Boxing is a sport in which crazy amounts of money is involved and so there is a crazy amount of money to gain participation in it. Sponsors, ticket sales, betting shops and box office networks all go wild when a big fight is coming up because they know of the hundreds of millions that can be raked in! For example: the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight in May 2015 at the MGM grand pulled in over $400 million revenue.
At the centre of it all are the professional boxers, who have to be fast, strong and persistent whilst keeping up a great performance for the audience. Of course they are paid well; not only because of the popularity of the sport but also for the risk that comes with it.
So, just how much are the professional boxers of this year worth? Is the risk of injury really worth the money and fame? Well that’s for you to decide, but I’m sure once you see the net worth of these men, you might agree that it’s a pretty tempting deal.
10. Bernard Hopkins ($40 million)
Bernard Hopkins (The Executioner or B-Hop) is an American professional boxer who at present fights as light heavyweight and previously fought as middleweight. He made his debut into boxing in 1988, Atlantic City, New Jersey but unfortunately for him; he lost his debut light heavyweight fight to Clinton Mitchell after which he resumed his career in the middleweight class. He then won his first fight against Greg Paige in 1990 through a unanimous decision.
Hopkins finally became a middleweight world champion in 1995 by a rematch fight in Landover, Maryland against Segundo Mercado, after this he had a long career in professional boxing, progressing onto the light heavyweight category. In total he has had 66 fights to date of which he has won 55.
9. Marvin Hagler ($45 million)
Also known as “Marvelous Martin Hagler”, Marvin Hagler is a retired American professional boxer. He was an Undisputed World Middleweight Champion for 7 years (1980-1987) which is quite impressive. Hagler received his first title as World Middleweight Champion in 1980 at Wembley arena when he faced off against British boxer, Alan Minter after a long and frustrating career of never having the opportunity to show what he is truly made of.
In 1988 Hagler had retired from fighting in the arena and instead became an actor and boxing commentator in Britain, where he had first won his 7 year undisputed title.
8. Muhammad Ali ($50 million)
The most familiar name in boxing, this American boxer is one of the most recognized sports figures for the past 100 years. Formerly known as Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. he won his world heavyweight championship title in 1964 against Sonny Liston describing his tactic for beating Liston with his famous quote: “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”.
His refusal to take part in the Vietnam war and his activism against it as well as his activism for racial justice makes him an inspiration to us all but for this refusal to go to war he was stripped of his passport and denied a boxing licence in every state and so was inactive in boxing between 1967 and 1970.
However he did resume and have a very rewarding career up until his final fight against Trevor Berbick, but lost a ten round decision.
7. Vitali Klitschko ($65 million)
This former heavyweight Ukrainian boxer was known for his heavy hitting punches and the fact that he is the first professional boxer to hold a PhD gave him the nickname “Dr. Ironfist”. He earned his first heavyweight title in 1999 where he defeated British boxer Herbie Hide by second round knockout.
He later lost this title in 2000 against American boxer Chris Byrd even though Klitschko was favoured among the judges during the fight he had to throw in the towel due to shoulder pain which was later diagnosed as a torn rotator cuff. After a successful boxing career he retired from the sport regretfully as a result of mounting injuries during training and decided to pursue a political career in his home country. He is now the Major of Kiev and Head of Kiev City State Administration.
6. Sugar Ray Leonard ($120 million)
The first boxer to earn over $100 million, this former American welterweight world champion was named boxer of the decade in the 1980’s. His first title win against Wilfred Benitez at Caesars Palace earned him a whopping $1 million
After a relatively short career he retired in 1982 due to a detached retina, even though he claimed his problem had no longer persisted, he no longer wanted to continue boxing but returned to the ring in 1983. After this he had several retirements and comeback only to finally conclude his career in 1998.
5. Lennox Lewis ($130 million)
Lennox Lewis is a British-Canadian former heavyweight champion. Not only was he the WBC heavyweight champion in 1992 after Riddick Bowe refused to face Lewis but he also won an Olympic gold medal in 1988 after defeating Riddick Bowe.
With a total of 44 fights throughout his career, 41 one of those were wins Lweis has earned his place in Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and also the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He ended his career in 2004 after his fight with Klitschko in 2003.
4. Oscar De La Hoya ($200 million)
“The Golden Boy” is a retired Mexican profession boxer who has won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Most of the men in his immediate family (his grandfather, father and brother) were boxers which gives no illusion as to why he chose this career.
This boxer has earned a lot of money in his time and is said to have generated around $700 million income from pay per view fights. He retired in April 2009.
3. Manny Pacquiao ($200 million)
This Fillipino world champion currently has fought 65 times in his career and won 57 of them, he has won ten world titles and the lineal championship in four different weight classes. He is said to be the greatest Fillipino fighter of all time and pound for pound the best boxer in the world, truly a legend of the sport.
He recently fought Floyd Mayweather in the “fight of the century” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in May 2015 and faced a controversial loss as many critics did not agree Mayweather should have won.
2. George Foreman ($250 million)
This American retired two time heavyweight world champion turned entrepreneur is a major success story from the world of boxing. Not only is he a boxer but an ordained minister, an author, an entrepreneur and an Olympic gold medallist! Now that is a list of achievements to be proud of.
He won the Summer Olympic gold medal in 1968 which was held in Mexico City, Mexico and won his world heavyweight title with a second round knockout against Joe Fraizier but then went on to lose to Muhammad Ali in 1974 at the “Rumble in the Jungle” event.
He had retired in 1977 following a loss to Jimmy Young, only to come back an ordained minister and win back his title by knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994 at the age of 45.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr. ($400 million)
Currently the world’s richest professional boxer by far and according to Forbes the highest paid athlete in the world. Mayweather Jr. is a five-division world champion which means he has won titles in five weight classes.
As well as Pacquiao, Mayweather is also rated by various sporting news, magazines and website as the pound for pound best boxer in the world. He has a 100% win rate in his career with all 48 fights being a win.
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