World Boxing News compiles a Top 40 list of the highest-grossing boxing events ever staged.
In a time when unfounded claims are being bandied around regarding the most lucrative shows ever promoted, WBN aims to set the record straight about the true top-earning pugilistic headliners.
Following Mike Tyson’s $18.1 million return on Netflix, which brought no added revenue despite 65 million viewers, several prior events had more worldwide viewers than his comeback.
Muhammad Ali starred in many of them through closed-circuit television, which ranged from 100 million worldwide to 500 million viewers. At least nine bouts earned more than Tyson’s last fight at the Box Office, leading to questions about specific claims made on social media.
The list is interesting, as Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao doesn’t take the top spot despite earning over $70 million in ticket sales alone. That honor falls to ‘The Greatest’ Muhammad Ali, who had more eyeballs on him than any other boxer in the sport’s history. The ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974 remains the most lucrative and famous match-up ever produced.
Ali vs Foreman would have made over $600 million today. Adding to his star power, Ali’s third encounter with Joe Frazier in 1975 hit the half-a-billion mark in third, while the sixth is the first fight at $340m.
Floyd Mayweather and Tyson remain the modern-day giants of selling fights, holding four and two places in the top ten, respectively.
Top 40 Highest-Grossing Boxing Events Of All Time
1. October 30, 1974: Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman – $600,000,000
2. May 2, 2015: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao – $550,000,000
3. August 26, 2017: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor – $500,000,000
4. October 1, 1975: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III – $500,000,000
5. March 8, 1971: Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier – $340,000,000
6. June 28, 1997: Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield II – $325,000,000
7. August 8 19, 1995: Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeeley – $300,000,000
8. May 5, 2007: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. – $220,000,000
9. December 8, 2007: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton – $200,000,000
10. September 14, 2013: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez – $200,000,000
11. March 16, 1996: Frank Bruno vs. Mike Tyson II – $200,000,000
12. September 27, 1976: Muhammad Ali vs. Ken Norton III – $190,000,000
13. June 8, 2002: Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson – $190,000,000
14. June 27, 1988: Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks – $180,000,000
15. November 9, 1996: Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield – $180,000,000
16. April 19, 1991: Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman – $175,000,000
17. April 6, 1987: Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler – $170,000,000
18. September 18, 1999: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Félix Trinidad – $160,000,000
19. December 6, 2008: Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao – $140,000,000
20. May 1, 2010: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley – $133,000,000
21. May 5, 2012: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto – $125,000,000
22. September 7, 1996: Mike Tyson vs. Bruce Seldon – $122,000,000
23. November 13, 2011: Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez III – $120,000,000
24. September 17, 2011: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz – $119,000,000
25. September 15, 2018: Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin II – $118,000,00
26. May 7, 2011: Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley – $117,000,000
27. May 2, 2009: Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton – $114,000,000
28. November 14, 2009: Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Cotto – $113,000,000
29. February 22, 2020: Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury II – $112,900,000
30. June 20, 1980L Roberto Durán vs. Sugar Ray Leonard – $112,000,000
31. June 28, 1991: Mike Tyson vs. Donovan Ruddock II – $110,000,000
32. December 8, 2012: Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Márquez IV – $109,000,000
33. November 13, 2010: Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito – $105,000,000
34. September 16, 2017: Canelo Álvarez vs. Gennadiy Golovkin – $100,000,000
35. September 19, 2009: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Márquez – $100,000,000
36. November 28, 2020: Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. – $84,000,000
37. April 29, 2017: Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko $80,000,000
38. June 11, 1982: Larry Holmes vs. Gerry Cooney – $68,000,000
39. March 31, 2018: Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker – $60,000,000
40. September 22, 2018: Anthony Joshua vs. Alexander Povetkin – $60,000,000
*Numbers estimated and ratified from research through several respected sources with inflation added.
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Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.