Boxing's Top 10 Pound-For-Pound Moneymakers

[Ruthless-RKO]

Since we released the last Forbes Boxing Pound-For-Pound Moneymakers list in November, Andre Ward controversially beat Sergey Kovalev, Anthony Joshua signed to fight Wladimir Klitschko, and Terence Crawford picked up another impressive victory.

1. Canelo Alvarez (previously No. 1): Though he convincingly won both of his bouts in 2016, knocking out Amir Khan and Liam Smith, Alvarez’s reputation and his PPV sales took a hit. But he’s still the biggest star in the sport, and if he fights Gennady Golovkin in September, it’d be worth tens of millions of dollars to the sport (and to his pocketbook).

2. Andre Ward (previously No. 3): Many observers think he got a gift decision when he was awarded a close victory vs. Sergey Kovalev – Forbes had it 114-113 for Kovalev – but Ward still made $5 million for the event and, assuming he faces Kovalev in a rematch, he’ll be in line for plenty of more money. But the PPV event only managed 160,000 buys, a big disappointment considering the quality of the matchup.

3. Gennady Golovkin (previously No. 2): Alvarez and his promoter, Golden Boy, have promised fans that they’ll grant Golovkin a fight this September, and it’s the biggest bout that can be made in the sport. It will make Golovkin a very rich man. Before then, he’ll have to get past Danny Jacobs, likely the toughest opponent of his career. Aside from beating Jacobs, one of Golovkin’s big goals has to be improving on sales from the only other time he’s headlined a PPV card: about 150,000 buyers for when he fought David Lemieux in October 2015.

4. Sergey Kovalev (previously No. 4): He doesn’t drop on this list despite his loss to Ward, because he was in such a competitive fight, because he made a guarantee of $2 million, and because the rematch could be even richer.

5. Manny Pacquiao (previously unranked): Boxing is always a better business when Pacquiao is involved, and he returned in November, beating Jessie Vargas and making a guarantee of $4 million. He reportedly demanded $20 million to fight Terence Crawford, but instead, he’ll probably fight the unknown Jeff Horn later this year, most likely on a non-PPV card.

6. Wladimir Klitschko-Anthony Joshua (previously No. 5 and unranked, respectively): Yeah, it’s cheating a little to put them both in the same spot, but with their April matchup determining the heavyweight champ, it feels right they should be tied together. A win by Joshua would set him on the path to global superstardom, but a victory by Klitschko would give the heavyweight division a 41-year-old champion whose best days are way behind him. That’s why a Klitschko victory probably wouldn’t be ideal for the health of the sport.

7. Keith Thurman (previously No. 6): He beat Shawn Porter last year on primetime CBS and got solid ratings (an average of 3.1 million with a peak of 3.94 million) while making a $1.4 million payday. In March, he’ll face Danny Garcia in what should be an intriguing matchup, and if it’s put back on network TV, the ratings should be strong once again.

8. Deontay Wilder (previously No. 7): After losing out on a $4.5 million payday when Alexander Povetkin failed a drug test before their scheduled bout last May, Wilder managed a $1.4 million purse in dominating Chris Arreola. But he suffered injuries that have kept him out since July. Now, he’s scheduled to fight Andrzej Wawrzyk in February in what should be another walkover opponent. Though it wasn’t fault the Povetkin fight was canceled, some boxing observers are grumbling and wondering when Wilder will fight the best the heavyweight division has to offer.

9. Terrence Crawford (previously No. 9): He dominated John Molina in December and won three fights in 2016, but he really could use a high-level opponent like Manny Pacquiao to make himself a star. The problem: Pacquiao apparently wants a $20 million guarantee to fight Crawford, and there’s just no way boxing economics can make that possible at this point.

10. Vasyl Lomachenko (previously unranked): In just his eighth pro fight, Lomachenko made a $1 million payday to fight tough-minded Nicholas Walters and then make him quit before the start of the eighth round. If Lomachenko keeps his career going like this, he’s going to make bushels of money during the next several years.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joshkatzowi ... 858641617a

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Wlad and Joshua will make 5 times what ward did.

[ElJefe]

The AJ-Klitschko winner will make a hell of a lot more than the 5 million dollars that Ward made.

[Rob3_142]

I'm shocked that Joshua doesn't make that list. All of his last 4 fights have been PPV and done decent numbers, and his new deal with Showtime is only going to go on and make more. That doesn't even include his merchandising and sponsorship. The guys is a money making machine, and it has only just begun!

Edit - didn't see you put him next to Klitschko

I still think he should be higher though.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'm shocked that Joshua doesn't make that list. All of his last 4 fights have been PPV and done decent numbers, and his new deal with Showtime is only going to go on and make more. That doesn't even include his merchandising and sponsorship. The guys is a money making machine, and it has only just begun!

Edit - didn't see you put him next to Klitschko

I still think he should be higher though.

He should be #1.

[Jip]

1. canelo
2. pacquiao
3. klitschko
4. joshua
5.-10. ?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

David haye also belongs on the list. Odd names on there.

[crusader]

Strange list

Has the list creator even seen what Wlad and Manny have made? Ward above them? Okay.....

[davie]

Where have these figure came from?

The author of that lists imagination, one can only assume.

[crusader]

I'm shocked that Joshua doesn't make that list. All of his last 4 fights have been PPV and done decent numbers, and his new deal with Showtime is only going to go on and make more. That doesn't even include his merchandising and sponsorship. The guys is a money making machine, and it has only just begun!

Edit - didn't see you put him next to Klitschko

I still think he should be higher though.

He should be #1.

Do you know what AJ has been paid for his recent bouts?

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'm shocked that Joshua doesn't make that list. All of his last 4 fights have been PPV and done decent numbers, and his new deal with Showtime is only going to go on and make more. That doesn't even include his merchandising and sponsorship. The guys is a money making machine, and it has only just begun!

Edit - didn't see you put him next to Klitschko

I still think he should be higher though.

He should be #1.

Do you know what AJ has been paid for his recent bouts?

No, but I'll bet it was more than Crawford or lomachenko! I always think of generating as much as earning.

[mullenman]

Three ppv for aj where he owns the show in 2016.



What a b.s. list

[Jip]

Strange list

Has the list creator even seen what Wlad and Manny have made? Ward above them? Okay.....

yeah the list make no sense. the names he has in his top 10 are right, but the order is totaly untrue.

wlad for example is his on promoter, he fills stadiums in germany with 40.000 people in it, basicly every euro goes to his pocket, forbes said wlad make 20 million dollar, or around 17 million euro every single year.

[Lackeos]

Pretty sure the fighters with greatest drawing power are Alvarez, Pacquiao, Klitschko, Cotto, Haye, and Khan.

[Rob3_142]

Anyone care to recommend a new list?

[caldo2025]

No one is even close to Canelo right now. It's interesting how quickly Canelo commanded the top spot after Floyd retired. I'm not sure if GBP deserves the credit or is it just a testament to Canelo's style and appeal but the delta between Canelo's star power and the next person, whomever you place as second from the top, is vast.

This is why I have a tough time calling Canelo a puss for not fighting GGG. The longer he puts off this fight with GGG, the more time he spends atop the sport of boxing as it's top star. As soon as Canelo takes a loss and his money making ability is cut in half. As a fan, i think Canelo is a coward. As a businessman, I think it's the smart move. So i'm torn.

[caldo2025]

No one is even close to Canelo right now. It's interesting how quickly Canelo commanded the top spot after Floyd retired. I'm not sure if GBP deserves the credit or is it just a testament to Canelo's style and appeal but the delta between Canelo's star power and the next person, whomever you place as second from the top, is vast.

This is why I have a tough time calling Canelo a puss for not fighting GGG. The longer he puts off this fight with GGG, the more time he spends atop the sport of boxing as it's top star. As soon as Canelo takes a loss and his money making ability is cut in half. As a fan, i think Canelo is a coward. As a businessman, I think it's the smart move. So i'm torn.

How much would does canelo get a fight?.

Canelo's been getting around $3.5m guaranteed money for his last few fights and he gets a large portion of the total money generated (PPV/Gate). Golden Boy keeps earnings quiet but I see some estimate that Canelo has made over $7-8 million for his last two fights against Smith and Khan. Getting paid that well without fighting a risky opponent is kind of nice right? This is why Canelo and GB are avoiding GGG...if they can avoid GGG for two years, that's 5-6 fights and anywhere from $30-$50m they could make before fighting GGG.

Canelo would probably make around $10m to fight GGG. Would you rather make $50m and be on top of sport for 2 years or would you like to make $10m, get a hellacious beating from GGG and possibly never be a top draw again? To me, it wouldn't be a question so that's why i hate myself for calling Canelo a coward, as i've done, because i'd do the same thing.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No one is even close to Canelo right now. It's interesting how quickly Canelo commanded the top spot after Floyd retired. I'm not sure if GBP deserves the credit or is it just a testament to Canelo's style and appeal but the delta between Canelo's star power and the next person, whomever you place as second from the top, is vast.

This is why I have a tough time calling Canelo a puss for not fighting GGG. The longer he puts off this fight with GGG, the more time he spends atop the sport of boxing as it's top star. As soon as Canelo takes a loss and his money making ability is cut in half. As a fan, i think Canelo is a coward. As a businessman, I think it's the smart move. So i'm torn.

How much would does canelo get a fight?.

Canelo's been getting around $3.5m guaranteed money for his last few fights and he gets a large portion of the total money generated (PPV/Gate). Golden Boy keeps earnings quiet but I see some estimate that Canelo has made over $7-8 million for his last two fights against Smith and Khan. Getting paid that well without fighting a risky opponent is kind of nice right? This is why Canelo and GB are avoiding GGG...if they can avoid GGG for two years, that's 5-6 fights and anywhere from $30-$50m they could make before fighting GGG.

Canelo would probably make around $10m to fight GGG. Would you rather make $50m and be on top of sport for 2 years or would you like to make $10m, get a hellacious beating from GGG and possibly never be a top draw again? To me, it wouldn't be a question so that's why i hate myself for calling Canelo a coward, as i've done, because i'd do the same thing.

[gilgamesh]

I don't think you need to include the term Pound for Pound in regards to Moneymakers, but I'd say it's something like this.

1. Canelo
2. Manny Pacquiao
3. Anthony Joshua


I don't know if I could stretch it to 10. These are the only guys in the sport right now that demand major money no matter who they fight. Everyone else. It depends who they're fighting.

[crusader]

I don't think you need to include the term Pound for Pound in regards to Moneymakers, but I'd say it's something like this.

1. Canelo
2. Manny Pacquiao
3. Anthony Joshua


I don't know if I could stretch it to 10. These are the only guys in the sport right now that demand major money no matter who they fight. Everyone else. It depends who they're fighting.

Not Wlad? Have you seen his paydays? And does anyone actually know what AJ gets paid? Presumably a lot, but what reason is there to believe that he makes money on another level to Wlad?

[gilgamesh]

I don't think you need to include the term Pound for Pound in regards to Moneymakers, but I'd say it's something like this.

1. Canelo
2. Manny Pacquiao
3. Anthony Joshua


I don't know if I could stretch it to 10. These are the only guys in the sport right now that demand major money no matter who they fight. Everyone else. It depends who they're fighting.

Not Wlad? Have you seen his paydays? And does anyone actually know what AJ gets paid? Presumably a lot, but what reason is there to believe that he makes money on another level to Wlad?

Yeah, you're right. AJ will certainly be making Wlad type money soon though.