The upside, the single big event, paided less than it does now, but boxing was a much bigger mainstream sport. More small time local events, club fights, ballroom sized events. The pays weren't as big, but there were more available. You just needed to fight to get them, and it was kinda of expected that you would take a hard loss from time to time based on being too young (still learning),bad hometown judgement, fighting injured. Even top prospects weren't as protected as guys today. Occasional Losses early in a pro career were expected and didn't cause a guy to written off so you would just go out fight and make a living.