Purse Report: Abner Mares $300K, Joseph Agbeko $130K for Saturday Fight

by Scott Christ on Aug 16, 2011 1:34 PM EDT in Boxing Purses, PPV Buys, and Live Gates

Controversially victorious challenger Abner Mares made more than two times the purse money of defending titlist Joseph Agbeko last Saturday in Las Vegas. Mares' purse was $300,000 for the fight, with Agbeko at $130,000.

Mares (22-0-1, 13 KO) won a majority decision over Agbeko (28-3, 22 KO) in a fight that will unfortunately be more remembered for the endless low blows from Mares, which were never penalized by referee Russell Mora. That the fight had a lot of good action and some fairly big momentum shifts is sadly in the background at the moment, while boxing fans continue to wonder what, if anything, will happen with the Mora situation, and whether or not the IBF will order an immediate rematch in the near future.

For those wondering why Agbeko would make so much less than Mares, a lot of that is due to promotional affiliation. Golden Boy simply can afford to pay Mares more than Don King can pay Agbeko. In March, when Ricardo Mayorga faced Miguel Cotto on Showtime pay-per-view, Top Rank's Cotto made a $1 million purse, compared to Mayorga's $50,000. That was a different level of fight -- and Cotto is a bigger, far more bankable star than anyone else we're talking about here -- but it's sort of the same deal. I think we can all agree that Agbeko deserved a bigger payday, in part because he's a really good fighter, and in part because he got punched in his junk somewhere around 30 times.

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A bit of math

If you estimate thirty low blows, Agbeko made $4333.33 for each punch he took to the jimmies.

Now, wearing a cup, it might be worth $4.3k per to take a nutshot or two. But not 30. There are some things money can’t buy, etc, etc.

by Verklemptomaniac on Aug 16, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions

Is there somewhere we can sign up a couple of these $4,000 nut shots?

#1 Devon Alexander hater

by uGotKTFO on Aug 16, 2011 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Both will be back for more dough.

by jdoro63 on Aug 16, 2011 2:37 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Only in America

"Luck is when preparation meets opportunity." - Mike Quarry

by Boss Man on Aug 16, 2011 2:40 PM EDT reply actions

31, by my count early Sunday, and that was as conservative as I could be.

I wonder what the rematch will get each of them?

by DrRck on Aug 16, 2011 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

The purse may be underreported

Ive heard that purses for foreign fighters are often reported to be lower due to tax reasons.

by cyke on Aug 16, 2011 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

I remember reading

That SHO would pay both winners of the first round the same.(don’t remember the number, but it was higher than 250K)
so don’t really get this statement..
“Golden Boy simply can afford to pay Mares more than Don King can pay Agbeko”

More like King keeps most of the money

by isar on Aug 17, 2011 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions