The Estimated Purses For Francis Ngannou Vs. Anthony Joshua Are Huge

While Francis Ngannou received criticism for rejecting a three-bout, $8 million proposal from UFC last year, it appears that his decision to back his own skill and marketability is working in his favor. Ngannou and former heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua agreed to a boxing match, set to take place in March in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and anticipated earnings suggest that Ngannou is set for an even more lucrative future.

Sports Business Journal reports that Ngannou's agent has declared his client will notch up another payday worth millions for his bout with Joshua. Various sources suggest this will be Ngannou's back-to-back boxing match, pulling in $10 million or over for a single fight. Ngannou reportedly earned $10 million for his match with Tyson Fury in October 2023, confirmed by Fury in the build-up to the event. This has subsequently boosted Ngannou’s market value, especially following his performance against Fury, where he managed to knock down the champion, before a contentious unanimous decision saw him lose. It's expected that his earnings could near $20 million before pay per view proceeds and endorsements are factored in.

The issue that lead Ngannou to refuse the UFC offer was the organisation’s stipulation that he could not engage in both boxing and mixed martial arts. By agreeing a deal with the Professional Fighters League, and being allowed to follow his boxing aspirations, Ngannou has managed to secure significant financial rewards from his matches with Fury and Joshua.

However, it’s not just Ngannou who’s in line for a massive payment. Joshua is expected to out-earn Ngannou, after having secured an impressive win against Otto Wallin in Riyadh in December 2023. The win was expected to set him up for a match against Deontay Wilder in March, but after Wilder was defeated by Joseph Parker, plans for that match fell through. Therefore, Eddie Hearn from Matchroom highlighted Ngannou as a prospective "colossal" contest for Joshua during a discussion with IFL TV. Following this interview, the match between Joshua and Ngannou was confirmed.

Fury reportedly earned $50 million for his fight with Ngannou, as per his friend Dereck Chisora's claim. Joshua is believed to be seeking- and will likely obtain- a sum similar to Fury's for his match against Ngannou. Given the excitement surrounding Ngannou-Fury, interest in the Ngannou-Joshua fight could be even higher, particularly considering that it will happen shortly after Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk for the coveted title. Heavyweights are set to dominate the early part of the year in boxing, with Riyadh at the core of the division's revival.