ESPN nixing payments for fights

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

Dan Goossen promoted two cards that were televised by ESPN2 last year, but doesn't expect to have any on the cable network in 2004 or maybe anytime thereafter. The reason: ESPN2 is eliminating the $50,000 fee it had been paying promoters for televising cards, effective after Friday's show from Ledyard, Conn.

"Quite frankly, it's a bad decision by ESPN," Goossen said. "To me, it's very insulting."

ESPN2 is reducing the number of its boxing telecasts from approximately 55 to approximately 40 this year. And after Scott Pemberton and Omar Sheika fight in Ledyard, main event fighters on ESPN2 cards -- who had been getting paid around $10,000 apiece -- will see substantially reduced purses if any action at all.

(An exception is cards promoted by Sugar Ray Leonard, whose contract with ESPN2 extends into this year.)

Goossen, whose promotional firm recently renewed a deal with Fox Sports Net, believes the ESPN2 shows will suffer a severe decline in quality.

"There are always people out there willing to do something for free, but the old adage that you get what you pay for will certainly be true," he said. "No promoter worth his weight would ever dream of promoting for free and I think we'll see the fallout over the next 12 months.

"I think ESPN is going to realize you can't buy something for nothing and that they can't cut the fees without being willing to accept a lesser quality fight card."

In a five-page memorandum it compiled to address its changes, ESPN informed promoters that it will henceforth not only not pay its customary $50,000 fee, but it will require the promoter to sell a minimum of $240,000 in sponsorships to get four shows. In return, the promoter gets only 20 percent of the revenue.

"If you're a promoter reading that ESPN paper it really rubs salt into the wound," Goossen said. "It makes you look like a fool or a sucker. Either that or you accept the conditions and say 'Thank you,' but I don't think too many reputable promoters are going to do that.

"Once a fighter has no value and you're giving away his services for free, you might as well pack up the tents. It's over."

ESPN is making these changes in spite of stable ratings for its boxing telecasts and the continued support of a leading sponsor, the Miller Brewing Co.

"Boxing is a staple on the ESPN networks and it has been one of the most prominent franchises for the network since its existence," Goossen said. "This isn't about ratings or sponsors.

"It's about ESPN wanting to get something for free and wanting other people to do their work for them. They don't want to pay for anything."