March 8th 2024.
On Friday night, two of the biggest names in the heavyweight boxing world, Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou, will finally meet in the ring. The highly-anticipated fight is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, thanks to the efforts of Turki Alalshikh, the head of the country's General Entertainment Authority. His goal is to establish Saudi as the new hub for professional boxing.
This fight will be Ngannou's second time competing in a boxing ring, after making his debut against Tyson Fury last October. Despite being a former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou has proven his skills in the world of boxing, giving Fury a run for his money in a thrilling match. Meanwhile, Joshua will be making his fourth appearance in the ring in less than a year, having defeated Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Otto Wallin in his previous fights.
The allure of the fight goes beyond just the competition between these two skilled athletes. Both Joshua and Ngannou are set to receive a significant sum of money from the fight purse, with Joshua reportedly earning $50 million and Ngannou receiving $20 million. These numbers don't even include potential profits from pay-per-view sales, making this one of the most lucrative fights in boxing history.
Joshua, who is already among the top earners in the sport, will see his net worth increase even further after this fight. With numerous endorsements and partnerships with major brands, he has already amassed considerable wealth both inside and outside of the ring. In fact, he was listed as one of the top 35 richest people under 35 in the UK by The Times last year, with an estimated value of £150 million.
On the other hand, Ngannou's net worth is not as high as his opponent's, mostly due to the pay disparity between MMA and boxing. However, signing a contract with the Professional Fighters League has made him one of the top earners in MMA, and his decision to also compete in boxing has opened up new opportunities for him to increase his earnings. His fight against Fury last year reportedly earned him £8 million, and he is set to double that amount in this upcoming fight.
Looking back at both fighters' most lucrative fights, Joshua's rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr in December 2019 tops the list with a whopping £50 million in earnings. Ngannou, on the other hand, made £8 million from his fight against Fury last year, and is set to earn even more in his fight against Joshua.
It's clear that this fight is not only a battle for the heavyweight title, but also a chance for both fighters to secure their financial future. As the sport continues to grow and attract more attention, we can only expect to see even bigger paychecks for these talented athletes in the future.
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