Why do boxers get paid so much money?

**Poppa Catfish** · 11-16-10, 02:17 AM

Simply put

They are worth it.

People pay large sums of money to watch fighters like Manny and Floyd, on the other hand they pay a small amount (tickets +tv deals) to watch the NFL. Peyton Manning is only a small part of what makes up the NFL and thus only gets a small amount of the pie. Manny is the whole act and pretty much gets the pie in its entirety.

**muldoon** · 11-16-10, 02:25 AM

Economics.

Here is how the Texas Rangers justified signing A-Rod for 25 million a few years back

His signing brought in an estimated extra 10,000 season tickets.

82 games at an extra $35 per game (ticket/concession etc) = 28.7 million in new revenues.

With regards to boxing, the PPV for these fights is insane.

Same reason the guys on Seinfeld or Friends could demand a million per episode - it was still worth it to NBC.

The days of asking of an athlete or entertainer are "worth" waves us goodbye 30+ years ago. We're willing to pay $80 for a pizza at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees can pay 200 million to try not to tank in October.

Your post assumes athletes/celebs are paid by the hour - not even close.

**dfberger23** · 11-16-10, 02:25 AM

Professional athletes are NOT overpaid. Life as a professional athlete is not guaranteed and careers are short. Also, think about how many people they are entertaining on a daily basis.

**Michaelmakesit** · 11-16-10, 02:26 AM

Originally posted by muldoon

Economics.

Here is how the Texas Rangers justified signing A-Rod for 25 million a few years back

His signing brought in an estimated extra 10,000 season tickets.

82 games at an extra $35 per game (ticket/concession etc) = 28.7 million in new revenues.

With regards to boxing, the PPV for these fights is insane.

Same reason the guys on Seinfeld or Friends could demand a million per episode - it was still worth it to NBC.

The days of asking of an athlete or entertainer are "worth" waves us goodbye 30+ years ago. We're willing to pay $80 for a pizza at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees can pay 200 million to try not to tank in October.

spot on

**THE_LOCKSMITH** · 11-16-10, 02:47 AM

1.4 million PPV buys at $55/$65 HD, thats why

**lasker** · 11-16-10, 02:50 AM

professional athletes are definitely overpaid.

**DrStale** · 11-16-10, 02:52 AM

Also because theyre mushing each others brains

See:

**dynamite140** · 11-16-10, 02:59 AM

whats $55/$65 HD?

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 03:06 AM

Originally posted by dynamite140

I always felt athletes are overpaid. I mean even a benchwarmer in an nba team can make $200,000 a year and you have guys in the NBA making $10 million+. NFL players get paid less though because lesser games I assume and much less guaranteed money. Baseball players in the yankees earn a ton of money but thats America. I remembered when Jordan in his last few years with the Bulls was getting $30-35 million dollars a year and he was the best player in the league. But is there a reason why boxers like Manny Pac and Mayweather get so much money to fight? I mean these guys are getting $10 million dollars minimum just to fight other boxers. Even the guys that fought them got at least $1 million to box. Does anyone here think this is ridiculous? I watched the Manny Pac fight against Margarito a few days ago and the fight went to 12 rounds and Manny won as expected but how can people pay that much money to watch boxing? I remembered Tyson was very good back then and got a lot of money but these boxers fight 3 minute per round for 12 rounds if they go all the way. Sure they bruised and inflict a lot of pain but does anyone think someone getting this money to BOX is just crazy? If Manny and Mayweather box each other, how much money are they going to make each? $25 million or something? I know they make money for high price ticket sales and hbo and the pay per views etc but I think this has to be the most overpaid sport ever. At least when Jordan gets paid $30 million, he had to play 70+ games and the playoffs. Or Peyton Manning the best NFL QB get paid i guess $15 million and play 16 games and more in the playoffs. Yet these big name boxers are getting at least $10 million to fight one boxing match that can probably last 20 minutes if either they knock the other guy out or vice versa. Anyone else think the same a bit? $10 million dollars just to box the other guy.

So you think they wake up and just jump in the ring? Put in 12 rounds or less and then go home?

You do realize that they have training camps right? They train for months to get punched in the face. They are putting their life on the line. Some will also have a camp away from home. Normally in a remote place to focus. For most of them this time is spent away from their family. In basketball, baseball and football they get to go home. They spend less time on the road.

One fight can be about 70% of another sports season. Also if they get hurt they could be out for 3 months or more. That payday might be the only one they get that year unless they get endorsements. Also fighters have been hurt the last couple of weeks of training causing them to back out of a fight.

They work hard for that money. It can take many years to get to the point where you even have a chance to go for those big paydays.

Are they overpaid? Hell no.

James

**jin2daj** · 11-16-10, 03:11 AM

so many boxers get paid next to nothing too. in some boxing prelims, boxers are willing to fight for FREE just to have pro bouts under their belt.

**SportsMushroom** · 11-16-10, 03:14 AM

boxers arent paid enouph to kill each other

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 03:16 AM

You also have to remember that they need to pay their corner and training camp isn't free.

James

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 03:20 AM

BTW I know a guy that wanted to turn pro. He was told he would make $200-300 in his first fight. That wouldn't even pay for him and his trainer to get to the fight, hotel and home again. Plus he would have to take time off work.

When they finally get to the Million + payday they put in the work to earn it.

James

**Glitch** · 11-16-10, 03:50 AM

their job is getting punched in the face.

**mitote** · 11-16-10, 03:57 AM

Anyone who says boxers are overpaid has never been punched in the face!

**dynamite140** · 11-16-10, 05:56 AM

Also, i never understood why do boxer like Manny Pac and Mayweather only have 2-3 fights max per year. I Know it takes a lot of training and all that but these guys just have to be actually fighting 3 times a year at the most! I mean when is the next time Manny Pac will be in the ring? April? Same with Mayweather.

**dynamite140** · 11-16-10, 06:03 AM

I checked and saw that Mayweather had 2 matches in 2007 , 0 in 2008 and 1 in 2009 and 1 in 2010. I think this is ridiculous being the top 2 boxers in the world and having 1 boxing match a year.

Also, can someone explain why the heavyweights don't get as much publicity as these guys? I mean when Tyson was against Holyfield... that was big and they were heavyweights. Why are these smaller guys getting all the attention now?

**Czu81** · 11-16-10, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by dynamite140

Also, i never understood why do boxer like Manny Pac and Mayweather only have 2-3 fights max per year. I Know it takes a lot of training and all that but these guys just have to be actually fighting 3 times a year at the most! I mean when is the next time Manny Pac will be in the ring? April? Same with Mayweather.

?????????

Try to box 4 rounds and u will know the answer.

**lasker** · 11-16-10, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by Flexin

So you think they wake up and just jump in the ring? Put in 12 rounds or less and then go home?

They work hard for that money. It can take many years to get to the point where you even have a chance to go for those big paydays.

Are they overpaid? Hell no.

James

They don't "work hard for that money." They work hard, but to argue that they work hard enough to earn that kind of money is absurd. A school teacher works hard, and for many more years, and makes a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what they're earning. Does Floyd Mayweather work thousands of times harder than a teacher? Is that why he gets paid so much? After the paydays reach a certain level, the money he makes has very little correlation to how hard he works. It's all about demand.

Nobody's arguing that the small-time amateur boxers are getting overpaid. But top athletes are. For one person in this impoverished world to make tens of millions on a single fight is grotesque. They clearly don't deserve that much, but the market stipulates that they are worth that much because of the revenue they generate. There is a big difference between merit and worth.

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by lasker

They don't "work hard for that money." They work hard, but to argue that they work hard enough to earn that kind of money is absurd. A school teacher works hard, and for many more years, and makes a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what they're earning. Does Floyd Mayweather work thousands of times harder than a teacher? Is that why he gets paid so much? After the paydays reach a certain level, the money he makes has very little correlation to how hard he works. It's all about demand. Nobody's arguing that the small-time amateur boxers are getting overpaid. But top athletes are. For one person in this impoverished world to make tens of millions on a single fight is grotesque. They clearly don't deserve that much, but the market stipulates that they are worth that much because of the revenue they generate. There is a big difference between merit and worth.

Coles Notes version. Bullshit.

Long version. Teachers are great. Some are amazing at what they do. Are they underpaid? I would say so. I also think Police, Fire and Paramedics are underpaid for what they do.

What if someone walked up to you today and said you make X number of dollars more then a paperboy so you should be paid less. Would you say ok. Hell no you wouldn't.

Compare a teachers wage to another teachers wage. Without teachers you have no school. Without school you have less people in that area. Less people mean less tax payers. So in a way they teachers help bring in that money. But there are many others that help bring in that money as well and they all have to be paid.

A promoter puts on a fight. If he wants big names he has to pay for them. The more money they bring in at the gate and ppv, the more they are worth. The more they are worth the more they are paid.

Lets face it. Different careers have different wage ranges. You want to be paid X number of dollars you have to find a career that pays that.

If you don't like the pay they get start boxing. Get to there level and headline a fight card and only get paid $20000 to fight. The promoters will love you for it. Maybe after a bit you will start to lower what the other fighters can demand. Then the promoters will make more.

What if your book said you are making too much money so we have to cut that back. We will give you no more then -2500 odds any fight. Btw they want to pay you that for the dogs. How does that sound? Rather then wait for them why don't you just send off an email to them and say that you think that they are overpaying you. I'm sure they will work something out with you.

You stay away from you family for month at a time training your ass off. All this while cutting weight. Sparring round after round, skipping, running and so on. Cut off from most of the things you love. All for one night. Do all this and tell me that you wouldn't take 30 million if you were offered it.

James

**Swinging Johnson** · 11-16-10, 01:48 PM

I love guys who say, "For a million bucks, I'd jump in the ring with Mayweather." Great, just what I want to see. An overweight carpet salesman get punched in the face once, fall down and cry.

**SBR Lou** · 11-16-10, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by lasker

A school teacher works hard, and for many more years, and makes a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of what they're earning. Does Floyd Mayweather work thousands of times harder than a teacher? Is that why he gets paid so much?

Anybody with a reasonable amount of intelligence could be employed as a schoolteacher in the United States. However, not just anybody with a reasonable amount of physical stamina, strength, and ability could make it as a professional boxer. While these guys make eye-popping salaries, Mayweather/Manny are two of the greatest athletes in the world.

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by dynamite140

I checked and saw that Mayweather had 2 matches in 2007 , 0 in 2008 and 1 in 2009 and 1 in 2010. I think this is ridiculous being the top 2 boxers in the world and having 1 boxing match a year. Also, can someone explain why the heavyweights don't get as much publicity as these guys? I mean when Tyson was against Holyfield... that was big and they were heavyweights. Why are these smaller guys getting all the attention now?

The firsts full year for Manny and Floyd they both fought 10 fights. The early fights are 4 round fights. Then they move up to 6 and then 8 rounds. After that you move on to 10 round fights and thats where you stay unless you are fighting for a belt.

In your first fights you could be fighting someone with very little experience. As you move up you take on better fighters. As you get to this fighter that are in or close to their prime it takes more time to prepare for the fights. More time preparing leaves you less time for fights.

The early fights would also be easier to set up. They have a spot on a card and you take it. When your headlining a card you have work on getting both fighters to sign, and agree on everything including money and the split.

Also if they don't move up in weight it takes long to get back down to that weight as they get older.

And look at Gatti-Ward 1, 2 and 3. You are not having a fight like that every month. Its not going to happen. Cuts still wouldn't have been fully healed at that point. And your career is going to be very short.

James

**Flexin** · 11-16-10, 02:02 PM

Originally posted by Swinging Johnson

I love guys who say, "For a million bucks, I'd jump in the ring with Mayweather." Great, just what I want to see. An overweight carpet salesman get punched in the face once, fall down and cry.

I know. There isn't too many people that wouldn't accept a million to get hit in the face once. Change it to a million if you can last 10 rounds and watch the numbers drop.

James

**sharpcat** · 11-16-10, 02:11 PM

As stated above boxers start out as amateurs fighting for pennies and fight 20-30 fights before they even face the possibility of making good money boxing and they usually train full time while working 9-5 jobs in their journey.

Boxing is not like the MMA where guys train for 3 years and fight 5 fights and get a title shot, these guys train and fight for 10+ years before they get their shot.

**Grits n' Gravy** · 11-16-10, 02:32 PM

Go spend a few days with Floyd in the gym when he is training for a fight and you see why he gets the big bucks. He is a physical freak. What he puts himself through for 6-8 weeks to get ready for a fight is why he makes it look so easy come fight night. Elite boxers are some of the best conditioned athletes in the world. Even punches they block with their arms take a toll. Imagine moving around for 3 minutes at a time while someone is trying to punch you. Then imagine 2/3 of the punches you block with your forearms, elbows, shoulders. Then try keeping your hands up so you don't get caught with a clean punch to the jaw. You couldn't do it. If a guy is willing to put in all of the work training to get punched for up to 36 minutes in a majot title fight, they deserve to get paid big bucks.

The reason you don't hear shit about the heavyweights is the division is doo-doo. The 2 major champs in the Klitschko brothers fight 95% of the time in Europe and any American who could be a dominant heavyweight is likely to choose basketball or football over boxing. Imagine a LeBron, D-Howard or Kendrick Perkins training to box in the heavyweight division? They'd be beasts. Ditto for a lot of the pointguards like Rondo and CP3 fighting in the 140-168 range.

**rem sleep** · 11-16-10, 03:22 PM

Boxing is a sacred sport in America. A big fight is like the superbowl. To answer your question Companies will pay millions of dollars to have their logo plastered on the boxing mat and on the boxers trunks. Big time Boxers like Manny, Floyd, Oscar, Tyson etc get a guarantee amount and a percentage of the P.P.V revenue. Alot of people from their country will support a fighter from that country so its not just American viewers that advertisers are getting its worldwide advertising in some cases like Pacquiao Margarito got the best of 3 worlds. (America, Phillipines and Mexico.)

**THE_LOCKSMITH** · 11-16-10, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by dynamite140

whats $55/$65 HD?

$55 for the PPV, and $65 for the PPV in high def. It did an estimated 1.4 million PPV buys

**Naz18** · 11-16-10, 03:59 PM

Originally posted by lasker

professional athletes are definitely overpaid.

People demand entertainment and that is what they provide, if people didn't show up to the games they would eventually get paid less.