Boxing is one of the world’s biggest sports, thanks to vast amounts of prize money, lucrative endorsement deals and the cash generated from pay-per-view revenue. Indeed, the top boxers rank among the highest-paid athletes in the world.
But who are they?
Below is a list of the top 10 richest boxers to have ever stepped in the ring. But before you read it, why not take a guess who is the highest-paid boxer of all time?
The 10 highest paid boxers of all time
This venerated list of the highest-paid boxers of all time is taken from stats on Moneyinc.com.
It features some of the biggest names in the boxing world and considers the money earned from their fights and endorsement deals.
10. Marvin Hagler
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1973-87
Earnings: $45 million
Marvellous Marvin Hagler dominated the fight game in the 1970s and 1980s. As one of the most complete athletes in any major sports, he ruthlessly dispatched all-comers in his middleweight division – including 12 title defences he secured against the best pound-for-pound fighters in sports history.
9. Muhammad Ali
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1960-81
Earning: $50 million
No one can compare to Muhammad Ali when it comes to boxers. His style, grace, stories, showmanship and complete lack of self-doubt, set him apart from anyone else in boxing and any other sport for that matter.
While he lost five fights in his time in the sport, he was the first man to win the world heavyweight championship three times – and defended his titles 19 times.
He also fought some of the greatest names in the sport, including two fights against Sonny Liston, three bouts against Joe Frazier and the infamous Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman.
8. Vitali Klitschko
Nationality: Ukrainian
Pro Years: 1996-2013
Earning: $65 million
Vitali Klitschko was one of the best fighters of his generation. Of his 45 wins, all but four of them were via knockout. He only lost twice, once each to Lennox Lewis and Anthony Joshua. However, no one can take away his multiple heavyweight championships.
Out of the ring, he embarked on a successful career in politics, enjoying a notable win to become the mayor of Kyiv in 2014.
7. Tyson Fury
Nationality: British
Turned Pro: 2008
Earning: $65 Million
The British boxer Tyson Fury has been the WBC heavyweight champion of the world since 2020. Before that, he was the IBO heavyweight champion.
Known for his domineering presence and aggressive style, Fury is a polarising figure whom boxing fans either love or hate.
During the course of his career, Tyson Fury has never lost a fight, although he did draw one of his 34 pro bouts – against Deontay Wilder. Despite many people wanting to see him take on Anthony Joshua, they have yet to enter the ring.
6. Sugar Ray Leonard
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1977-97
Earning: $120 million
For his time, Sugar Ray Leonard was one of the highest-paid athletes ever. In a career spanning 20 years, few boxers enjoyed as much popularity as the flamboyant American pugilist.
His winning personality and fighting record of 36-3-1 across five different boxing weight divisions contributed significantly to his sizeable net worth.
5. Lennox Lewis
Nationality: British
Pro Years: 1989-2003
Earnings: $140 million
As athletes go, Lennox Lewis was quite a specimen. Standing 6 foot 5 and with an 83 cm reach, he retired with an impressive record of 41-2-1.
Born in London, he was known on the circuit for punching with devastating force. His 2002 fight with Mike Tyson remains among the best bouts the sport has ever seen between heavyweights.
4. Manny Pacquiao
Nationality: Filipino
Pro Years: 1995-2021
Earnings: $190 million
Manny Pacquiao is considered by many to be one of the best boxers in history to have taken part in the sport. Nicknamed ‘PacMan’, the diminutive Filipino southpaw took part in some of the biggest fights in the sport.
He is also the only boxer to have won 12 major world titles across different weight divisions.
3. Oscar De La Hoya
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1992-2008
Earnings: $200 million
Loved by fans worldwide, Oscar De La Hoya was one of the most popular boxers in fighting history. While his record was blighted by six defeats, including one to Manny Pacquiao, his left hook was revered in the ring.
He is now a boxing promoter focusing on putting together some of the biggest fights in the world.
2. George Foreman
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1967-97
Earnings: $300 million
The legend that is George Foreman has a significant net worth thanks to his 30 years as a professional boxer.
In that time he won the world heavyweight championship twice as well as an Olympic gold medal in Mexico in 1968. Since retiring, he has been a knockout in the business world, with his George Foreman Grill achieving global fame.
1. Floyd Mayweather Jr
Nationality: American
Pro Years: 1996 – 2017
Earning: $560 million
Congratulations, if you guessed, Floyd Mayweather Jr is the highest-paid boxer ever. During his glittering 21-year career, he dominated the boxing scene, retiring with an undefeated 49-0 record and an impressive 15 major world championships across the super featherweight to light middleweight divisions.
You’ll notice Floyd Mayweather Jr’s earnings are head and shoulders above every other professional boxer. That’s because he pocketed a cool $240 million for his epic 2015 showdown with Manny Pacquiao, who netted $125 million in one of the biggest fights ever.
As the highest-paid boxer of all time, Floyd Mayweather Jr has made a lot of money from the boxing world. But as the sport continues to attract fans willing to watch ringside or via pay-per-view buys, his days at number one might be numbered.
While no one could touch him in the ring, there are several contenders to be the highest-paid fighter in boxing just waiting in the wings. It’s only a matter of time until someone delivers the first knockout (from the top spot) of his career.
