Tyson Fury has defied two defeats against Oleksandr Usyk to emerge as the highest-paid boxer of 2024, according to a recent Sportico report.
Despite losing both of their highly anticipated clashes, Fury’s substantial paydays from these bouts have propelled him to the top of the boxing earnings list.
The two titans of the heavyweight division clashed twice last year. Their first encounter in May saw Fury initially dominate, only for Usyk to mount a stunning comeback and secure a split decision victory.
The rematch seven months later followed a similar pattern, with Usyk again proving victorious, this time by unanimous decision.
Despite these setbacks in the ring, Fury’s financial success remains undeniable.
Sportico’s list of the top 100 highest-paid athletes places him third overall, with total earnings of $147 million.
Of that impressive sum, $140 million came from his salary and winnings, while endorsements contributed a further $7 million.
While Fury surpassed football superstar Lionel Messi by $12 million, he trailed basketball’s Stephen Curry, who earned $153.8 million. The top spot on the list was claimed by footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, with a staggering $260 million.
Fury isn’t the only boxer to make the list. His recent opponent, Usyk, secured the second-highest boxing earnings, landing in 11th place with a total of $122 million, $120 million of which came from fight purses.
Canelo Alvarez, the current super-middleweight champion, also featured prominently, ranking 20th with $73 million in total income.
His earnings included $65 million from victories over Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga, and $8 million from endorsements.
British boxing star Anthony Joshua, while a joint-highest earner in endorsements, didn’t crack the top 20, landing in 30th place with total earnings of £48 million.
His £40 million in salary and winnings stemmed from two fights in 2024, a victory over Francis Ngannou followed by a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul also made the top 100, profiting from three victories against Ryan Bourland, Mike Perry, and Mike Tyson. He earned a total of £38.4 million, with £30.4 million from fight purses and £8 million from endorsements.
Rounding out the boxing contingent in the top 100 is Naoya Inoue, who earned £33.6 million, including £28 million from his two victories last year.
