Publishers Notes

In today’s day and age, even though we have social media, people are connecting less and researching less. I’m looking to drive conversation, motivate and show wisdom through executing. People are selfish with real information on how to be successful, especially in the sport of boxing and it is holding back the potential of the sport in some areas like developing new fans. People need to be able to understand the intricacies of the sport in an easy to learn format. I’ve been working for twenty-plus years to change that, and to share what I’ve found out through research and experience. Thank you for reading Below the Belt Boxing Magazine, because this is one of the best ways I can bring my message to people looking to learn about the ins and outs of boxing from competing to business from our sports perspective.

The sport of boxing has a lot of resilient souls and caring people but it also has a lot of people who have not been able to transfer their work ethic from the gym to everyday life and many who lack the business skills to be successfull in the sports industry. If you are someone who lacks those skills, you either have to invest in your personal development by reading and going to seminars or reach out to people with the expertise. A lot of my businesses have grown out of neccessity and I am working to become a trusted source of information and education.

I will give an example of where one of my businesses could be of assistance. A professional boxer making his debut in Ontario was told that if he wanted to fight on a local professional card, he would have to sell $5000.00 in tickets and he would get paid $500.00 for his

fight. The promoter had the fighter turn over the $5000.00 and had the fighter sign a contract to fight for $50.00 because the promoter has to give the Ontario Athletic Commission all of the fight purses in advance of the event and the promoter wanted that amount to be as low as possible so that they could have more money for operating costs. The promoter advised the Article by: Dameon Okposio boxer that even though Photo by: Mark Ruddick he had signed for $50.00, he would still get the agreed upon $500.00. With the multitude of businesses and

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Commisioner and was advised that As a young person, I ran away from nothing could be done because he home at 10 years old and grew up in signed for $50.00 and he received group homes and foster homes until that payment. This happens, even in I moved out on my own at the age 2020. If the fighter had come to “DO International Boxing Consulting”, and of 16. I dropped out of High School in grade 10 but I always sought out purchased a consulting session ($50/ information and mentors. I drew hour), I would have advised the boxer a lot of lessons from the sport of that even if he wanted to agree to all of boxing on how to work hard, and that the terms given to him because it was willingness to always be on the grind very important for him fight at home, was what enabled me to dig myself he should have a separate contract out of bad situations and contributed made up that clearly stated that even to my business success. I still have a though he is signing for $50.00, he lot to learn and I’m looking forward to will receive the total $500.00 after improving personally and in business, the fight. A written contract about and taking our readers along for the that private agreement would have ride. given the Athletic Commissioner more teeth and even if the Athletic BTB Commissioner didn’t take action, a written agreement signed by both parties would hold up in civil court. The boxer would be up $450.00 on a $50.00 investment.

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services that I’ve developed around the The event came and the professional boxer from Ontario fought and won. When he went to get paid, the promoter gave him $50.00. The boxer complained to the Ontario Athletic sport of boxing, I’m proud to be able to provide solutions for a variety of needs throughout the career of a fighter, manager or promoter.