Thread: How To "Fix" A Fight In The Modern Era

On the 17th there is an undefeated prospect that will be fighting; he is 26(22)-0.
As of Monday of this week they were looking for an opponent. They were advertising in every Facebook group that I am a member of, and elsewhere. They were offering $20,000 for an 8 round- I think it was 8, though it could have been 10 but will probably end up being 8 due to the short notice.
Now, the undefeated guy has been preparing for a fight on the 17th for some time. He has had access to quality sparring and he will be sharp. His weight cut and rehydration will be planned out and he will get in the ring 15 pounds or more above the contracted weight.
The guy that he fights will be a guy that has been in the gym, but not in the gym preparing for a fight, and that difference is huge. He will be working but not going hard in sparring trying to get sharp because he didn't have a fight lined up. His weight will probably be within a few pounds of the contracted weight limit, so that is what he will weigh in the ring. Or he may be a little over and they will raise the weight in the contract to accomodate him.
In any case, he will be considerably smaller than the prospect, and not nearly as well prepared. He will get paid well.

An update on that...the prospect's fight on the 17th fell through because they could not find an opponent. They were offering a lot of money for the fight so, in my opinion, they would have had a lot of people willing to make the money but...the prospect's manager may have been turning them down. Or the people looking to make the money didn't have good enough records. It is a hard sell, matching a guy 26-0 with somebody 3-17, you know?
At any rate, the prospect is now fighting the 7th of next month and my friend is the matchmaker for the undercard of that show. He started advertising for an opponent on Monday of this week.
The guy is 26-0 and his promoter isn't putting him in a semi main and using their HoF matchmaker to make his fight- this promotional company generally makes the main and semi main and subs out the rest to local promoters and local talent or, as it seems now, to independent matchmakers to find opponents for their prospects- but it seems like they don't care much about this guy. This isn't a huge card. His manager must be shitting bricks wondering about his man's status with that organization.

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

On the 17th there is an undefeated prospect that will be fighting; he is 26(22)-0.
As of Monday of this week they were looking for an opponent. They were advertising in every Facebook group that I am a member of, and elsewhere. They were offering $20,000 for an 8 round- I think it was 8, though it could have been 10 but will probably end up being 8 due to the short notice.
Now, the undefeated guy has been preparing for a fight on the 17th for some time. He has had access to quality sparring and he will be sharp. His weight cut and rehydration will be planned out and he will get in the ring 15 pounds or more above the contracted weight.
The guy that he fights will be a guy that has been in the gym, but not in the gym preparing for a fight, and that difference is huge. He will be working but not going hard in sparring trying to get sharp because he didn't have a fight lined up. His weight will probably be within a few pounds of the contracted weight limit, so that is what he will weigh in the ring. Or he may be a little over and they will raise the weight in the contract to accomodate him.
In any case, he will be considerably smaller than the prospect, and not nearly as well prepared. He will get paid well.

Thank you for an insider's view on something that happens regularly as people attempt to pump up an anointed prospect for future stardom. I feel like you could take that whole scenario... put it in a time capsule... and use it to describe the development of some of today's megastars (which will go unnamed, at least by me ).

The boxing powers-that-be anoint someone... gets the media in on it... and away we go. We've all seen this damn movie before.

But some of us can see behind the script.

Originally Posted by greynotsoold

An update on that...the prospect's fight on the 17th fell through because they could not find an opponent. They were offering a lot of money for the fight so, in my opinion, they would have had a lot of people willing to make the money but...the prospect's manager may have been turning them down. Or the people looking to make the money didn't have good enough records. It is a hard sell, matching a guy 26-0 with somebody 3-17, you know?
At any rate, the prospect is now fighting the 7th of next month and my friend is the matchmaker for the undercard of that show. He started advertising for an opponent on Monday of this week.
The guy is 26-0 and his promoter isn't putting him in a semi main and using their HoF matchmaker to make his fight- this promotional company generally makes the main and semi main and subs out the rest to local promoters and local talent or, as it seems now, to independent matchmakers to find opponents for their prospects- but it seems like they don't care much about this guy. This isn't a huge card. His manager must be shitting bricks wondering about his man's status with that organization.

Oh....... I could dredge up a few examples where it was done.

At that point the "sell" becomes secondary to the ultimate goal..... a totally bloated, but glitzy record. The better to fill the eyes of the casual fan.

Lets hand this over to Uncle Propa to give us a helping hand

The sad part is that should a guy suceed its not because hes an effective fighter, he is going to do so because he has effective management.

A decent fighter with a good coach can do great in the gym and even put on decent performances in competition. But they will only allowed so far before they have to take a big gamble. A gamble where the stakes are decidedly set against them.

Whereas a half decent fighter with a good manager can get taken care of, put in favourable situations without having to fight as well or as hard.
The UK have done very very well utilising this model mind you.

Originally Posted by donnydarkoIRL

The sad part is that should a guy suceed its not because hes an effective fighter, he is going to do so because he has effective management.

A decent fighter with a good coach can do great in the gym and even put on decent performances in competition. But they will only allowed so far before they have to take a big gamble. A gamble where the stakes are decidedly set against them.

Whereas a half decent fighter with a good manager can get taken care of, put in favourable situations without having to fight as well or as hard.
The UK have done very very well utilising this model mind you.

You're lightyears behind the home of El Tri.

Originally Posted by TitoFan

You're lightyears behind the home of El Tri.

Would you care to be more specific?

Originally Posted by donnydarkoIRL

Originally Posted by TitoFan

You're lightyears behind the home of El Tri.

Would you care to be more specific?

Certainly.

Talking about this quote:

"Whereas a half decent fighter with a good manager can get taken care of, put in favourable situations without having to fight as well or as hard.
The UK have done very very well utilising this model mind you."


I said you're lightyears behind the home of El Tri. El Tri being the nickname known for the Mexican soccer team.

Half decent fighters... good managers to "take care of you" and "put you in favorable situations without having to fight as well or as hard"...

C'mon. I don't have to draw a picture here.

Some well-known Mexican fighters have been developed using that model you so well described.