In some ways, Broner-Garcia is just as nonsensical as Mayweather-McGregor?maybe even more so?
On the surface, this Saturday?s Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia bout doesn?t make a damn bit of sense. Actually, when the rumor of the fight first surfaced, it seemed to be utter nonsense.
Why would Garcia be moving up to 140 for a non-title fight against a fighter like Broner, who isn?t really all that well-regarded at the moment? And why would Broner move back to 140 for a risky non-title fight against an incoming lightweight like Garcia who, with a decisive win, could embarrass him and utterly destroy his already-battered reputation as a high-end fighter?
The answer, in great part, to both questions is?Money.
Whether boxing ?purists? like to hear this or not, money is what got this fight made and it?s what gets EVERY fight made.
Garcia sees a chance to make a nice payday against a fighter like Broner, who can create some buzz for an event and is also known for inconsistent performances in the ring. In other words, the risk-reward ratio is perfect for Garcia to dive right in.
On Broner?s side, he sees a well-regarded fighter moving up in weight who he may be able to handle. A win over Garcia brings back some of the boxing street cred he has been losing steadily since being beaten down and defeated by Marcos Maidana in 2013. Again, for Broner, this fight is all about the risk-reward ratio.
Of course, there?s nothing cynical or dastardly about fighters and their management assessing risk-to-reward ratio before selecting opposition. This is how boxing matchmaking works. Smart boxing management is always going to seek out the easiest opposition possible for the biggest possible payday. Eventually, it all tends to even itself out in the long run as the biggest, riskiest fights, at least in theory, are supposed to deliver the biggest payouts.
At this moment, however, boxing is in a weird place when it comes to this financial dynamic. Because the American scene has been so devalued over the years, sometimes there ISN?T enough money in a ?big? fight to make fighters actually sign contracts.
The whole Canelo-GGG drama was the perfect example of this situation as Triple G, the best opponent for the popular Mexican star, Canelo, was not necessarily the best business option. It took over two years of pumping this fight up in the press and social media before there was enough money in it for the bigger star to come aboard.
But getting back to Broner-Garcia?This fight was made simply because both sides saw this one as a winnable fight that could deliver a nice financial score and secure a boost in credibility. It?s as simple as that. There was no backstory to this one, no divisional rivalry, no real reason to put this odd pairing together. In some ways, Broner-Garcia is just as nonsensical as Mayweather-McGregor?maybe even more so, since there isn?t $500 million in revenue behind it.
And there?s nothing wrong with business being a part of boxing. It always has been and always will be. To believe that prizefighters fight purely for nobility and honor is a na?ve concept that, more often than not, is used to manipulate public opinion and create false narratives for the benefit of certain fighters looking to create their own easiest road to big money.
Broner-Garcia, though, is a good match-up.
It?s a money fight and a showcase for risk-reward management, but that?s okay. At the end of the day, no matter what business is involved in making a fight, boxing always eventually boils down to fighters in the ring, looking to emerge victorious. There?s no real reason to pretend that the sport is anything other than a business.
