A very interesting profile of contender Karim Mayfield, and how the star system of boxing works (or doesn’t work).
Neighbors assume that an unblemished record, sponsorships, gigs sparring with champs like Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao, and a June appearance on ESPN's Friday Night Fights pummeling former champion Stevie Forbes translate into vast wealth — or at least financial security. “They don’t know me,” says Mayfield with a wan smile. “And they don’t know boxing.”
They don’t know that while Mosley and Pacquiao command millions for each fight — Floyd Mayweather, Jr. was recently filmed literally setting money ablaze — the majority of boxers are outearned by crossing guards. Mayfield has pocketed more than $3,500 for a fight just twice, and has never fought more than three times in a year. The boxer’s San Francisco roots provide him with a refuge, security, and support — but haven’t furthered his career.
Read the rest here in the San Francisco Weekly:
http://www.sfweekly.com/2011-10-12/news/feature-boxing-karim-mayfield-joe-eskenazi/
I knew boxing was bad, but I was still surprised to read that more than half of the money made in pro boxing purses in the Nevada last year was earned by Floyd Mayweather.