The Boxing Biz
BY MARC LICHTENFELD
With no major fight this weekend, we're going to focus on the business of boxing on this week's show.
Joe DeGuardia, President of the Boxing Promoter's Association will discuss what the new organization hopes to accomplish and how they'll go about doing it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when King, Arum, Schaeffer, Shaw, DiBella and others try to figure out how to stop trying to grab bigger pieces of the pie, but instead make the whole pie bigger.
If it helps boxing, I'm in favor of it. But a more pressing need is some kind of organization for boxers.
A while back the Teamsters joined with an organization spear headed by former light heavyweight champ Eddie Mustafa Muhammad to create a boxer's union. A couple of promoters held shows with union guys, but the idea went nowhere. The problem is how do you get a guy who is making $600 for a fight to kick in 2%, 5% or whatever for his dues. After he's paid his trainer, cutman, manager, licensing fees, etc. he's lucky to have a few hundred bucks left. Furthermore, a guy who is making $1 million for a fight is probably not going to put any money in because he thinks he's set for life and the money will always be there.
It's a tough situation, but if any sport's athletes need a union, it's boxing. I don't think it will ever happen though.
We'll also speak with IBO President Ed Levine, who will go in depth discussing how his organization's computerized rankings are calculated.
Blue Goo Medicine Minute
Head and Mouth Protection: Think about whatever sports you're into these days and be prepared to take a shot to the head or mouth somewhere, some time, or some how. There are several ways to protect your precious cargo. Click below to listen.