Shame is not even the perfect word to describe the meagre purse monies that is paid by the majority of South African boxing promoters to their fellow brothers (fighters).
Shame is not even the perfect word to describe the meagre purse monies that is paid by the majority of South African boxing promoters to their fellow brothers (fighters).
Some of you dear readers probably think professional boxers are paid big bucks and those who have pleaded poverty were extravagant - never - there are those like Corrie Sanders, Dingaan Thobela, Baby Jake Matlala, Vuyani Bungu and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba who have tasted jam.
But still they have nothing today. Most of them are just like you and I - poor. This sounds weird, I know, but it's true. Enough is said about these guys already.
In fact I will sit down with them and other world champions and discuss this issue so that I will come out openly in my next article.
Back to the topic. Boxers get paid R1000 per round. That does not necessarily mean that an SA champion will be paid R12000 to defend his title over 12 rounds.
Their purse monies range from R35000 upwards but some challengers get paid somewhere between R13000 and R15000 but the majority of them get paid far less than that.
Boxing is a brutal sport and a career can end quite easily. Imagine a situation where a boxer gets seriously injured, is taken to hospital where he spends a month or so and a medical bill of R100000 follows him after he is discharged.
Say he was engaged in a four rounder at R4000. Ten percent of this goes to the trainer and 15 percent to the manager, and a small chunk goes to BSA for the benevolent fund, so he takes home about R1800.
How will he pay that bill? I am talking about a person holding a "professional" boxers licence for God's sake. Promoters get millions from sponsors, provincial government, television and site fees but boxers take home crumbs.
Some of these boxers fight once a year. When the time comes to renew licences, medical tests are required and where must they get money to do that?
It's a shame.
I will never encourage my flesh and blood to take up boxing as a sport in South Africa. Would you?
Scandalous!
Shame is not even the perfect word to describe the meagre purse monies that is paid by the majority of South African boxing promoters to their fellow brothers (fighters).
Shame is not even the perfect word to describe the meagre purse monies that is paid by the majority of South African boxing promoters to their fellow brothers (fighters).
Some of you dear readers probably think professional boxers are paid big bucks and those who have pleaded poverty were extravagant - never - there are those like Corrie Sanders, Dingaan Thobela, Baby Jake Matlala, Vuyani Bungu and Lehlohonolo Ledwaba who have tasted jam.
But still they have nothing today. Most of them are just like you and I - poor. This sounds weird, I know, but it's true. Enough is said about these guys already.
In fact I will sit down with them and other world champions and discuss this issue so that I will come out openly in my next article.
Back to the topic. Boxers get paid R1000 per round. That does not necessarily mean that an SA champion will be paid R12000 to defend his title over 12 rounds.
Their purse monies range from R35000 upwards but some challengers get paid somewhere between R13000 and R15000 but the majority of them get paid far less than that.
Boxing is a brutal sport and a career can end quite easily. Imagine a situation where a boxer gets seriously injured, is taken to hospital where he spends a month or so and a medical bill of R100000 follows him after he is discharged.
Say he was engaged in a four rounder at R4000. Ten percent of this goes to the trainer and 15 percent to the manager, and a small chunk goes to BSA for the benevolent fund, so he takes home about R1800.
How will he pay that bill? I am talking about a person holding a "professional" boxers licence for God's sake. Promoters get millions from sponsors, provincial government, television and site fees but boxers take home crumbs.
Some of these boxers fight once a year. When the time comes to renew licences, medical tests are required and where must they get money to do that?
It's a shame.
I will never encourage my flesh and blood to take up boxing as a sport in South Africa. Would you?