By Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Founder, Joint Association of Boxers
November 28, 2003
Even the casual boxing fan knows that boxing is in serious decline and risks
being relegated to side show status unless the sport makes some serious
changes. Many are suggesting an industry-wide solution in which boxers,
promoters, trainers, managers and others take an active role in regulating
the way we do business. The belief among boxers that they had to be part of
this solution is what inspired the formation of the Joint Association of
Boxers (“JAB”). JAB’s purpose is to unite professional boxers into a
cohesive group that can speak with one voice on the social, financial and
legislative issues affecting our sport. As a union we know we will differ
with promoters on many issues, but everyone in boxing needs to work together
to make sure our sport becomes more appealing to advertisers and the public.
That is why I was delighted to read a recent article in which Lou DiBella
joined fellow promoter Cedric Kushner in calling for a promoter summit to
address boxing’s serious financial problems. Other promoters such as Oscar
De La Hoya, Roy Jones Jr. and Sugar Ray Leonard, to name just a few, have
also recently stated that boxing needs to change the way it does business if
it is to grow and compete with other major sports.
Many doubt the ability of our industry to come together to protect our
collective interests. These same doomsayers have questioned JAB’s ability to
unite the 90% of boxers who are struggling with the sport's superstars.
While we recognize each boxer has individual wants and needs, we also know
that what unites fighters is far more powerful than what divides them. For
example, every professional boxer wants a level playing field in an industry
that gives them increasing opportunities to showcase their talent. They want
national safety standards. They want unified rules. They want fair and
honest referee’s and judges. Once that structure is in place, like all other
professional athletes, boxers know they must rely on their skills and
ability to be successful. That is not what is happening now. Boxers can’t
get fights, purses and television opportunities are dwindling, and even the
upper echelon boxers are not making the same amount of money as they used
to. Why is this happening? Because in addition to competing with each other,
boxers are competing for fans and advertisers with every other professional
sport – and they are losing that competition. The reason we are losing is
because those sports have a plan and we don’t.
In today’s sports marketplace fans are being lured by the increasingly
sophisticated advertising and marketing plans of every major sport. In the
old days professional sports was mostly about getting people to buy tickets.
Due to television and the ever increasing number of channels, professional
sports must now rely on advertising and sponsorship if they are going to
succeed. Other sports attract fans to their leagues or associations by
marketing themselves as legitimate and fair competition between elite
athletes. Companies then try and attract these fans to their products
through advertising and sponsorship. The owners and players are partners and
divide the revenue. Boxing’s disunity, disorganization and seeming
illegitimacy has driven advertisers away. Only a global change in the way we
do business can reverse this trend and draw advertisers back to boxing. Over
the last six months I have been traveling around the country talking to
boxers about these issues and they understand them better than most people
give them credit for. They are ready to do their part. I’ve also met with
people in the entertainment and banking business and they see potential in
boxing. They are also ready to do their part if we build a legitimate
structure. Why? Because as DiBella points out in his article, boxing is
still a popular sport. Despite all our problems, we still attract fans. We
just can’t attract advertisers. The rest of the good news is that if we get
our act together we will get support from many others.
I recently had the pleasure of attending the De La Hoya/Mosley fight with
Senator John McCain and James Hoffa, President of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters, with whom JAB is affiliated. Boxing has no greater
supporter than Senator McCain. During the evening he told me that attending
the fights was his “favorite” thing to do, and that organizing our industry
was critical to its survival as a major sport. Every other industry,
including professional sports, lobbies the federal and state government to
protect and expand their interests. We should all be embarrassed that boxing
doesn't have a lobbyist or any plan when it comes to those who can legislate
us out of business. JAB in conjunction with the Teamsters intends to lobby
for boxer and boxing friendly legislative. We would welcome the cooperation
and support of honest and legitimate boxing promoters in this endeavor.
President Hoffa and the Teamsters have done even more for boxing. They have
donated money to organizations assisting retired boxers. They have provided
union halls and other resources for boxers to meet. They have met with me
and other boxers to educate us in what a union is really all about. At a
recent ESPN card in Rhode Island the Teamsters turned out in force. They
supported the show and the boxers showed their appreciation and support by
wearing JAB and Teamsters logos on their trunks. The Teamsters have
committed to continuing to support shows where promoters are not taking
advantage of the boxers. Boxing has never attracted the support of such a
large organization as the Teamsters and we need take advantage of what they
have to offer.
In conclusion, I would like to say that no group is suffering more from the
woes of our sport than the fighters. They are also the key to turning the
sport around. No one, especially advertisers, wants to be associated with a
sport where the participants are being physically and financially exploited.
I am optimistic about the growing movement to reform our sport and it's
future. While I applaud the idea of a summit, I suggest that all involved in
the sport attend the next big fight to discuss these issues. I know that
many boxers would attend such an event.
©2003-2007 Joint Association of Boxers
P.O. Box 2662
New York, NY 10108
Eddie Mustafa Muhammad
(202) 437-5755
info@boxersunion.org