Fighters need to be paid more

[Q]

Right, but this is just not feesable for promoters unless they are selling more tickets.
With most fighters working full time getting out promoting themselves is also a problem, eight hrs at work, two hrs at gym not much time for anything else.

While I was eating bacon deluxe minus tomato I had a thought which took a slightly different direction, what if the fight community supported fighters, business's, workplaces a lot more, maybe they could get more time off, more flexi time whatever.

A sort of sponsorship

Example,

Michael '300' Dimitrou is a draftsman, if you need some housing plans drawn up consider his firm, let them know Michael is the reason you approached them. I am sure if they pick up extra work because of Michael they will be more than happy to accomadate him.

Jason Tramsek is a bricklayer, you need bricks laid call his company.

Jared Gigor is a plumber and the list goes on.

The fight community is so small yet it is so divided and factioned it is really sad,

This is just a thought to help our fighters who are the sport.

[Wrecka]

Great idea Q.

[Bushi]

I also think a GREAT jesture is similar to the Thai's / Cambodians, line the fighters shorts / gloves with $$$ after the fight.....

I know at times some of us have done that out of appreciation...

[Q]

I was thinking more so for the fighters who work full time which would be 95% prob more.

I think the biggest problem for them is getting time off work to train, fight, weigh in, ECT and some fighters actually jeopardize their jobs for sake of fighting.

Some one said to me the other day, 'Happy wife, happy life' well I can tell you that’s bullsh1t but maybe happy boss, more accommodating boss.

As an example I am in real estate, if one of my sales people sells 7 houses in a month they get a weekend away paid for them, so put this into a fighters perspective, they generate $$$$$ for their boss, or own business they can take off certain hours to train, or weigh in.

[Voice]

fighters also need to show some enterprise and actively go about finding sponsors who will pay them to promote their business. Examples;
. training sessions with corporate clients
. attend corporate dinners
. backstage invitations
. be seen in the workplace as someone who others might aspire to

Businesses aren't charities...they need to see a return for their investment but my guess is that within the local community some fighters who are of good character and standing could chalk out a decent earner.

[DazMon]

Those tradesmen type, they should give out their cards or promos or something?
It'd be good to know a good plumber for example.

[Sor.NakSooMuayThai]

My young boy Tommy is a first year electrical apprentice, and his boss is VERY accomodating, letting him take off time here and there so Tom can make weigh-ins, fight interstate etc. Tommy makes up for this by working very hard for his boss and showing he is worth the special treatment.

I also had a great boss when I was working. he let me take off days here and there for fights etc.

[Voice]

quote:Originally posted by Sor.NakSooMuayThai

I also had a great boss when I was working. he let me take off days here and there for fights etc.

and wasn't he misguided...now you encourage the young blokes to do it!:D;)

[Sor.NakSooMuayThai]

Hell yeah. And the boss I have now is a real pr1ck...

[Voice]

go directly to the Boss = pr1ck thread and tell all...

[kingwaa]

its good when your boss is your bro and the one who gets your fights for you
win win

[promoboss]

I agree with voice with fighters need to creatively market themselves and encourage their bosses & friends to get behind them.
I remember fighting & working full time also that was a drag, but it's even harder when you have a family.
but fighters are tough cookies & will do what ever it takes to get the job done.

[hunter01]

Question. How many trainers are proactively trying to publicise their fighters outside of putting a a picture on a fight poster? I am talking proactively trying to get their charge in the eye of the public, no a section in the community newspaper. I feel that fighters arent backed by sponsers $$ is because we are not seen as good "corporate citizens" and we are not really trying that hard to be noticed. Just my opinion but just being a good fighter isnt enough to get you noticed. I think we sit back and get upset the public dont back the fight game but we do nothing out in the community to aquire new fans.

[Hellfighter]

I personally don't agree with Voice, because not everyone can be a trainer... so for them to "train" with corporate sponsors they should at least have some teaching ability & not all trainers were good fighters, nor do fighters make good trainers

when I ran my Gym in Australia, not only did I make f#@k all money, but whatever I could give to charity I did so mainly for the purpose of TAX and that was on the advice of my accountant

the local shows in my area, the "main" sponsor was given approx. 20 seats and allowed to give their own trophy of "fight of the night" for around $500 sponsorship... now I know that things have changed, but there are many people in the crowd that are simply there for the fights and not the show (this being in agreement with DD), but, many are up for some dazzle on the night and that can't and doesn't hurt

[zito]

on average what dose a main event fighter get paid ?

[Steve P]

Quite a few years back, Bob Jones, said the sport of kickboxing (which would now include Muay Thai) would be killed off because too many sanctioning bodies were starting up (creating too many champions). With hindsight he was probably right....

There was also a period in kickboxing where there were very few professional fighters having bouts. Promoters were putting on shows everywhere, but would only have amateur fighters with lots of amateur titles. Promoters did OK out of it because they didn't have to pay anyone. Likewise the sport suffered.

Before all this, stadiums would fill for fights. Some fight shows now are lucky to fill a church hall. Too many fight shows, too many promoters and too many sanctioning bodies unfortunately.

No customers = no pay for fighters.

[fighta29]

The problem with sponsorship and support for Austrralian fighters is public perception. May 2-3% of every day Aussies ( not the fight community) are interested in combat sports. We have around 21 million ppl in Aus, therefore this equals very few. If you equate the same percentage to the American general public (250 million + ) or Europe, this becomes a much larger number. It comes down to population support (or lack of) that creates the dollars fighters need.

[Hellfighter]

in 1995 the 1st ever seating of the World MuayThai Council was held in Bangkok and on that night it was announced that there were approx. 100,000 World Champions around the globe and on that night there were 2 fighters from the same suburb in Sydney fighting for a World Title and their Gyms were only a few blocks apart...

Bushi, where have you "lined" a fighters gloves and/or shorts with $$$ after a fight?

[Dynamite Drew]

in Thailand, its accepted practise to share your winnings with fighter(s) that you won bets on

I did so when i went to Lumpinee and the fighters and trainers were very happy and gracious, espec more so because I am not Thai and they made effort to talk with me and happy to get photos taken

[Voice]

quote:Originally posted by Hellfighter
whatever I could give to charity I did so mainly for the purpose of TAX and that was on the advice of my accountant

nice Hell, most people give to charity because they want to help people and make a difference but that is an angle I never thought of. Always thinking outside the square aren't you?

[Hellfighter]

don't get me wrong, Voice, I gave to charity as well, but considering how much I was earning this was "forced savings"

oh, and I like triangles

[LeewkMT]

quote:Originally posted by Q


I think the biggest problem for them is getting time off work to train, fight, weigh in, ECT and some fighters actually jeopardize their jobs for sake of fighting.


Yeah i have actually had my job threatened a few times for taking time off to fight, even though i booked it off in annual leave. At one point i was told to choose fighting or my job, i picked fighting and im still working here[:p]

I have also asked my boss if he would be interested in my putting the company logo on my shorts and fight robe but he just isnt interested, shame i think it would do his business well!

[jarhead]

show me the money
im sick of bouncing

[Rumble]

There is a lot more money in the sport now than there was 4 or 5 years ago. The average pay packet in Qld was a lot lower than now. The crowds and shows are a lot bigger now as well.

[Bushi]

Melbourne Hellfighter..... do I detect an ulterior motive behind your questioning..??

[DazMon]

I've seen him do it Hell, I can vouch.

[Voice]

Bushi, Hellfighter said '$$$'...
Those 3 old $2 bills that you tucked between Stan's toes back in 1994 don't really count.

[Bushi]

I wasn't that well off back then, it was the $1...

BTW, Im NOT that well off now other, but still when I can show some form of appreciation, even though it's been a while...

[Q]

quote:Originally posted by LeewkMT

quote:Originally posted by Q


I think the biggest problem for them is getting time off work to train, fight, weigh in, ECT and some fighters actually jeopardize their jobs for sake of fighting.


Yeah i have actually had my job threatened a few times for taking time off to fight, even though i booked it off in annual leave. At one point i was told to choose fighting or my job, i picked fighting and im still working here[:p]

I have also asked my boss if he would be interested in my putting the company logo on my shorts and fight robe but he just isnt interested, shame i think it would do his business well!


This is what I am talking about, being threatened with choosing job/fighting would suck for your preperation.

What does your work do? Can the people in your gym, your friends family support where you work by buying there products, services? If they can make sure your boss knows that you have made him money. If you can produce $$$$ for your boss he should be more accomodating, if his not tell to get f%$#ed

[Hellfighter]

no ulterior motive at all, Bushi, it was simply a question

[Sor.NakSooMuayThai]

I distinctly remember you Neale, shoving your hands down my shorts once upon a time! ;)

[Voice]

quote:Originally posted by Sor.NakSooMuayThai

I distinctly remember you Neale, shoving your hands down my shorts once upon a time! ;)

yep, I put in 100 bucks and grabbed a sausage...or should I say frankfurter, so I withdrew 50:D;)

[hunter01]

fighter29 no offence but I don't feel your comment about size of population has anything to do with it. That is a classic case of pointing the finger at something we have no control over as a reason we aren't doing so well. The question is how can we influence change in perception.

[Sor.NakSooMuayThai]

It only felt like a frankfurter cos' those HGH's you are on make your hands swell 3 times their normal size ;)

[chao]

quote:Originally posted by Q

you need bricks laid call his company.



Last time i tried to get a brick laid, i got a warning for lewd behaviour. just kidding :P

But nah mate, great idea. I think this is the kind of stuff that brings a floundering community to being one that thrives.

[fighta29]

Hunter, it has everything to do with it. Youre right, the thing out of our control IS public perception. The fact is that there will only ever be a small percentage of any population truely interested and supportive of combat sports. The larger the population, the larger amount of supporters, but still the same percentage. If this isnt the case, then why are we struggling? 22 million here in Aus, 350 million in the US. Do the maths.