good year in boxing regardless of what anybody says. But more important, I just want to say to this generation of fighters. This is the deepest class of fighters that boxing has seen in a while. While others will complain about the many weight classes, you should embrace it. It gives you guys who sacrifice time away from family, put your body through rigorous workouts a chance to fight for a world title.
I can’t imagine with the amount of talent that’s in boxing all crammed into one division. The various divisions give you guys a chance to move up to a weight that is comfortable for your bodies, for bigger pay days and bigger fights. I understand not everyone who laces em up will fight for a world title.
So if one of you up and coming fighters come into a minor or regional title, embrace it and be the best you can be. Second, ignore all those keyboard gangsters (KBG’s) who try to discredit your opponent choice. Just because the casual fan may not know your opponent, that doesn’t mean he’s not trying to take your head off. More than half of these people have never laced up a glove a day in their lives, trained or anything. I know this. If one of you big name fighters were to lose to that no name fighter, you will be clowned. So be clowned for taking that fighter serious because he is looking to make a name.
Third, make sure you make decisions that are best for you and your family. Many of us who have jobs have unions (such as Chrysler, Ford) where contracts are in place that benefit the employee, but also benefit the company. And usually the employees are going negotiate a deal that benefits THEM and THEIR house because they are the ones that are doing the labor part of the job. These automotive companies rake in millions every year and the people on top sit are very comfortable financially. The same applies in boxing.
Promoters rake in millions and you guys deserve to get a piece of that pie because you are the ones climbing in the ring. I know that you can’t get regular insurance because of the health risk. There is no 401K for you. So if something happens to you, then you’re coming straight out of pocket. There is no co pay. When you negotiate a deal to fight, don’t think about me; think about your family. If something drastic were to happen to you (God forbid), the most you will get out of some of these KBG’s are condolences. No baskets of money will show up on your doorstep with a note saying “Here is some money to help your family”. Thank God for condolences, but they don’t pay bills.
And I say this from the heart. Invest your money wisely and surround yourself with a team that will help you reach your goals. Get to a point where you fight because you want to, not have to. The leaders of these promotion companies have built and some are building an empire so when they retire they can hand it over to their sons, daughters, or whoever they see fit. Why can’t you do the same? And when the heads of those companies retire, you better believe that those checks will still be coming in. So if you want to start your own promotional company while you are still boxing, by all means do it. Ray Leonard, Roy Jones, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have laid out a beautiful blue on how get what you are worth. Now, understand, you might not choose to go that route. Nothing wrong with that. But the option is there for you.
Fourth, ignore the KBG’s that say you are ducking an opponent. You can’t fight everybody and you never will. There are things in boxing that keep matches from happening. Some boxers are signed to HBO and others are signed to an entity that just fights on a particular network. Would I like to see these networks come together to do big fights? Absolutely. But if they don’t, I’ll be okay. Boxing history has shown that there have been many matches that were missed that could have seriously altered the course of a fighter. Even if that fighter ducked one fight, it could have been that fight that could have changed history. Fifth, embrace the arena and network you’re fighting on whether it be Spike TV, BET, ESPN or any network where the people are going to see you fight.
Again, I know the object is fight on a bigger network and have a bigger audience, but be grateful for where you are. There are thousands of fighters whose skills never got to see the light of day for whatever reason. As I close, I want to say live every moment. There was a young fighter from Dearborn, Michigan named Hamzah Aljahmi who lost his life just days after making his professional debut. He never even got a chance to showcase what he loved to do. And may the great Howard Davis rest in peace as well. And to all the boxers who have lost their lives that we may never hear about may they rest in peace.
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