Boxing Imitates The UFC
Published by on October 7th, 2008 in Current Events

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By Scoop Malinowski

London-based boxing promoter Frank Maloney has decided to incorporate a new concept into his business – he is now offering bonus money to the ‘Boxer of the night’ on his future shows.

The idea of bonuses for fighters would be a new innovation for boxing event producing but it is standard procedure for the UFC which has been awarding bonuses to match winners for many years now.

Maloney is best known in the boxing world for being the long-time promoter of former Heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis as well as his flamboyant Union Jack outfits which he wore to many world title fights. These days, Maloney mostly promotes local shows in England and says he will offer a 500-pound bonus to the ‘Boxer of the night’ which will be determined in a yet-to-be specified way (by text, posting a coupon from the show program or logging onto Maloney’s web site).

Maloney feels the extra incentive will add some intrigue while boosting ticket sales for his shows. He is also considering offering 2,000 pounds for the “Boxer of the year’ on his shows, which would be determined next summer.

Claude Abrams, the editor of Boxing News weekly magazine based in London, favors the innovation, as he wrote in his October 3 column: “The idea of bonuses is something that happens routinely in UFC…Few promoters have given it a try even though it’s likely to mean the boxers try harder, fans get more entertainment and, consequently, punters return for future shows knowing there’s going to be excitement…I’m just surprised this initiative wasn’t taken sooner.”