The Boxing Biz

With no major fight this weekend, we're going to focus on the business of boxing on this week's show.

Joe DeGuardia, President of the Boxing Promoter's Association will discuss what the new organization hopes to accomplish and how they'll go about doing it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when King, Arum, Schaeffer, Shaw, DiBella and others try to figure out how to stop trying to grab bigger pieces of the pie, but instead make the whole pie bigger.

If it helps boxing, I'm in favor of it. But a more pressing need is some kind of organization for boxers.

A while back the Teamsters joined with an organization spear headed by former light heavyweight champ Eddie Mustafa Muhammad to create a boxer's union. A couple of promoters held shows with union guys, but the idea went nowhere. The problem is how do you get a guy who is making $600 for a fight to kick in 2%, 5% or whatever for his dues. After he's paid his trainer, cutman, manager, licensing fees, etc. he's lucky to have a few hundred bucks left. Furthermore, a guy who is making $1 million for a fight is probably not going to put any money in because he thinks he's set for life and the money will always be there.

It's a tough situation, but if any sport's athletes need a union, it's boxing. I don't think it will ever happen though.

We'll also speak with IBO President Ed Levine, who will go in depth discussing how his organization's computerized rankings are calculated.

Tune in Thursday night.

To the Max

People seem to love or hate Max Kellerman. I lo.. well, I like him a lot. I always have. Ever since he impressed the hell out of me as a 16 year old kid on Manhattan basic cable. Like him or not, Max knows his stuff.

I thought he was good on HBO from the beginning. But now I think he's very good. On Saturday night's HBO Boxing After Dark, he summarized the evening perfectly. Yes, we know that Lopez's win was a better win because it came against better opposition. But we can't deny how excited we got about Gamboa.

The great thing about Max is he's still so young that he has plenty of room to get even better.

He may not be completely appreciated today, but one day, years from now, he's going to be acknowledged as the greatest boxing broadcaster in television history.

Bookmark this blog entry and 30 years from now, when you're jetting around in your flying car, have your robot servant call it up and read it to you. You'll see I was right.

He's Back

Nick Charles is back on ShoBox this weekend and I couldn't be happier to have him on the show tonight. Nick is truly one of the good guys in the sport.

I remember after my first ring announcing gig with ShoBox, Nick invited me back to the production truck for pizza. We talked like we were old friends, despite having met that night. At the next show I saw him hang out with fans for over an hour, happily talking boxing.

I'm thrilled that his health has improved enough that he is working again.

We'll also talk with Adam Pollack, who penned Bob Fitzsimmons' biography, In the Ring with Bob Fitzimmons. It is exhaustively researched and is the authoritative Fitz biography.

Tune in tonight.

My Dinner with Andre

Don't know if he'll want to grab a bite to eat after the show, but WBA Super Middleweight champ and Olympic Gold medalist Andre Ward will be in the studio as special guest co-host.

We'll talk to him about his incredible win against Kessler, what happens next in the tournament now that Jermain Taylor is out as well as his thoughts on Pacquiao, Mayweather and all other things boxing.

Talk to you tomorrow.

All the Single Ladies!

Last time Andre Berto was on the show, our phones lit up with women wanting to talk to the champ. During that one show, more ladies called Through the Ropes than all shows combined.

Will the girls show up again tomorrow?

For those of you who want to talk boxing as well, Andre will discuss his upcoming fight with Sugar Shane Mosley.

We'll also speak with 2004 U.S. Olympian and undefeated junior middleweight prospect Vanes Martirosyan. Vanes takes on former champ Kassim Ouma on January 16th, in the biggest fight of his career.

Both boxers will be glad to take your calls. Especially if you're female.