Berto is most often cited example of Haymon’s reach. In January 2010, he was supposed to fight Shane Mosley but withdrew, citing the earthquake in his native Haiti. Mosley ended up fighting Mayweather, while Berto received a $1.5 million fee to fight Carlos Quintana in a mostly empty arena in Florida. Berto knocked him out.

This series of events profited Berto, Mosley, Mayweather and Haymon, none of whom complained, all of whom could say that Haymon did his job and then some. But fans and some of the sport’s officials say boxing suffers from such lopsided matchups — the most common complaint against Haymon.

“Al Haymon is an enterprising young man,” King said. “He goes in with the cheaper price, without the responsibility. He’s not a bad guy. He seized an opportunity. He grasped the time. He chose fighters where he can pay less, not get more. But don’t blame Al Haymon for bad fights. Blame the enablers around him.”

Silence Is Golden

Late last month, Haymon traveled to Cincinnati, where Broner decimated an overmatched opponent in three rounds to capture the W.B.O.’s vacant junior-lightweight belt. On the same card, Russell needed but one round to score a knockout. Two fights, four rounds.

Haymon was front and center on the HBO telecast. To some, this appeared strategic.

On one side of him sat Berto, whose rematch against Victor Ortiz will take place on Showtime, not HBO, early next year. On the other side of Haymon sat Mayweather, his diamond watch sparkling under the lights. This scene — two easy victories over marginal opponents for his fighters; Haymon flanked by two prominent boxers he could shop to Showtime or to HBO —demonstrated his influence.

On that night, as on most nights, Haymon said nothing and somehow also said everything he needed to.