Which players have made it big?

If you look at professional boxing briefly, the numbers may not wow you. Global statistics show that professional boxers make an average of $51,370 each year. These numbers may seem a bit disappointing, considering the numbers boxing matches draw each year. However, some boxers have risen to fame, battled their opponents to the top, secured lucrative sponsorship deals and even embraced entrepreneurship. For these boxers, making $51,370 in a single match is not unheard of as they keep setting their sights on even bigger fish. So, which players have made it big?

Floyd Mayweather

This boxing champion is currently worth well over $560 million, making the $51,370 look relatively small. After competing for well over 20 years and finally calling it a game, Floyd now ranks as the richest boxer in the world. After all, he holds world titles in five weight classes and boasts an undefeated record of 50-0. He now spends his time promoting boxing and encouraging more athletes to invest in the sport.

George Edward Foreman

Foreman, also known as Big George, had an illustrious professional boxing career spanning 1969 to 1997. Between 1977 and 1987, he took a bit of a break, having failed to secure a title opportunity. However, that did not dim his shine, and George now ranks as a two-time world heavyweight champion. Moreover, he has an Olympic medal to his name and is credited for one of the biggest favorite upsets of all time. To date, he boasts a net worth of $300 million and is in both the World Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Oscar De La Hoya

Coming in at third place with an estimated net worth of $200 million is Oscar, who also ranks as one of the best boxers of all time. Oscar, known as The Golden Boy, was active from 1992 to 2008, during which he won 11 world titles in six weight classes. He once ranked as the top pay-per-view earner before Pacquiao and Mayweather took over. In 2009, Oscar announced that he was retiring a record of 39 wins, 30 of which ended in a knockout.

Manny Pacquiao

Manny wears many hats. From a professional boxer to a politician, he has filled many shoes in his lifetime and has an estimated net worth of 190 million dollars. Manny, also referred to as Pacman, has twelve major world titles and was the first boxer to win the lineal championship in five weight classes. Moreover, he had such a massive following that his fights generated millions of dollars in revenue. By 2015, Manny already ranked as one of the best-paid athletes in the world. Having set record after record, he eventually moved on to film, television, and music.

Lennox Lewis

Lennox is not an ordinary professional boxer, and it makes sense that he would have racked up an estimated $140 million in his name. So, his ranking as one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time comes as no surprise. Also known as The Lion, Lennox has 41 wins to his name, 32 of which ended in a knockout. With only 2 losses and 1 draw in his records, this player who retired from boxing in 2004 set exceptionally high standards for future boxers. While he may have suffered a loss to Hasim Rahman in an upset that saw punters lose their heads, his win against Tyson more than made up for it.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Back in the 1980s, Ray was part of the Fabulous Four crew fighting each other for the win. The other boxers were Roberto Durán, Thomas Hearns, and Marvin Hagler. At his prime, Ray, often referred to as Sugar, made at least $100 million in purses, making him the first boxer ever to do so. 2021 estimates put him at a net worth of about $120 million.

While these boxers may be outliers who skew the average professional boxer salaries upwards, they prove that boxing is a high paying career. Moreover, they attest to what partnerships and diversification can do for an athlete.