The Official confirmation of the bout between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou has sparked speculation about their potential earnings.
It was unveiled on Friday night that the former two-time heavyweight boxing champion will take on the ex-UFC titleholder in Saudi Arabia on March 8.
At the beginning of 2023, Ngannou faced criticism for rejecting a three-fight, $8 million (£6.29M) deal and departed from MMA’s leading promotion in pursuit of higher pay elsewhere.
‘The Predator’ initially silenced critics by signing a lucrative MMA contract with the Professional Fighters League [PFL], followed by announcing a significant boxing match against WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Ngannou reportedly earned $10 million (£7.86M) for his bout with Fury in October 2023, a figure verified by ‘The Gypsy King’ in a pre-fight press conference that month.
The 37-year-old knocked down Fury and nearly caused a major upset in his boxing debut but ultimately faced a contentious split decision loss after 10 rounds.
However, Ngannou emerged as the event's standout, earning immense acclaim, embarking on a new boxing career, and receiving a purse surpassing the combined earnings from his 14 UFC fights.
Now, he is poised to earn even more for his fight with Joshua.
Ngannou’s manager, Marquel Martin, informed Sports Business Journal that his esteemed client will surpass the $10 million (£7.86M) mark when facing Joshua.
Meanwhile, Forbes projects Ngannou's earnings at $20 million (£15.72M), and this estimation excludes potential additional income from pay-per-view sales and sponsorships, which could further boost his payday.
The American Business magazine wasn't as precise in its prediction for Joshua's earnings but confidently asserted that the Briton will outearn his opponent on fight night.
According to Derek Chisora, a friend and former three-time opponent, Fury allegedly pocketed $50 million (£39.29M) for his clash with Ngannou, although Fury himself never confirmed this figure.
Forbes speculated that Joshua demanded a similar sum and would exceed $20 million (£15.72M) following his decisive victory over Otto Wallin during his last appearance in Saudi Arabia.
A win against Ngannou will position him for a chance at the vacant IBF heavyweight title, expected after Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide on February 17.
