Who would make more money fighting today?

[McGrain]

Jack Johnson

Harry Greb

Sugar Ray Robinson

Rocky Marciano


All things considered, who do you think the most bankable star would be in the moder era? Why?

Anyone else spring to mind that might make a fortune?

[Lampley]

Jack Johnson

Harry Greb

Sugar Ray Robinson

Rocky Marciano


All things considered, who do you think the most bankable star would be in the moder era? Why?

Anyone else spring to mind that might make a fortune?

Very interesting post. I think you have to establish whether we can assume that the fighter in question would have the same level of success.

1) Marciano -- A tough white dude who KOs black dudes would be hugely marketable, if not for all the right reasons

2) Robinson -- So great, and so much offense. Also knew how to handle himself in front of a camera. In terms of personality, I think he'd have been the Kobe Bryant of the sport. Lots of transparent ego, but also intelligence and a nice smile.

3) Dempsey -- Aggressive and witty and good looking. Also white.

[mr. magoo]

Given that Sugar Ray Robinson is probably the onlly fighter of that bunch who would reach marketable status and hold a world title in today's era, then I think he'd have the fattest wallet.

[ChrisPontius]

Marciano and Johnson because they are heavyweights.

Johnson had quite a big mouth so he could sell lots of fights. Marciano was white which always scores (although it is becoming the standard today), but he delivers knockouts and delivers them in bunches, so he'll be a big name anyway.


Robinson with his flash, charisma, sense for style and of course his great boxing ability and infamous skipping sessions, would be a great star, no doubt about it.

Don't know much about Greb though. But a pressure fighter who is (as far as i know) nothing THAT special on the promoting-part, is very popular today, so i don't see why Greb wouldn't be.

[Lampley]

Given that Sugar Ray Robinson is probably the onlly fighter of that bunch who would reach marketable status and hold a world title in today's era, then I think he'd have the fattest wallet.
Again, this is something that has to be clarified.

Dempsey might have become a De La Hoya, provided his views on race and other topics conformed to today's standards.

[McGrain]

Marciano and Johnson because they are heavyweights.

Think Marciano would start off as a heavyweight? Or do you think he'd kick of at CW.

[McGrain]

Given that Sugar Ray Robinson is probably the onlly fighter of that bunch who would reach marketable status and hold a world title in today's era, then I think he'd have the fattest wallet.

You don't think that Johnson has enough natural talent (regardless of what you think of era v era) to win an alphabet title?

Bold claim.

And what of Marciano? With his endurance, workrate and power you don't think he would lift an alphabet title at cruiser?

[Lampley]

Marciano and Johnson because they are heavyweights.

Johnson had quite a big mouth so he could sell lots of fights. Marciano was white which always scores (although it is becoming the standard today), but he delivers knockouts and delivers them in bunches, so he'll be a big name anyway.


Robinson with his flash, charisma, sense for style and of course his great boxing ability and infamous skipping sessions, would be a great star, no doubt about it.

Don't know much about Greb though. But a pressure fighter who is (as far as i know) nothing THAT special on the promoting-part, is very popular today, so i don't see why Greb wouldn't be.

Johnson could have been able to sell a fight in advance, but I'm not sure about longevity as a superstar. He just wasn't aggressive enough.

As a sleeper pick, I'll go with Max Baer.

[Luigi1985]

You don't think that Johnson has enough natural talent (regardless of what you think of era v era) to win an alphabet title?

Bold claim.

And what of Marciano? With his endurance, workrate and power you don't think he would lift an alphabet title at cruiser?


I think his post was full of irony. You know, if a fighter like Briggs wins a HW-crown... :yep

[Lampley]

You don't think that Johnson has enough natural talent (regardless of what you think of era v era) to win an alphabet title?

Bold claim.

And what of Marciano? With his endurance, workrate and power you don't think he would lift an alphabet title at cruiser?

I think you have to answer these questions for us. If Marciano is a cruiser, his marketability obviously drops.

I was assuming a 1:1 correspondence.

[McGrain]

As a sleeper pick, I'll go with Max Baer.

Yeah, i could see it, knocking guys out early or taking horrible and protracted beatings. He'd be popular indeed.

[McGrain]

I think you have to answer these questions for us. If Marciano is a cruiser, his marketability obviously drops.

Marciano kicks of at Cruiser and wins as many straps as politics allows in my opinion. He'd be popular. The CW division is about ready to explode I reckon, partly due to the weak HW division - Marciano could put it over the top. I bet he'd make a packet in that division before stepping up.

His move up to HW would be inevitable - and prosporus. No way does Marciano go unbeaten over 12 rounds and with these bigger men, but he'd be champ and more than once.

Can you imagine the endorsments this guy would do? With his love of money you can bet that he'd be less than "selective" about the products he'd representd, and between pigmentation and style, there'd be plenty of money.

[Lampley]

Marciano kicks of at Cruiser and wins as many straps as politics allows in my opinion. He'd be popular. The CW division is about ready to explode I reckon, partly due to the weak HW division - Marciano could put it over the top. I bet he'd make a packet in that division before stepping up.

His move up to HW would be inevitable - and prosporus. No way does Marciano go unbeaten over 12 rounds and with these bigger men, but he'd be champ and more than once.

Can you imagine the endorsments this guy would do? With his love of money you can bet that he'd be less than "selective" about the products he'd representd, and between pigmentation and style, there'd be plenty of money.

Gotcha. I guess I wasn't applying the question to today, necessarily. But yeah, Rocky would have mad revenue potential.

[mr. magoo]

[quote=McGrain]You don't think that Johnson has enough natural talent (regardless of what you think of era v era) to win an alphabet title?

Bold claim.


Okay,

so let's say for argument's sake that he did in fact win some alpha piece of crap, by beating someone like Chagaev. Is that enough verification for you that he'd be a hot ticket item?


And what of Marciano? With his endurance, workrate and power you don't think he would lift an alphabet title at cruiser?


Historically the cruiserweight division never was a particularly high revenue generating attraction. Therefore, I don't see even someone like Marciano reaking in big #'s there.

[McGrain]

[quote]


Okay,

so let's say for argument's sake that he did in fact win some alpha piece of crap, by beating someone like Chagaev. Is that enough verification for you that he'd be a hot ticket item?

With Johnson's gift for self promotion (as well as what I consider to be his incredible physical gift, I think the only possible answer here is "yes".



Historically the cruiserweight division never was a particularly high revenue generating attraction. Therefore, I don't see even someone like Marciano reaking in big #'s there.

Historically, you are correct. But I think with the HW division as weak as it is, CW is ready to blow, and a guy like Marciano could do it.

BEFORE he moves to HW, where there is certainly money to be made for a durable powerful white guy who knocks guys out and bleeds.

[ChrisPontius]

Think Marciano would start off as a heavyweight? Or do you think he'd kick of at CW.

I didn't really take that into consideration.

Then it's Johnson, although indeed his style would put tons of people asleep and would people say "the heavyweight division is in a terrible state".

[Raggamuffin]

Dangerous outsider: Stanley Ketchel

[janitor]

Don't know much about Greb though. But a pressure fighter who is (as far as i know) nothing THAT special on the promoting-part, is very popular today, so i don't see why Greb wouldn't be.

I think that Greb would not only be a boxer but also a UFC fighter today.

He made a lot of money fighting outside the ring.

[Dempsey1238]

Marciano kicks of at Cruiser and wins as many straps as politics allows in my opinion. He'd be popular. The CW division is about ready to explode I reckon, partly due to the weak HW division - Marciano could put it over the top. I bet he'd make a packet in that division before stepping up.

His move up to HW would be inevitable - and prosporus. No way does Marciano go unbeaten over 12 rounds and with these bigger men, but he'd be champ and more than once.

Can you imagine the endorsments this guy would do? With his love of money you can bet that he'd be less than "selective" about the products he'd representd, and between pigmentation and style, there'd be plenty of money.

Just dont write Marciano any checks.

[Dempsey1238]

Marciano repeats his feat and wins the unify heavyweight title. And retires with a perfect record of 49-0. With 49 knockouts.

[Luigi1985]

Marciano. Italian- Americans are good to put on the market in the USA, and with his mixture of punching power, chin, stamina, pace and his bone structure he would have a lot of succes at HW...

[cross_trainer]

Something else to consider:

The guys you mentioned defined what a "great fighter" should be for future generations. If they were born now, they would never have been able to shape public perception of what an ideal fighter should be like. If it wasn't for these guys, we might prefer completely different types of fighters.

For instance, take Marciano. At first glance, he seems to fit the stereotype of a bankable fighter. He's a tough, determined Italian-American slugger/brawler who throws punches in bunches. But that type of fighter (slugging Italian-American brawler) is popular partially BECAUSE of Marciano. Without him, we might instead have a preference for the OTHER successful type of fighters in his era--slick "old school" defensive geniuses like Moore, Walcott, and Charles. We might appreciate fighters like Toney more and fighters like Mesi less.

Johnson is similar. In part, the swaggering, trash-talking braggadocio of some modern fighters owes a lot to Jack Johnson. And Tyson certainly benefited from the love of whirlwind knockout artists that Dempsey created in boxing culture as early as the 20's.

So it goes...

[janitor]

Sombody who could be huge.

Max Schmeling

Imagine the gates that a German born world champion could bring in Germany today.

Incidentaly Schmeling Neusel broke all boxoffice records for a European fight. I guess what goes arond comes around.

[Maxmomer]

I think Dempsey and Baer would both be huge.

[Mendoza]

Jack Johnson - Would be booed like John Ruiz was booed for excessive clinching, and fighting soft touches while champion. However, I do think he would be interesting at the press conferences!

Harry Greb - Would be worth his weight in gold.

Sugar Ray Robinson - Would be worth his weight in gold.

Rocky Marciano - If Rocky was in the cruiser weight division, he would not make that much money. As a heavyweight champion, I think would make about as much per fight as say, Lewis or Holyfield.

Having said that, we are in a politically fragmented era of boxing. All of the above fighters would be alphabet champions today, not lineal champions. This means fights with the other 3 champions who would be viewed as their chief completion might not happen.

[JohnThomas1]

SRR for me. His marketability, charisma, business sense, longevity and unbelievable talent is going to bring him forth in the modern era. His talent IMO would let him clean up from 147 to 160 with a decent chance of success 175 and 168 as well.

[Holmes' Jab]

1. Dempsey
2. SRR
3. Johnson
4. Marciano

[JohnThomas1]

Hm, i think people ignore what effects today´s rules have on these guys.

Wouldn't worry SRR. Given the schedules of today his longevity would be frightening barring unseen circs.

[Marciano Frazier]

I agree with SRR but it would negativly effect Marciano, bigger gloves, less rounds,
Not to mention faster cut/swelling stoppages and more clinching allowed by refs. Although I believe Marciano would absolutely be champion in the modern era whether he chose to fight at cruiserweight or heavyweight, all of those things would certainly weigh down on his success- he was really much better-suited for the era he actually fought in.

[ozziebattler]

probably Marciano...shortass italian heavyweight with a massive punch and sturdy chin...