Article on British Fighters overseas

[Guest Klitschko]

Every British fighter - and promoter - wants to go to America to get on US TV, but all that glitters is not necessarily gold.But it's still rare for Brits to get big money from American networks - and David Haye will confirm that.A few years ago promoter Mick Hennessey teamed with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions with the promise of high profile fights for his boxers. That fizzled out and over the last few years, the likes of Hatton Promotions have dangled a 'tie-up' with GB in front of emerging British stars.Some young fighters don't seem to understand that HBO and Showtime won't fork out much on relatively unknown Brits, while fights that go on in the early hours of the morning UK time don't attract big money from Sky.Ricky Hatton proved to be the exception by making big money from losing blockbuster showdowns with Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. But the norm is more like his brother Matthew, who won't have got a huge purse for traveling to the States as an opponent for Saul Alvarez. The truth is our guys go to the States as 'strictly opponents' for GB fighters – logically why would they want Brits beating their American and Hispanic fighters?This week Carl Froch offered Showtime $250,000 to bring his June clash with Glen Johnson to the UK.It was always going to be a non-starter because the British Boxing Board of Control won't allow overseas fighters over the age of 40 to appear on these shores unless they are a champion.But it underlines that the boxing rings in America are not always the promised land.
Froch's fight with Johnson takes place in a 3,000-seat Bull Room in Atlantic City, and he's dead right when he says he could get a far bigger gate in Nottingham.The facts are Carl was aware though that his Super-Six semi final would have to take place in America though when he signed a contract with Showtime to take part in the event.It is swings and roundabouts that is why most of the fights have been abroad to get the Showtime purses, his fights have been on Primetime and his profile here has suffered badly.I've always tried to have my fighters appear primetime in the UK, and regarded American television money as an added bonus, unless they are blockbusters like Tyson v Bruno!The likes of Ricky Hatton, Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn and Joe Calzaghe all appeared on Showtime and HBO, but the bulk of their fights with me were primetime in the UK, with delayed showings in the States.Amir Khan is one UK fighter has been feeling the pinch, and he got around a tenth of the UK TV money for his last fight against Marcos Maidana than he would have done had he appeared primetime over here.Everyone in boxing has to adjust to the new financial circumstances bought on by the credit crunch, and it seems things won't be getting easier.The BBC has just announced a 20% cut in its sports budget, while the Football League's new television contract is 26% less than the last one, after ITV and the BBC bailed out Sky turned out to be the only game in town – just like boxing.***This week it was announced that Tyson Fury would face Hasim Rahman on the undercard of Khan v McCloskey next week.Many people are saying that the fight was never on as Rahman's trainer has said he is not comfortable with his boxer taking such a fight with just two weeks notice.Sky have pulled the pay-per-view and will now show Khan's home coming on Sky Sports.The FA Cup Semi-Final match between Manchester United and Manchester City is kicking off at 5.00pm in London and with Bolton in similar action on Sunday, the promotion has a fairly average undercard, which would affect pay-per-view.***British Referees have to retire at the age of 65 under BBBofC regulations, but I wonder how that will sit with new government regulations making it illegal to force people into retirement at 65.***Robert McCracken has had his licence as an Amateur coach suspended by the International Amateur Boxing Association. They aren't happy that he also trains professional fighters.McCracken was in charge of the British Olympic team, and it is a big blow for the amateur side of the sport less than 18 months before the London Olympics.The British Olympic Association have said "we will be seeking clarification about the rule and its sudden inclusion. We need to understand how and why this is being applied".It is being applied because the ABA and the AIBA relationship is just like the FIFA's and the FA (remember our World Cup bid) - they just don't get on and apparently there is a lot of animosity there.McCracken and our Olympians are the victims. Surely the Officials at the ABA must have known there would be problems? What a mess.***Who needs enemies when you have an appalling family like Rola Lel-Haladi's.She was due to box for a world title in Germany last weekend, when her step father and ex manager shot two security guards before going into to her dressing room.He threatened to shot himself, but unfortunately changed his mind and shot her in the hand and foot. She is recovering in hospital.***Floyd Mayweather has just been hit with a $3.4m tax bill. Problems are piling up for Pretty Boy, who is being sued by Manny Pacquiao and also faces some criminal charges.He may be back in the ring before too long whether he wants to fight or not.***
Bob Arum says that he's worried about Erik Morales' safety when he fights Marcos Maidana tonight.Bob and I did the first Barrera v Morales classic a few years ago after I resurrected Barrera's career when no one wanted him in the States.I agree with Bob- not because Maidana is anything special, but Morales is a shot fighter. He shouldn't be in there.***Only in Mexico! Don King has had an Arena named after him – the Don King Coliseum - at the Feria Internacinoal del Caballo!It's not true that the stadium has a thatched roof------------------------------------------------------From Frank Warren though :S

[The King]

Nice little read. Safe.

[The King]

Im f*ck*ng fuming about that decision.How can guy say its not accepatable to for it to be on Box Office as the card was so weak and then it ends up on PrimeTime? f*ck*ng greedy wankers.