AS THE world struggles to regain its footing, sports events will slowly and surely be back under new conditions or what is termed as the new normal.
In boxing, income streams are generated from live- gate attendance, sponsorships and pay-per-view sales. But with few or no spectators in the new normal (or at least until a vaccine that is proven safe is propagated en-masse) it would seem like there has to be a recalibration of financial packages for fights.
A few decades ago, promoters relied so much on live gate proceeds to cover fighter’s purses and other expenses. But the advent of pay-per-view was a game-changer.
Boxing superstars now had the added bonus of getting shares from pay-per-view sales and so this affected the dynamics of promoting fights as well as determination of fight purses.
The biggest grossing pay- per-view in boxing history was between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, which generated a whopping $410 million from 4.6 million buys.
JONES VS TYSON. It seems like a potential casualty of the pandemic conditions will be the much ballyhooed but ill-advised exhibition bout between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr.
It was supposed to be held next month, but apparently, it will be pushed back to November 28, if at all.
Reports came in that the lack of live gate attendance was a major concern financially. Well, of course it is.
I would be untruthful if I told you I didn’t want to see Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. Even if it’s happening some 20 years after it should have happened.
But with no income from fans in attendance, promoters would have to jack up pay-per-view prices for this fight, especially if both fighters will charge an unreasonable fee for their limited services at this time.
And therein lies the rub.
A bout between two superstars in their absolute primes could be pegged as high as $50 pre-pandemic and that’s with a lot of moping and grousing already from fans if the fight turns out to be a dud.
What would be the fair market price of an exhibition bout between two fighters in their 50s and who are two decades past their primes?
I don’t know, maybe $10-$20? Well, good luck charging that in this pandemic with people out of work and businesses struggling.
The novelty aspect is certainly the draw for this bout but that would have been great for fans in attendance. You could actually say that I was at ringside when Mike Tyson and Roy Jones finally got it on.
You can just imagine the plethora of fight personalities and celebrities at ringside and all the photo-ops. It would be more of a spectacle than a fight, really.
And yes, that’s not quite the same as saying, “I actually shelled out $20 to see Mike Tyson hug Roy Jones Jr. on TV.”
LAST ROUND. It’s on my kumpare Limito “Junjun” Caraballe, Clerk of Court of the MTCC Branch 9, Cebu City, who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!