Some fighters have recently criticized sanctioning fees, arguing that the organizations take too big a cut of purses. Fundora sees it differently. According to him, the belt itself is what creates the payday.
“The titles bring you money. Fact,” Fundora told Lalosboxing. “You can be a regular fighter fighting a 10-rounder and get, I hear some people get $10,000 for a 10-rounder. It’s kind of sad because it’s a lot of work.”
Sebastian pointed out how quickly those numbers change once a championship belt becomes part of the equation.
“But you put a belt in, now those guys are getting six figures,” he said. “Now they’re getting million-dollar fights.”
Sanctioning bodies usually take a percentage of a fighter’s purse for title fights. That system has long been part of boxing’s business model, but it has recently come under renewed scrutiny as several high-profile fighters have questioned whether the fees are justified.
Fundora acknowledged that fighters are the punishment in the ring, but he believes that the financial trade-off still favors champions.
“Obviously everybody wants to hold cakes because you take the punch and it’s a demanding sport,” Fundora said. “But this is business. They want their check. They want their piece.”
The tall champion said the percentage itself is not excessive when weighed against the financial opportunities a title holds.
“Three percent isn’t that bad,” Sebastian said. “It’s boxing.”
Fundora will defend his WBC title against Keith Thurman on March 28, a fight that puts a belt at the center of the promotion. The exact scenario he believes proves his point about the value championship status holds for fighters’ careers.
