How many professional boxers make at least $1,000,000 in their career?

[HitmanTommy]

I've always wondered this, because a lot of the big name fighters easily make well over a million in a single fight, but what about the lesser known pro fighters? How do they do for themselves?

[Southpawology]

The majority of pro boxers dont make ***** and most have actual jobs.

[Citizen Koba]

I've always wondered this, because a lot of the big name fighters easily make well over a million in a single fight, but what about the lesser known pro fighters? How do they do for themselves?

Unless you're one of the tiny percentage of fighters who find themselves on the broadcast part of a televised card you'll be lucky to see a cheque for $10k let alone $100k

While these sums are eye-wateringly attractive, they're also out of reach for your average boxer. In 2018, the average pro boxer earns $35,584 per year in a range that runs from $22,000 at the low end to $37,000 at the high end. Pro boxers have to pay their own travel, training and management fees from these earnings, so their take home pay may be far less than the figures suggest.

https://work.chron.com/salaries-pro-boxers-30165.html

I haven't actually run through and checked their sources here, but those figures are roughly in line with other estimates I've seen.

Second and third billing fighters on televised cards usually have their purses revealed at somewhere in the 50 - 200k range as best I recall, depending on how well known they are. Just as one example Kovalev earned nothing over and above his living and training costs (covered by Egis Klimas) until after he signed with Main Events in 2012. That's just shy of 20 fights and 3 years for zero return... makes you wonder just how many promising talents are forced to give it up just to put food on the table.

[HitmanTommy]

Unless you're one of the tiny percentage of fighters who find themselves on the broadcast part of a televised card you'll be lucky to see a cheque for $10k let alone $100k

https://work.chron.com/salaries-pro-boxers-30165.html

I haven't actually run through and checked their sources here, but those figures are roughly in line with other estimates I've seen.

Second and third billing fighters on televised cards usually have their purses revealed at somewhere in the 50 - 200k range as best I recall, depending on how well known they are. Just as one example Kovalev earned nothing over and above his living and training costs (covered by Egis Klimas) until after he signed with Main Events in 2012. That's just shy of 20 fights and 3 years for zero return... makes you wonder just how many promising talents are forced to give it up just to put food on the table.

Wow that's brutal. I had no idea. No wonder all of the boxing champs that we will never know end up in the nfl and nba.


Who in their right mind wants to get repeatedly punched in the head for pennies when you can get paid riding the bench pro basketball