Chapter 408: Becoming Indian (1/2)
Chapter 408: Becoming Indian
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The next day, Taylor did not go to the training center. He went to visit the legendary boxing coach, Ayres, nicknamed ”White Devil.”
Ayres was regarded as the godfather in the boxing world. In the few decades of his coaching career, he produced dozens of world-class boxing champions and dozens of world-class boxing coaches. Ayres' disciples were everywhere, and they were well represented in all four of the boxing leagues.
Ayres had chosen to retire five years ago. However, even before his retirement, he decided not to work as a permanent head coach of a single professional boxer. He became a freelance boxing consultant. He was paid by professional boxers to give short-term coaching. Although this type of work wasn't as secure, he had professional boxers lining up to hire him, hoping that Ayres would be able to give them some pointers.
In terms of coaching, Ayres was undoubtedly the best, and in terms of experience, no one could claim to be more experienced than him. If Taylor could get Ayres to coach him, he would be like a tiger with wings.
The next day, Taylor went to the training center early in the morning.
”So, how was it? How was your talk with Ayres?” Dai Li said while observing Taylor's expression. Taylor did not look optimistic.
”I only had preliminary talks with him. We haven't talked in detail about the pay yet, but he won't come cheap. I predict that if I want to please him, I would need to give him at least five million per year,” Taylor said.
”A salary of five million per year is really high.” Dai Li silently nodded.
Different sports coaches had different incomes. For example, for world-class tennis coaches, those that had the ability to coach Grand Slam players generally had an annual salary of about 500,000 dollars. That was already considered to be a high salary for coaches.
The head coaches of NBA teams generally had an annual salary of three or four million dollars. Only occasionally would someone get a five million dollar salary. Even for first-class coaches who had won NBA championships before, their annual salary could only reach six or seven million dollars. Head coaches with an annual salary of more than ten million were extremely rare in the NBA. Moreover, they were often also part of the management team. As the saying goes, the laborer is worthy of his wages, so the fact that they earned more was reasonable.
The number one sport in the United States was American football. The salary of football coaches was higher than in any other sport. In the NFL, the average annual salary of a head coach could reach more than six million dollars per year.
The disparity in salary for boxing coaches was more substantial than in any other sport. Low-level boxing coaches might not make as much as an average sparring partner, while top-level boxing coaches usually had a two to three million dollar annual income. The only boxing coach who had the guts to ask for five million a year was the legendary coach Ayres.
”To tell you the truth, I think an annual salary of five million is worth it if it means I can get Ayres. I trust his coaching ability. But when we talked, he also revealed some other information,” Taylor said, a little depressed.
”What information?” Dai Li asked immediately.
”According to Ayres, I'm not the only one looking to hire him. Other boxers are negotiating with him as well,” Taylor replied.
”This is not unexpected. Ayres' name still carries weight. Everyone would hope to hire this legendary coach,” Dai Li replied.
”When I say other boxers, that includes Hopkins,” Taylor replied.
”Hopkins? Doesn't he already have a coach? Could it be that he wants to fire his current coach and hire Ayres instead?” Dai Li said as he shook his head, but then, he immediately saw through Hopkin's plan.
”I understand what he is doing. Hopkins probably doesn't want you to hire Ayres. He doesn't want you to become stronger. As for Ayres, he deliberately revealed this information because he wants you to raise the price. He wants to make more money. I'm guessing he probably also told Hopkins that you wanted to hire him. He is waiting for both of you to start a bidding war,” Dai Li said.
”Then I have to move faster.” Taylor looked up and asked, ”Coach Li, I need your help; you have to accompany me to meet Ayres. He may have some other conditions regarding the training environment.”
...
”Taylor really went to meet with Ayres. Ayres deliberately revealed this information to us because he must have wanted a higher price. Now it looks like we can't hire him for just five million dollars per year,” the agent said.
”Then increase the price!” Hopkins said without any hesitation. ”If I'm not wrong, Ayres will tell Taylor about our meeting with him. He hopes that the both of us will start a bidding war, and Taylor will most likely offer a higher salary.” Hopkins did some calculations in his mind and said, ”Offer him eight million per year!”
”Eight million? That high? No boxing coach has ever got an annual salary of eight million! Is this necessary?” the agent said in a shocked tone.
”Of course it is necessary. I want to get this done and dusted as soon as possible. I can not let Taylor get Ayres. At eight million, Ayres should have a hard time refusing! And we can also pay him a year's salary in advance. This is what Taylor can't do.” Hopkins paused and said, ”Taylor fell into debt before. He owed the bank tens of millions. He has only recently paid it off, so Taylor won't be able to give him a year's salary in advance. Doesn't Ayres need money now? Eight million should help him solve his problems! I don't think he will refuse.”
”Ok then, I will go talk to him.” The agent spread his hands and said, ”Sometimes it feels like you are more of an agent than me.”