Why do boxers make so little money compared to other sports?

[Mikkel111]

As a relatively new boxing fan. One thing I always have wondered is why do boxers earn so little money compared to other athletes?

Compare the average salary in American sport leagues like NBA, NFL and NHL. There are hundreds of players in those leagues. The average NBA player makes about 7 million dollars a year. There are around 400 players in the NBA. NFL and NHL players also make millions on average.

Yet there are many top boxers who dont even make a million. I am not saying that you are underpaid if you dont make 2 million dollars. But why dont boxers that are ranked top 30 in their division make millions?

[famicommander]

1. The big four sports are way more popular

2. Boxers fight between 1-4 times per year at the very most at the top level. Not including preseason or playoffs, the NFL plays 16 games. MLB plays 162, NBA and NHL play 82. NHL/NBA arenas hold between 15,000-23,000 people x 41 home games per team. MLB stadiums hold 25,000-60,000 people x 81 home games. NFL stadiums hold 50,000-90,000 people x 8 home games.

3. The big four sports leagues are universally recognized as the top level of their respective sports in the entire world and they bargain for television contracts as a collective. The top boxers are dispersed between several different countries and promoters and each promoter is bargaining for TV rights on an individual basis.

[N!Ck F.]

Hard way to make a living. Just not as popular as other sports.
Plus the deductions/expenses from a fighters purse is literally disgusting...they get a cheque and they have to pay taxes, manager, promoter, trainer, cut man, sparring partners, entourage and other training expenses... insane.

[Get em up]

1. The big four sports are way more popular

2. Boxers fight between 1-4 times per year at the very most at the top level. Not including preseason or playoffs, the NFL plays 16 games. MLB plays 162, NBA and NHL play 82. NHL/NBA arenas hold between 15,000-23,000 people x 41 home games per team. MLB stadiums hold 25,000-60,000 people x 81 home games. NFL stadiums hold 50,000-90,000 people x 8 home games.

3. The big four sports leagues are universally recognized as the top level of their respective sports in the entire world and they bargain for television contracts as a collective. The top boxers are dispersed between several different countries and promoters and each promoter is bargaining for TV rights on an individual basis.

You did your homework brother Lol damn good explanation

[Eff Pandas]

It depends on how you look at it.

For example you bring up NBA players making an average of $7M a year. A season lasts 82 games. A game lasts 2.5 hrs give or take. That's 205hrs of "work" a year or about $34k an hour.

PLENTY of boxers are making $100k or more per fight. A fight can last seconds to about an hour. So lotsa boxers are making $100k an hour, or more.

[youbeight]

1. The big four sports are way more popular

2. Boxers fight between 1-4 times per year at the very most at the top level. Not including preseason or playoffs, the NFL plays 16 games. MLB plays 162, NBA and NHL play 82. NHL/NBA arenas hold between 15,000-23,000 people x 41 home games per team. MLB stadiums hold 25,000-60,000 people x 81 home games. NFL stadiums hold 50,000-90,000 people x 8 home games.

3. The big four sports leagues are universally recognized as the top level of their respective sports in the entire world and they bargain for television contracts as a collective. The top boxers are dispersed between several different countries and promoters and each promoter is bargaining for TV rights on an individual basis.

end thread/

[millcitymauler]

As a relatively new boxing fan. One thing I always have wondered is why do boxers earn so little money compared to other athletes?

Compare the average salary in American sport leagues like NBA, NFL and NHL. There are hundreds of players in those leagues. The average NBA player makes about 7 million dollars a year. There are around 400 players in the NBA. NFL and NHL players also make millions on average.

Yet there are many top boxers who dont even make a million. I am not saying that you are underpaid if you dont make 2 million dollars. But why dont boxers that are ranked top 30 in their division make millions?

Not all pro sports players make millions. I work for an NFL team and our STARTING fullback makes 400k per year. He’s been on the team for 5 seasons, and plays special teams as well. Very similar to many of the guys who aren’t at the skilled positions.

[NearHypnos]

As a relatively new boxing fan. One thing I always have wondered is why do boxers earn so little money compared to other athletes?

Compare the average salary in American sport leagues like NBA, NFL and NHL. There are hundreds of players in those leagues. The average NBA player makes about 7 million dollars a year. There are around 400 players in the NBA. NFL and NHL players also make millions on average.

Yet there are many top boxers who dont even make a million. I am not saying that you are underpaid if you dont make 2 million dollars. But why dont boxers that are ranked top 30 in their division make millions?

As soon as you said “salary” you answered it all.

Iirc, in the NFL for example, the lowest is like 400k a year? But think about it. It’s pretty much a year round thing even if the season is only like 4-5 months. You technically belong to the organization. You’re still a 49er in the off season and you still play on behalf of someone and represent someone.

You play 16 ish games, there is an entire stadium, home game money (gates), parking, merchandise, etc etc that has a constant flow of revenue.

Every boxing event is an independent thing. It’s almost quite literally being paid your perceived individual worth. Of course, contracts and guarantees do exist in boxing but just speaking generally. You can pay Canelo 90 million a year because he will be generating that much for you (at least in theory). Or in the PPV sense, you get your “guarantee”, and what essentially amounts to commission.

If one person buys your ppv at 100 bucks, then there’s 100 bucks to go around in whatever manner is set up. If 1,000,000 people buy your ppv at 100 bucks...then you see how that escalates. Depending on your individual contract, you could be looking at flat numbers regardless of ppv buys, or looking at a flat number AND a percentage of the ppv numbers, etc etc.

If you’re only drawing in a crowd of a few hundred, with tickets not that outrageous or in demand, potentially not even picked up by a big television network or if so, in a bad slot, etc..then there’s just no money to give. If that small show generated 20-30k, then that money has to be distributed accordingly.

The thing you have to realize is the NBA or the NFL are pro sports, but they arent the ONLY pros in that sport. Theyre the best of the best. You’ve got arena football, lesser basketball leagues, minor leagues in baseball, etc, where the players are paid WAY less.

There’s no distinguishing a pro boxer in terms of leagues. But you’d really be looking at like the top 5-10 or the world champs as the cream of the crop...or the equivalent of football’s (american) NFL players. Canelo is the Ronaldo/LBJ of boxing and is compensated accordingly. Etc etc.

[sicko]

This is INSANE considering that NFL is only popular in America!

Point is, Those other sports generate Billions on top of the Billions from Exclusive Network TV Deals. So the Millions they're giving these players is nothing compared to what the League is Generating as a whole

With Boxing, only certain fighters will see Millions but most won't that is just the harsh reality. Also fighters made way more back then compared to now but the sport as a whole was more popular then compared to now

[Mikkel111]

Thank you guys for a lot of good answers. Since it may be unfair to compare team sports to Boxing, how do you explain golf and tennis? Lets put it this way you can be ranked 200th best golf or tennis Player but still make good money while as a boxer you most likely will earn pennies.

I really liked the comparison between how Canelo is Boxing Messi/Ronaldo.