Today we aren’t going to look at the top of the food chain for fighters pay. We look through the life of an average professional in different organisations. Are promoters modern day slave drivers? How Much Do Boxers And MMA Fighters Get Paid? Do they get the fair share they deserve? Do they Dana?
Starting at the bottom
Even starting here it can very much be how long is a piece of string? Especially in boxing, with boxing being in the Olympics stars can be born even before they have a professional fight. Take Anthony Joshua as a recent example; he managed to sign an lucrative exclusive deal with Matchroom before he had a professional bout. This isn’t the natural route for many fighters. For fighters without an extensive amatuer background you stand little to no chance to succeed. Fighters pay is non existent in the amatuers, you’ll be lucky to get food and training expenses paid.
Most fighters need a fulltime job along side the fighting they do just to keep their head above water. Let’s say you’ve somehow managed to get some experience under your belt and you manage to bag your first fight, how much will you make?
The first paycheck
Again fighters pay can vary wildly based on the way they made it to their first professional fight but let’s go with way most do it. Most will make around £500-£1000 ($1,000~) Doesn’t sound too bad right? Well after training costs (food, gym, sparring) A fighters first paycheck might come to a measly £500 ($650~)
This is where the dream ends for most. Undefeated records are held in such high regard especially in the early days. Incur a loss early on and expect to become a journeyman and never move from that pay bracket. Let’s put it in a real life situation, your working a 50 hour week job, your training morning and night, you spend no time with your family or friends, it isn’t easy. Taking the lumps in training is the easiest part of it for most. There is a reason why boxing is called the loneliest sport in the world, that goes for all fighting.
A journeyman
In boxing at least journeymen serve a real purpose, many people have the impression that a fighter with a ton of losses is terrible, this just isn’t the case. If you aren’t a draw (can’t sell tickets) not exciting to watch then you can expect to fall into this category. These fighters pay is made up from helping prospects to the next step. You’re a paid sparring partner, paid to loose that is. A good promoter/trainer will match a fighter against journeymen with certain skill sets that will help their fighter become more rounded.
It’s rare a seasoned journeyman will be stopped in the ring. This will mean a halt to the fighters pay as they have to take at least 1 month out of the ring. For these fighters that’s a massive blow, they fight more often at lower pay, that’s how they make a living. Don’t be under any illusion though, many of these fights they could win. However, derail a prospect and it’s career suicide. Journeymen often have to work a separate job just to get by, only earning around £300 ($400~) per fight.
Prospects to world champions
Fighters that manage to get through their first 5-10 fights in impressive fashion can *probably* stop worrying about money from now on. (as long as they keep winning) By now they may be noticed by a bigger promotional company like Matchroom or UFC. Fighters pay increases significantly with these and they can expect at least 4 digit paycheck every time they step in the ring.
How much do fighters earn? – I spoke to ex professional boxer and Anthony Joshua opponent Paul Butlin. This video covers all aspects of this post along with an run down from Paul.
The sky is the limit
As a fighter becomes a household name they become a brand. Many fighters have learnt the importance of brand building such as Floyd Mayweather, Conor Mcgregor & Tyson Fury. Bigger the name, bigger the draw. Jake Paul who isn’t by many peoples standards a professional boxer got paid over $4,000,000 for his most recent fight. Mayweather has made over a billion dollars from boxing.
“Love me or hate me…you’re gonna watch me.”
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He was a marketing expert and it paid off. How much do fighters earn? This is Floyds biggest earnings in the ring.
- Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao – $940,000,000
- Mayweather vs. Conor Mcgregor – $918,000,000
- Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez – $300,000,000
- Mayweather vs. Oscar De La Hoya – $259,000,000
UFC controversy
Many fans and fighters alike feel the UFC doesn’t pay their athletes fairly. Due to the rags to riches nature of the sport this isn’t all driven by them. Many fighters would be happy to undercut others at the chance of being on a UFC card or put them in a position for a title shot. Generally fighters pay in the UFC is significantly lower than in boxing. Brendan Schaub went on record to say he earnt $30,000 for his fight against Mirko Cro Cop. Despite 30k being a lot to the average person after taxes, medical and training bills he said he made a loss on that fight. This simply just wouldn’t happen in boxing.
Many fighters are unable to live comfortably whilst putting their lives on the line for views entertainment. UFC are clearly withholding money from fighters, things need to change they deserve better.
The Average salary for an UFC fighter in 2021 is approximately $150,000 which sounds a lot to the average person but factoring training and medical expenses along with taxes it’s definitely not enough.
Boxers staring out can expect to get paid around £750 ($1,000) undefeated prospects can expect to be making four figures & world champions often get millions per fight.
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