SO YOU WANNA BE A FIGHT PROMOTER!!!
I am always receiving email for information on how to be a fight promoter. Mainly from young people in their twenties and
early thirties who enjoy the game of boxing and who are impressed at the amount of money the sport generates. They are looking
for that one source of information that is put together in a complete edition from a Random House type publication.
There is not one complete source on how to promote fights, but many sources. You have to go out into the world and make
it happen. There is no, “The Complete Book of Fight Promotion”. The web now has shyster businesses that say they
can help you become a fight promoter, while they and there associates drain your pockets with bulls__t info and services.
If they know so much, why aren’t they promoting fights?
Promoting fights and fighters takes on different types of guises. You can start in the business by promoting a fighter.
Take the second step by managing and promoting fighters. Then arranging local fights for them in the same promotion. Later
promoting and managing them to national and international bouts or tournaments.
Learning the fight promotion game can be tricky and frustrating. Everyone out there that is associated with the fight game
are tough, determine, sometimes dishonest, smart and greedy. Bob Arum, Don King and Rock Newman did not become great promoters
by being soft. The business is not easy and everyone is looking at the bottom line. If you don’t have a good offer and
ideas, please step aside.
The best way to learn the fight game and I want you to keep this under your hat. Don’t tell a soul.
Is to align yourself with these same promoters. In other words, go right to the source and talk with them. They will not
know you from Jack in the beginning but in time, if you have the strong skin to learn the business and put up with some sh_t,
then you will make it as a fight promoter.
The fight game over the years has continually evolved, it never stays the same. Television has really given the fight game
a shot in the arm with the millions of viewers and the mega sponsors. The championship purses has grown from a split of 2
million dollars in the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fights of the 70’s. To splitting over $100 million dollars today.
This is the reason why fight promoters do not publish books on “How to Be A Fight Promoter“. Everyone is vying
for the $100 million dollar pot at the end of the rainbow. If you knew how to earn that much money would you broadcast it?
I don’t think so!!!
Get a good education! Attend a good college and learn business administration, some entertainment law, marketing, sports
marketing, and the newest subject that is closely related to boxing promotion, “Events Marketing‘. Events
Marketing is a new major that is offered at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Stedmond Graham who is the soul
mate of the famous talk show host, Oprah, is one of the originators of events marketing. This major offers information leading
to a degree on how to plan for events like conferences, concerts and sporting events. It gives the student an understanding
of negotiation, sponsors, publicity and more.
This major is new, but search the web to find universities who may offer it near you.
As I previously stated, if you have a burning desire to be a fight promoter in boxing, wrestling, martial arts or mixed
martial arts; visit a fight or sports promotion company or an independent promoter AND ASK THEM FOR EMPLOYMENT. It
does not matter if the person or company is big or small, the most important thing you want is hands on experience.
If they say no to you, ask to work for minimum wage or volunteer your service but make sure you try to work and learn different
areas of promotion. It would benefit you to work for more than one promoter or promotion firm. It will not hurt you to learn
as much as you can from several sources. Don King, Rock Newman and P. Diddy started out this way and look at them now!
Remember, when you become a famous, pot bellied, cigar smoking, fat cat promoter; send me a half mil for the advice. I’m
not proud you know!