By Allen Hmiel: Manny Pacquiao will possibly be making $20 million on his next fight against Shane Mosley, whereas Mosley will get $7 million as the opponent. The Klitschkos move to Germany to control their finances and dictate their terms. It seems apparent that most of the fighters today are more concerned with seeing how much they can earn without really fighting the best fighters available to challenge them. Boxing is more of a business today than it was years ago when mandatory challengers were usually the top 5 ranked in any weight class. The boxing organizations years back had control of who fought who and when for what belt.

Today’s champions, and I cannot fault them, seem more interested in “how can can I keep my title,” without fighting the best fighters out there in my division. If the champ can fight a non ranked contender and still make millions on the PPV why risk fighting the toughest guy available. How did Shannon Briggs get a title shot without actually really fighting anyone the past few years? How does Shane Mosley warrant a title shot after getting dismantled by Floyd Mayweather and looking average against Mora? How does Audrey Harrison get his title shot without earning the right by beating other top ranked heavyweight contenders? Because Champs today can get 7 figure paydays without risking fighting the best opposition. Championship boxing is stooping to new lows.

Boxing has run out of control and is basically rudderless without any supervision or anyone in control of anything. The fighters say who they want to fight and the promoters promise the big dollars and fights are being made with little risk taking by the champions. Look at Pacquiao and his select group of weight drained opponents and second tier opponents. They are mentioning John Duddy as a possible opponent for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez for a title fight after the Irish pug lost to a soft punching average Chavez. Even the Klitschkos matched up with guys who seem to be picked up from a local mall (Kevin Johnson) comes to mind. But if it is high returns with little risk and the money is there, why not take the easy cash and keep the belt without being challenged or threatened.

Money speaks loudly and has taken control of the fighters defending their belts against fighters who do not deserve to be there. Talk about championship legacy and reputations? Are today’s champions going to be remembered for who they fought or how much they made? Earning a title shot by beating the other top ranked challengers is no longer any criteria for getting a championship opportunity. It is being willing to take a beating and who you know that gets most fighters their chance in the spotlight.