Some fighters have recently criticized sanctioning fees, arguing that the organizations take too large a cut from purses. Fundora sees it differently. In his view, the belt itself is what creates the payday.
“The titles bring you money. Fact,” Fundora said to Lalosboxing. “You could be a regular fighter fighting a 10-rounder and getting, I hear some people getting $10,000 for a 10-rounder. That’s kind of sad because that’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 there, now those guys are getting six digits,” he said. “Now they’re getting million-dollar fights.”
Sanctioning bodies typically 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 drawn fresh scrutiny recently as several high-profile fighters questioned whether the fees are justified.
Fundora acknowledged that fighters are the ones taking the punishment in the ring, yet he believes the financial trade-off still favors champions.
“Of course, everybody wants to hold cakes because you’re taking the punches and this is a demanding sport,” Fundora said. “But it’s 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 can bring.
“Three percent is not that bad,” Sebastian said. “That’s boxing.”
Fundora will defend his WBC title against Keith Thurman on March 28, a fight that places a belt at the center of the promotion. The exact scenario he believes proves his point about the value championship status brings to fighters’ careers.
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