What fighters have been spoiled by millions

[lefthook31]

Now that boxing is only about money, and we hear it so often, a fighter says hes looking for the biggest payday, or the fight that he can make the most money at. It takes a very special person like an Evander Holyfield, or a Bernard Hopkins to continue on with a lot of desire even after proving so much and making so much money.
I believe fighters today after making a lot of money lose their drive to fight faster than ever, and the word champion has little to no merit in their minds. Who would you say has been effected most by the money train.
Is this going to be a factor when Mayweather who is coming off an estimated 30 million dollar payday, faces a hungry, young aggressive Hatton?

[41fever]

Its hard not to be motivated by millions. I respect the real legacy builders in the sport.

[RUSKULL]

Riddick Bowe. Mike Tyson.

[Dr Gonzo]

DLH - too much money in golden boy promotions

[DoumB]

DLH - too much money in golden boy promotions

yep, his mind is not realy into fighting anymore

[Thread Stealer]

Naseem Hamed

[Thread Stealer]

Nah, that was his ego and the fame not the money.

I think that fat HBO contract Hamed had, that made Floyd's look like "slave wages" :roll: in comparison, also played a role.

[safe_pa]

Fraudley Harrison, he was paid one mil by the bbc even before his first pro punch was thrown. That removed any desire he may have had.

[box03]

Tyson after he came out of jail in 95

[Wige247]

Jermain Taylor

[Boom_Boom]

Jermain Taylor really seems like he lost that hunger

[Motor City Sam]

Kirk Johnson when he received that big signing bonus before the Ruiz fight.

[lefthook31]

David Tua when he signed with America Presents. I think he ate most of his signing bonus, and became a completely different fighter. Now he is fighting for money.

[Marnoff]

Jermain Taylor

Good call.

[MancMexican]

Which boxer said it's hard to get up at 5am and run 6 miles when you're wearing silk pjamas? I think that sums up the danger of too much money too quick in this game. Few boxers get into this sport to be a legend, most do it for the money, and once they have that money, its understandable when their hunger to get beaten up lowers

[Brickhaus]

Jermain Taylor really seems like he lost that hunger

Not sure Taylor ever really had the hunger to begin with. He and Floyd are the same - not really hungry for the win, but hungry to be the best. Unfortunately for Jermain, he thinks he can be the best without listening to anyone.

Either way, I'm guessing Jermain has no more than 5 or 6 more fights in him before he retires. He seems really conscious about not becoming punch drunk, and once he's made his money and gets tagged with a loss or two, he'll get out.

[Sheikh]

Tyson, Naz, Duran

[koko of phil]

Was JMM already too late for $$$ in his career?

[Illmatic]

Ricardo Williams....got a nice bonus from the olympics. Then invested it in crackdealing.
Acelino Freitas

[Motor City Sam]

Which boxer said it's hard to get up at 5am and run 6 miles when you're wearing silk pjamas? I think that sums up the danger of too much money too quick in this game. Few boxers get into this sport to be a legend, most do it for the money, and once they have that money, its understandable when their hunger to get beaten up lowers

I think it was Hagler who said that, but whoever it was, you can't argue with the truth of that statement.

[Drofrah]

I think Hameds ego led him to believe he was unbeatable, not the money. Tyson was in free fall regardless of cash. DLH does seem to focus too much on the bussiness side of things however

[Chief_Second]

Which boxer said it's hard to get up at 5am and run 6 miles when you're wearing silk pjamas? I think that sums up the danger of too much money too quick in this game. Few boxers get into this sport to be a legend, most do it for the money, and once they have that money, its understandable when their hunger to get beaten up lowers

audley harrison stole that quote - but regardless, makes more sence to harrison than hagler as he was fighting fit till the end of his career

[Marciano Frazier]

Ricardo Mayorga is a good example, I think. He was hungry and macho as they come in his early big fights, but really seemed to have lost the will by the time of the De La Hoya fight.