Do most professional boxers work?

Yeah actually when I was writing it I was thinking even some fighters in the Top 100 probably have day jobs. I guess a lot probably depends on the country as well. There’s obviously more money in UK boxing then Italian boxing for instance, so your decent domestic level British fighter is probably earning more than your average Italian fighter who has a similar ranking. Good point. Must vary by country as well. Bottom line: boxing isn’t a good career choice for all but the most talented. A tennis player ranked #100 in his state, let alone the world, can probably make a decent living giving lessons at some country club to rich people.

My guess would be most lower end fighters are security guards, bouncers, cab drivers, etc. and only fight part time whenever they get a chance. Those that are serious usually have either a good backing (e.g. sponsors, gyms, heritage) or come through the Olympics route.

Even top 100 is too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if a twentieth ranked guy works another job. I don’t know where he was ranked at the time, but I remember Gabe Rosado having just quit his day job at Home Depot. It think it was around the time of his Golovkin encounter. Boxing only feeds a select few. Yeah actually when I was writing it I was thinking even some fighters in the Top 100 probably have day jobs. I guess a lot probably depends on the country as well. There’s obviously more money in UK boxing then Italian boxing for instance, so your decent domestic level British fighter is probably earning more than your average Italian fighter who has a similar ranking.

Yeah there are hundreds or thousands of fighters in each division and only a fraction are making money from just boxing. I mean there are over 2000 professional welterweights right now, I’d be surprised if many outside the top 100 that don’t need to have a regular job and income. Outside of the top 100 you will be making very small amounts per fight and you still have to pay your corner people, maybe have a manager speaking to promoters to get you on a card so they want a cut, you also have to subsidise your training and everything like that. Most real journeyman bill fillers that are being used for fighters making debuts or early career fights are probably doing boxing to make some extra money on top of their normal job. Even top 100 is too much. I wouldn’t be surprised if a twentieth ranked guy works another job. I don’t know where he was ranked at the time, but I remember Gabe Rosado having just quit his day job at Home Depot. It think it was around the time of his Golovkin encounter. Boxing only feeds a select few.

Yes...unless you're like a Top Prospect and Olympia and you get a good signing bonus and Endorsements then yeah

That would depend on how much they made boxing each year. If they made enough to live comfortably then they might not have a non boxing job. If they were not making enough money to live well they probably would have another job besides boxing.

When you become a professional boxer 'You are becoming self employed, and your earnings are based on performance'. Boxing is not a financially stable career, but? There is no limit to what you can achieve etc. Some sports ideally should be a passion primarily, you need to be driven intrinsically 'And not extrinsically by what you can earn etc'.

Yeah there are hundreds or thousands of fighters in each division and only a fraction are making money from just boxing. I mean there are over 2000 professional welterweights right now, I’d be surprised if many outside the top 100 that don’t need to have a regular job and income. Outside of the top 100 you will be making very small amounts per fight and you still have to pay your corner people, maybe have a manager speaking to promoters to get you on a card so they want a cut, you also have to subsidise your training and everything like that. Most real journeyman bill fillers that are being used for fighters making debuts or early career fights are probably doing boxing to make some extra money on top of their normal job.

Do all the journeymen and boxers whose names we don't know have to work other jobs? I really have no idea how much boxing pays at the lower levels so im not sure if they have to do it part time until they take off. Yeah man. Tons of guys are making less than a thousand bucks. Depending how often they fight, that’s part time job money or less when you consider gym fees, etc. You could be on a ppv card (obviously on the lowest part of it) and still make peanuts.

Do all the journeymen and boxers whose names we don't know have to work other jobs? I really have no idea how much boxing pays at the lower levels so im not sure if they have to do it part time until they take off. Yeah the vast majority work at least part time and most work full time. A lot of prospects on undercards and on the small hall scene will also have to work to earn a living unless they are getting funding from sponsorships, promotional companies etc.