Boxing News: Francis Ngannou to Earn 8-Figure Salary in Anthony Joshua Fight
Francis Ngannou is geared to earn another eight-figure payday in his announced boxing match with former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua.
In a report from Sports Business Journal on January 6, Ngannou's manager, Marqual Martin, remarked that Ngannou will be earning "well over" $10M for the bout. "The Predator" was previously reported to have earned around $10M for his "Battle of the Baddest" fight with Tyson Fury in October 2023, and his stock continues to grow.
This is all made possible by Saudi Arabia's recent sporting initiative. In 2023, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) pumped $31.5B into their diverse investments, including a push into the global sports market. The 'Riyadh Season' of sporting events was a major move from Saudi Arabia to grow their global platform for general entertainment:
“If we got anything out of Riyadh Season, it’s that demand is there, social acceptance is there,” said Faisal Bafarat, chief executive of the General Entertainment Authority. “Businessmen are coming and saying we want to invest.” (h/t Arabian Business)
The "Battle of the Baddest" reportedly did 11,500 US TV plays and 56,000 ESPN+ streams in the US, according to combat sports business analyst Dave Meltzer, which is lower than every UFC PPV in history. While the numbers would indicate that Las Vegas remains at the top of the heap, Saudi Arabia's push into the global market is more about exposure than profit.
Fans can expect more high-profile matchups and even higher athlete purses in the future.
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