BOXING pros might take a few knocks in the ring but there’s one area in their life which never takes a blow – their finances.
With some commanding a $76million pay packet for just one bout, boxing can be a lucrative profession.
And that’s not factoring in the countless sponsorship and endorsement deals each fighter can snag outside the ring.
From seven-figure streaming deals to strip clubs and documentaries, we reveal the deals behind top earners’ estimated net worths.
Deontay Wilder, $30m
As one of the top heavyweights in the world, Wilder’s purses are in the millions.
He was paid $28million for his Tyson Fury rematch, and $20million for his Luiz Ortiz rematch in 2020.
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But the boxer is no stranger to an endorsement deal – it is thought he had made $500,000 from brand work.
He’s put his name to Everlast Boxing, fast food restaurant Raising Cane’s and PureKana CBD.
Gennady Golovkin, $35m
The Kazakh star may not be a big personality but he’s certainly unleashed his earning potential.
Last year, Golovkin was thought to pocket $20million from his bout with Mexican fighter Canelo Alvarez.
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And he could rival Alvarez’s earning potential too – he signed a three-year six-fight agreement for $100million with streaming site DAZN.
He has also had sponsorship deals with Nike, Hublot watches and Tecate beer during his career.
Amir Khan, $40m
The catchweight was handed a two-year ban for unintentionally doping but is in no danger of going broke.
Khan reckons he’s made over $80million over the course of his boxing career.
But in his reality show Meet the Khans, his wife Faryal Makhdoom took control of his finances after Khan admitted he had “no idea” where $6.25million of his own cash had gone.
He and his wife have been building a luxury wedding venue in his hometown Bolton.
Oleksandr Usyk, $56m
Before his two fights with Anthony Joshua in the last two years, the Ukrainian had only received two purses over £1million.
Without the two Joshua fights, Usyk’s career earnings would be around an estimated £6million but the profile boost has landed him in good stead.
The low key fighter’s endorsement deals are thought to be worth around $1.2million with clothing maker Jaxet, BoxRaw and WePlay Esports.
Wladimir Klitschko, $90m
For Klitschko’s last two fights he earned a staggering $36million in total, sweetening his defeats against Fury and Joshua.
Although he retired in 2017, he earned an estimated pre-tax $200million during the entirety of his boxing career.
Hunky Klitschko – who once dated actress Hayden Panettiere – also earned a fair whack from sponsorship deals with Hugo Boss, gym McFit and Mercedes Benz.
Last year, he joined the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Brigade in the war against Russia but has been plotting a return to the ring to fight Fury.
Canelo Alvarez, $180m
The Mexican super middleweight signed a $365million fight contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotion company and DAZN.
The deal has set Canelo on a path to become one of the richest sportsmen.
Between June 2018 and June 2019, Canelo earned $95million from his fights and deals, according to Marca.
He’s sponsored by Mexican beer company Tecate, cognac Hennessy and Cleto Reyes boxing gloves.
Tyson Fury, $162m
The Gypsy King signed a $99million contract for five fights from ESPN in 2021.
Fury picked up $27.5million for his third fight with Deontay Wilder, $31million against Dillian Whyte and $26million in his most recent clash with Derek Chisora.
And the Morecambe-based boxer’s cheeky personality leaves him in demand for personal appearances too.
He was paid $15million for a single appearance at WWE’s Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia where he wrestled Braun Strowman.
His Netflix 10-part docuseries and his four autobiographies will no doubt have paid a pretty penny too.
Anthony Joshua, $211m
The Watford-born powerhouse reportedly earned a staggering $76million for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last year.
Recently he left Sky Sports to sign an exclusive contract with DAZN that will see him rake in another $125million in exchange for two fights every 12 months until he retires.
But outside the ring Joshua is expected to have raked in at least $122million through coveted sponsorship deals.
Sports clothing Under Armour, Hugo Boss, Land Rover and Jaguar are all worth millions to Joshua and saw him earn a total of $11million in 2021.
Manny Pacquiao, $220m
During his career, Pac-man has earned at least $500million from fights and endorsements including a $35million from a fight against Miguel Cotto.
In 2015, Forbes named the Filipino the second richest athlete in the world.
He retired from his fighting career in 2021 and has since had cameos in mainly Filipino movies.
He also served as a senator in the Philippine government from 2016 to 2022 and was a presidential candidate in the 2022 elections.
But he’s put his good fortune to use too – in 2015 he built 1,000 homes for the poor in the Philippines.
Floyd Mayweather Jr, $450m
The exhibition fighter has made his millions through his pay-per-view bouts – with him featuring in four of the most watched fights.
He’s also invested in some savvy business ideas in his downtime.
He runs his own promotions company who represent 12 boxers and will take a cut from their earnings.
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Watch company Hublot, Burger King and gambling company Fanduel all reportedly have paid Mayweather to be the face of their brands.
He also owns Vegas strip club Girl Collection which has takings of up to $250,000 on fight nights.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
