I'm not talking about DLH or Foreman or even Tyson, because they had name value from the beginning. I'm talking about fighters who have huge followings. I'm talking on a low end level. Arturo Gatti has been in entertaining wars. Hatton has a huge following in his home country, etc. etc. Those aren't the fighters I'm talking about. I say that Rocky Juarez has made the most by doing the least. Yes, he was a silver medalist, but that's the only thing he has done. He nearly lost to Zahir Raheem, his management still parlayed that into 4 title shots with name opponents and I know for a fact(I heard him talking about money) that he made a millon dollars for his 2nd fight with Barrera. He would be my choice for fighter that has made the most $$$ by doing the least.
ricardo williamns signed for 1 M if Im not mistaken, yet he was selling crack a couple of years later:doh: :doh:
Andrew Golota -- Got title shot after title shot despite losing over and over again. Chris Byrd -- Is his wife even a fan anymore? His own son ran up to Wlad and gave him a hug after he knocked out his daddy.
Golota fought the very best, some of them were gory blood filled up-and-down thrillers: see Grant, Sanders, BoweX2. Even the fights he was blown out in were against big dangerous punchers. Golota has always been in big fights against dangerous opposition, and was USUALLY value for money.
I was looking at his second career, really. Going from Byrd's IBF title, to Ruiz's WBA title, and then Brewster's WBO title.
If we're talking about good money for really doing very little I'd have to go with Francisco Bojado and Sergio Mora. Golata, Byrd, Juarez were at least titlists and contenders who fought a number of very good opponents.
I thought of him, but figured a bleeding brain and the Jirov fight disqualified him from the "least" category.
Considering his contract minimums, Roy Jones defenses at 168 lbs., and fight with Ricky Frazier at 175, win this for him hands down. That set of fight probably gorssed him 20M
Bad pick. Really bad pick. Mesi never even cashed out. He had a very solid am career. Beat several guys with a pulse. How much has he made, anyway? As a 'legit' #1 ranked guy, there's no way he's going to be the poster boy for this thread with McNeeley already mentioned.
Juarez was competitive against Soto and at one point had a draw against Barrera in the first fight...so I don't really think he qualifies. It's not shame to lose one-sidedly to Barrera and Marquez. At this point, Juarez does belong in the Angel Manfredy category of very solid fighters who just aren't at the championship level...Juarez may change that in the future. I think joony's on the right track with McNeely...and I'd suggest most of the real candidates for this will be heavyweights. I don't know the paydays, but in terms of undeserved title shots Vaughn Bean probably deserves a mention. I guess Butterbean is probably the best answer that I can think of.
:laughing: I remember that- didn't the Daily Mirror put their logo's on his sole's for his fight with Tyson? I'm sure he got KD about 4 times in two rounds as well...
