From 140lbs to 154lbs all the top guys are jockeying for position; promoters, advisers and managers are trying to secure the best fights for their charges. The best fights being the ones with the biggest payout with the least chance of losing. They ALL do it, it’s just a fact of professional fighting.
In June 2013, Paulie Malignaggi will face off against Adrien Broner for Malignaggi’s 147lb strap. Both men are reportedly getting near $1M for their efforts.
Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse may end up facing WBC 140lb champ Danny Garcia. The pay for both men should be substantial, but the chance of losing for both won’t be least it will be most!
IBF Champion Lamont Peterson may return to face Zab Judah, both men earning a significant payday, with the loser dropping out of the 140lb hunt.
For the Pacquiao/Rios match-up scheduled for Macau China in November 2013, Brandon Rios will receive his biggest payday to date while Pacquiao will be guaranteed $20M.
Miguel Cotto is reported to be returning in September in NYC against the most dangerous TBD. On the brighter side Cotto is hiring Freddie Roach train him for his next assignment.
Canelo Alvarez, who’s looking to face Floyd Maweather Jr, had chose Cotto as his backup plan if unable to get Mayweather, and may now have to fight someone else because of Cotto’s move. His choice could include the Erislandy Lara/Alfredo Angulo winner. Fighting either of these guys reduces his payout with a greater risk of losing.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has said he’ll only fight Canelo at 147lbs, Canelo countered that statement with one of his own saying that all of his opponents going forwards must either move up or move down to fight him at 154lbs. Statements like these say that this fight may never happen, someone is going to have to give in, or some compromise must be arrived at.
Outside of the 140lbs -154lbs weight classes, heavyweight Bermane Stivern after beating journeyman Chris Arreloa is angling for a fight against Vitali Klitschko and requesting a $2M purse. At his point in his career, Stivern isn’t ready for Klitschko yet, but who is? Promoter Don King would rather Stivern face Klitschko for a cool 2 mill, than to take on a lesser opponent for much less and then never get a shot at Klitschko and $2M.
Former Champion and ring legend Evander Holyfield is back in the mix requesting a $250K purse guarantee to fight Polish Heavyweight Krystzof Zimnoch. By all reports Holyfield is broke previously having his Atlanta Mansion foreclosed on and having to pay large child support for his children. Holyfield’s a legend and should get the $250K he’s asking for, but is Zimnoch an attraction, an earner, where money can be made to justify paying Holyfield his asking price?
Andre Ward’s return to the ring after shoulder surgery is expected this summer. Ward is calling out Julio Cesar Chavez Jr who by all accounts has outgrown the middleweight division and expects to move up to super middleweight soon. With Ward having mostly cleaned out the 168lb ranks, a Ward/Chavez Jr fight would provide both men a significant purse. This fight probably won’t happen cause Chavez Jr is still a work in progress while the 2004 Olympic Gold medalist is a P4P fighter, in short this fight would be a miss-match in Wards favor.
Fans see pro-boxing as a sport, when really it’s a game like poker. One loss costs a fighter thousands and even millions of dollars in earning power which may never be recovered. These guys don’t get a retirement pension for the ‘work and dedication’ to their craft as the common working man might get. So fighters have to maximize their earning power and make top dollar for their efforts even as that small window of opportunity closes. And here’s a thought, most of the GREAT fighters have ended up broke after leaving the ring and the crowds stop cheering. In the old days and now days ‘They fight for the money’!