Boxing is a sport that is shrouded in mystery. The rules are vague, the training methods are unorthodox, and competition can be dramatically far-fetched. If you are not sure if it is for you, then you should check out the list of the highest-paid boxers of all time.
Rising to the top of the boxing ranks is difficult; you must conquer your opponents, prove your worth and make your name known with a lot of work and sacrifice. In this article, we look at the highest-paid boxers in the world, based on earnings from fights and publicity from the last few years.
Alexander Povetkin
Boxing is a sport rich in history, and retired boxer Alexander Povetkin was one of the most popular fighters in the sport. He had a career record of 40 fights, and 36 wins, 25 of which were by complete KO. Povetkin, throughout his career, held the WBC, IBF, and WBO World titles. With his fame and popularity, he was one of the highest-paid boxers of the time, with a yearly salary of $10 million (including that earned from sponsors and other endorsement deals). Since retirement Povetkin takes home on average $100,000 a year from his own charitable organization named The Renaissance Foundation which encourages youth healthy lifestyles.
He was in the sport for more than 20 years and had won more than 35 fights. At the same time, his annual income was said to be about $4 million (not including other activities outside boxing) during his illustrious career. This is the result of his hard training and great skill.
There’s no denying that professional boxing is one of the most brutal, dangerous, and taxing sports to participate in. Ever wondered how boxers manage to deal with physical punishment? Well, it’s quite simple. A professional boxer’s life revolves around taking punishment. They train like crazy, eat like gluttons, and take on the hardest opponents possible. But their lives are nothing without money. They play the game to the best of their abilities and make the most of it. All in the name of sports entertainment.
Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua is one of the highest-profile boxers in the world and has made his position in the sport by winning gold at the London Olympics in 2012. This was soon followed up by his two heavyweight world titles between 2016 and 2021. During his career, Joshua, to date has had a total of 27 fights, winning 24, 22 of which were by KO.
Anthony Joshua is reportedly one of the highest-paid fighters in the history of the sport. His record-breaking deal with promoter Eddie Hearn has reportedly earnt him $80 million, also making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Joshua is also widely recognized as one of the most marketable athletes in the world and has lucrative endorsement deals with numerous brands, including Under Armour, Beats By Dre, and Lucozade. In 2017, he was ranked as the world’s most marketable athlete, ahead of basketball player Stephen Curry, who was ranked most marketable the previous year. All of this has contributed to his huge success, both in the ring and financially.
Tyson Fury
It’s not surprising that the highest-paid athlete in any sport is one that can bring in millions in revenue in a single night. The money that Tyson Fury brings in proves that he’s one of the highest-paid boxers in the world. Tyson Fury has a record of 33-0-1 from 34 fights, with 24 knockouts, a record only a handful of fighters have matched. He has a net worth of $65 million, and that includes a $28 million minimum guarantee (which reportedly rose to $31.6 million) earned from his February 2020 rematch against Deontay Wilder and earnings from his April 2022 victory over Dillon Whyte
He is one of the most prominent names in the UK sporting world and is even a household name in the United States. Fury has a lot in common with fellow UK boxer Anthony Joshua in terms of boxing success, but it remains to be seen whether the pair will square off in the ring. However this has been rumored numerous times over the years, but as of January 2023, there has been no agreement in place from either party. This would undoubtedly be the biggest boxing fight in British boxing history and would smash all records for revenue and ticket sales.