Dana White made some bold claims but we think he is getting at the average numbers across the sports, here are the numbers and facts.
UFC President Dana White claims boxers don’t make more than UFC fighters but he maybe right in the lowest tier UFC fighters and maybe some of the mid tier UFC fighters may make the same or more than their comparison in boxing.
However since the Reebok deal and what happened after it years ago in UFC, UFC fighters, big and small, don’t make much on sponsorship as boxers do these days either, the top, big name boxers that is.
White’s latest comments say that boxers don’t make more than UFC fighters.
Turki Alalshikh is not a trillionaire but the fund behind him which is made up of many people, and not necessarily just one country either, could well be.
Alalshikh is in this for the long haul and is committed to genuinely changing the sport for the better, as are others in boxing.
These numbers clarify some things pertaining to fighter pay of only the top boxers vs the top UFC fighters (for balance) in 2023:
Top 5 Boxing Stars’ Earnings in 2023
| Rank | Boxer | Fight Earnings | PPV Revenue | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canelo Alvarez | $40 million | $35 million | $75 million |
| 2 | Tyson Fury | $30 million | $25 million | $55 million |
| 3 | Anthony Joshua | $25 million | $20 million | $45 million |
| 4 | Gervonta Davis | $20 million | $10 million | $30 million |
| 5 | Deontay Wilder | $18 million | $8 million | $26 million |
Analysis of Boxing Earnings
- Canelo Alvarez remains the king of boxing in terms of earnings. In 2023, he fought twice, including a highly publicized bout against John Ryder and Jermell Charlo. His combined purse and PPV shares from these fights solidified his top position. Source: Forbes on Canelo Alvarez’s earnings
- Tyson Fury had a highly lucrative year, with his fight against and the anticipation of a crossover bout with UFC’s Francis Ngannou. Fury’s PPV revenue from his heavyweight defense earned him a substantial payday. Source: ESPN’s boxing earnings report
- Anthony Joshua returned to form with a high-profile bout against Jermaine Franklin, earning significant PPV revenue in the UK. His popularity ensures he remains one of the highest-paid fighters globally.
- Gervonta Davis saw a massive spike in earnings after his April fight with Ryan Garcia, which was one of the biggest PPV events of the year. His fight earnings and PPV share made 2023 a record year for “Tank” Davis.
- Deontay Wilder, although less active, still commands high payouts. His fight against Robert Helenius secured a major payday in 2022 and again his earnings in 2023 were good with the fight against Joseph Parker, cementing his place among the top five earners in boxing.
Top 5 UFC Fighters’ Earnings in 2023
| Rank | UFC Fighter | Fight Earnings | PPV Revenue | Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conor McGregor | $10 million | $8 million | $18 million |
| 2 | Israel Adesanya | $5 million | $4 million | $9 million |
| 3 | Jon Jones | $7 million | $2 million | $9 million |
| 4 | Alexander Volkanovski | $4 million | $1 million | $5 million |
| 5 | Islam Makhachev | $4 million | $1 million | $5 million |
Analysis of UFC Earnings
- Conor McGregor tops the UFC earnings in 2023, even though he did not have a fight this year. Most of his reported income is related to his preparation and appearance fees tied to his anticipated return fight and potential coaching on “The Ultimate Fighter.” McGregor’s previous fights still generate PPV revenue for the UFC. Source: ESPN’s McGregor earnings report
- Israel Adesanya fought twice in 2023, first reclaiming the middleweight title against Alex Pereira and then defending it later in the year. His star power ensures strong PPV sales, adding to his fight purse. Adesanya’s 2023 earnings on UFC.com
- Jon Jones returned to the octagon in 2023 with a dominant win over Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title. His fight purse and PPV revenue from that event solidified his place among the UFC’s top earners.
- Alexander Volkanovski fought twice in 2023, including a close fight against Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title and a featherweight title defense. Volkanovski’s consistency and championship status earned him a strong payday.
- Islam Makhachev defended his lightweight title against Volkanovski in one of the most anticipated fights of 2023. His status as a dominant champion and PPV star helped him secure significant earnings this year.
Earnings Comparison: Boxing vs. UFC
| Sport | Average Fight Earnings | Average PPV Revenue | Average Total Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxing | $26.6 million | $19.6 million | $46.2 million |
| UFC | $6 million | $3.2 million | $9.2 million |
Key Takeaways:
- Boxers Earn More Per Fight: The disparity in fight purses between boxing and UFC remains stark. Boxers, especially at the elite level, command significantly higher payouts from individual events due to the sport’s structure, which allows for larger splits of PPV revenue and direct negotiation with promoters.
- UFC Fighters Have Lower Base Salaries: UFC fighters, even at the top, tend to earn less overall from individual fights. The UFC’s structure, which controls fighter pay and limits sponsorships, contributes to the lower earnings. However, UFC stars like Conor McGregor and Israel Adesanya still make substantial amounts from their fame and continued PPV draw.
- PPV Revenue in Boxing is Higher: Boxing’s long-standing PPV model generates higher total revenue per event. Fights like Canelo Alvarez vs. Jermell Charlo or Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia draw millions of dollars more in PPV than any UFC event in 2023.
- UFC Relies on Star Power: The UFC remains a huge draw due to consistent events and marketing power. Fighters like McGregor, Jones, and Adesanya help drive PPV sales despite UFC’s lower payout structure. This, in turn, keeps them competitive in earnings, although they generally fall short of their boxing counterparts.
The above is based on objective, reasonable facts, even using and referencing the UFC’s own website.
It does pertain only to the biggest boxing stars in the sport like for like with reported numbers on the biggest stars in UFC earnings (in Octagon listed earnings) for last year.
The truth is boxing is growing amazingly at the moment and not just in America or Saudi Arabia, in places all over the world and including Europe too.
