How much do average boxers make?

[therealchamp]

I mean average as in with at least 10 fights and a decent record (say 10-2 with 8 KOs or 20-3 with 14 KOs, etc). Someone that is not a MAB, Morales, Oscar, Hatton, Floyd M, etc. Someone who is good, but not the best. Do these types of fighters make a decent living? I'm asking because I read that Micky Rourke made a million dollars in his first year or two in boxing. Was this because he was already famous as a actor before he boxed professionally? I'm running out of options to make millions and am considering becoming a pro boxer after seeing how my amateur career works.

 

[Pacman322**]

You do not start out making big cash at all until you get big. It's all about recognition, and it takes alot of skill and time to make it big time. Even decent boxers (journeyman) probably only get paid 5 figures per fight.

It's pretty much the same with any combat sport though.

If Micky Rourke did make that much from boxing, then yes i'm sure his acting career had alot to do with that. Theres no way he would of made that much money had he not been famous.

I mean the guy fought mostly fighters who were unexperienced or fighters with losing records. Not only that, but he never looked impressive doing it either.

Not saying your lying, but is there a source that says he made that much? Not that it's not possible, i mean they probably hyped his fights up as "the actor turned boxer" just to get people to watch.

 

[BR]

Chris Arreola made 250k in his last fight. He is a prospect. With no big names on his resume.

 

[Corrosion]

Your popularity is everything.

As far as money goes:

Popularity>Skill

That's why Mickey Rourke was able to make that much money. A decent boxer would not usually make that much his first year.

 

[Sinister]

There's no such thing as an "average" Boxer, or an average salary. Each Fighter is and individual case. Micky Rourke or otherwise.

 

[Mike Mesey]

Hype plays a big part also,not just talent.Or even fighting in your home town or state can generate as much as 50% more of a purse.

 

[Breakfast Bar]

Why would someone say that there is no average? There is. There is a mean pay and a median pay. The only complication is that there is a lot of variability in the pay distribution.

Most guys with a pro record have other jobs to support themselves.

 

[BR]

Why would someone say that there is no average? There is. There is a mean pay and a median pay. The only complication is that there is a lot of variability in the pay distribution.

Most guys with a pro record have other jobs to support themselves.

Its not that easy in boxing. In MMA you have your headliners. Guys making over 100k. Then you got your meadian income guys who make 20k-70k a fight. Then you have the guys who come in to get beat up who make 4k-15k.


In boxing you got your healdiners. Hopkins, Trinidad (I still count him cause he is fight two more times, DLH, Pac, Hatton, PBF. Those guys make over 5 mil. Then you have your Jermaine Taylor, Mosely, Wright. Juan Manuel Marquez, level guys. Basically top 20 P4P who make 1-5mil per fights.

Then you have prospects guys like Berto, Dawson et who are on the verge of making big bucks getting paid 500k+.

After that there are a lot of other prospects, contenders, and gate keepers who make over 100k.

Then you have the journey men with a name, or prospects who are hit and miss fightsing on TV Azteca and ESPN making 15k a fight. The difference between UFC and the boxing model, is that UFC and HBO (I know HBO isn't a promoter but they sign fighters to exclusive contracts like the UFC) are both at the top of their respective sports. A guy fighting on a UFC televised undercard can get 4k a fight. A guy fighting on a televised HBO card won't step in the ring for anything less than 50k. In fact most guys get 100k I've noticed.

 

[pulpduff]

Why would someone say that there is no average? There is. There is a mean pay and a median pay. The only complication is that there is a lot of variability in the pay distribution.

Most guys with a pro record have other jobs to support themselves.

While it is true that there is an arithmetic average, because of the huge disparity in pay that you reference yourself, it is a meaningless number that does not represent anything resembling a true average.

A meaningful average would be in a bell distribution, the average representing a figure close to what the majority of fighters actually make. This is definitely NOT the case here.


However.... rephrasing the question, making it more "answerable" could be an option.

ie) Excluding anomolies (Movie stars/cross-over fighters/olympians) what does an average 10-0 GBP, boxer make per fight in a non-TV bout in Southern California?

In order for the obtained average to carry any substantial weight, the question needs to be a lot more specific IMO.

Television exposure skews the numbers.
Location skews the numbers.
Your promoter can skew the numbers.
Noteriety skews the numbers.

What I'm trying to say is this: Don't get caught up in the semantics of language and try to have a good conversation as opposed to a confrontation.

I'm not very good at it, but it's a good practice generally.

Peace.

 

[Breakfast Bar]

Depending on why the TS asked the question, the mean/median IS signfiicant. If he is thinking of becoming a boxer himself and wants to know if he'll be able to make a good living doing so, then knowing how many other boxers can make XX dollars is important. Sure, he has to determine whether he thinks his skill and dedication are better/worse than most of those people, but it's still relevant to look at the world he's competing in.

Pro boxing is not like the NFL or NBA. Being a "pro" doesn't guarantee that you make a lot of money or even have boxing as your primary income source. It is one of the most lucrative sports for somebody who has the proper talent and promotion but the status "professional" doesn't carry the same financial connotation as it does with a sport like basketball. Having a similar skill set to Mickey Rourke is only going to make you rich in the boxing world if you are coming in famous already.

 

[Sinister]

Why would someone say that there is no average? There is. There is a mean pay and a median pay. The only complication is that there is a lot of variability in the pay distribution.

You'd be very hard pressed to find any two guys anywhere who, at the same point in their careers, make the same kind of money. There's so many other factors to it it's ridiculous, and nearly impossible to average.

There are Amateurs with sponsorships who don't need to work a day job. There are upper-level Pros who do work day jobs to supplement income. There are Promoters who pay better than others, there are areas of both the Country and World that pay better than others, and different guys have different levels of access.

There is no real average rate of pay for anyone. Far too many variables to consider to be able to bank on anything outside of one's own skill level, and who believes in that skill level.

 

[FreshPrince]

It depends. If you have no experience and start fighting in small clubs you'll make a few hundred, maybe $1,000 in your first few fights. If you have an Olympic gold medal you will come out on the undercard of a big fight and make maybe $25,000 for a four rounder.

 

[Lazy Man]

It sounds like some of you guys think that all boxing and MMA fights are the ones you see on TV... which is definitely not the case.

A lot of guys fight for a couple hundred(a hundred?) bucks a night.

 

[pulpduff]

Depending on why the TS asked the question, the mean/median IS signfiicant...

You say this, and then go on to disprove your assertion by using Mickey Rourke's pay as an example of why average pay is meaningless.

You're a complicated man BB.

 

[therealchamp]

How difficult is it to win a medal at the Olympics? I mean, is there so much competition? How bout if you just make it to the Olympics but don't win medals, would that have any positive affects on your earnings power when you turn pro?

 

[high right kick]

It sounds like some of you guys think that all boxing and MMA fights are the ones you see on TV... which is definitely not the case.

A lot of guys fight for a couple hundred(a hundred?) bucks a night.

This is probably the case for most(average) guys first few fights.

 

[Russie]

I have known guys who got started in boxing and fought a few years. They couldn't live off what they were making and had to work other jobs. These guys are below what the average would be because they fought on prelim cards in casinos here in the south where the pay is surely less than in the north or on the west coast. It's a good question though and I would love to see a concrete answer.

 

[Ox Baker]

How difficult is it to win a medal at the Olympics? I mean, is there so much competition? How bout if you just make it to the Olympics but don't win medals, would that have any positive affects on your earnings power when you turn pro?

An American Olympian who lost in the first or second round will make more money than a Silver Medalist from most other countries.

 

[FreshPrince]

How difficult is it to win a medal at the Olympics? I mean, is there so much competition? How bout if you just make it to the Olympics but don't win medals, would that have any positive affects on your earnings power when you turn pro?

Very difficult to make it to the Olympics. First you have to make your national team, then you have to win a certain number of fights in the international touraments to qualify. Once in the Olympics, you can't be certain if you'll win anything with the shit judging, unless you plan on ko'ing everyone.

 

[DynamoGT]

um the more famous you are the more money you make, so if your not that great at least hype your name up create a persona and get exposure and put buts in seats then you can get big dough.

being the best fighter doesn't get you the most cash, look at all the best boxers who had to get paid 50 to 100k and were still the top guys, personality and marketability sells.

Tommy Z from notredame football got 200k I think for his pro debut on the undercard of malignaggi vs cotto.