HEARN URGES BBBOC TO ACT ON PURSE PAYMENTS

Posted on | November 10, 2011 | No Comments

Promoter writes to the Board ‘to suspend promoters who fail to pay’

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has written to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) urging them to tighten the rules on promoters paying fighters.

Hearn’s letter raised concerns that some fighters have had to wait months beyond the seven day regulated period to be paid for their work and he says he is unhappy about the treatment that some fighters are receiving.

But Hearn is also encouraging the boxers themselves to alert the board if they believe they are missing payments for the endeavours in the ring.

“There are cases of boxers waiting one, two, three and sometimes six months to get paid for a fight – it’s scandalous,” said Hearn. “These guys put their lives on the line on fight night and make huge sacrifices preparing their bodies in the gym and on the road and that commitment is being ignored.

“The fighters too must take responsibility though and if they approach the Board with concerns over payments then the Board will act. I fear that in this tough economic environment, fighters who fail to speak up run the risk of losing their entire purse. Promoters that fail to pay their fighters on time are tarnishing the game and this will deter future talents from entering this great sport.

“I recommended that we try and encourage boxers to inform the board if payment has not been received in its entirety within seven days of the contest. Promoters who fail to do so should have their license suspended immediately. I have had a positive response from Robert Smith (general secretary of the BBBoC) who has already confirmed that he has recently received complaints from fighters regarding this matter and he will raise my points at the next board meeting.”