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(Picture by Justin Setterfield/Getty Photographs) and (Picture by FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Whereas some could have criticized Francis Ngannou for turning down a three-fight, $8 million deal from the UFC final yr, few can argue with the 37-year-old star’s resolution to wager on himself now.
Ngannou and former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua agreed to a boxing match in March again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the estimated purses for each males additional verify that Ngannou has positioned himself to be an excellent wealthier man transferring ahead.
Based on Sports activities Enterprise Journal, Ngannou’s agent confirmed his shopper will make one other eight-figure payday for his battle with Joshua. A number of sources say this might be Ngannou’s second straight boxing match, making $10 million or extra for one battle.
Ngannou made a reported $10 million for his battle with Tyson Fury in October 2023, which the latter confirmed throughout one of many press conferences main as much as the bout.
His drawing energy has solely elevated primarily based on Ngannou’s exhibiting vs. Fury, a battle that noticed him ground the lineal champion earlier than dropping a controversial unanimous resolution. There’s each motive to consider his payday, earlier than pay-per-view gross sales and sponsorships kick in, may very well be approaching $20 million.
The sticking level for Ngannou with the proposed UFC deal was the power to compete in boxing and combined martial arts.
Had Ngannou not signed with the Skilled Fighters League and been granted the liberty to pursue his objectives as a boxer (one thing the UFC wouldn’t enable him to do beneath contract), he wouldn’t be in place to money in on the Fury or Joshua paydays.
Ngannou isn’t the one one arrange for an enormous payday. Joshua ought to make much more than Ngannou.
Joshua is coming off a formidable knockout win over Otto Wallin in Riyadh in December 2023. The victory was presupposed to place him for a battle with Deontay Wilder in March.
Wilder misplaced to Joseph Parker through unanimous resolution on the identical card, which tanked the proposed battle. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom named Ngannou as a doubtlessly “colossal” subsequent opponent for Joshua throughout an interview with IFL TV.
Shortly after the interview, the information of Joshua-Ngannou was confirmed.
Fury is alleged to have made $50 million for his battle with Ngannou, based on pal and confidante Dereck Chisora. Joshua is prone to have requested and acquired a payday a minimum of within the neighborhood of what Fury was paid for combating Ngannou.
Primarily based on the success and curiosity in Ngannou-Fury–particularly within the aftermath of the previous’s efficiency–there may very well be an excellent bigger viewers for Ngannou-Joshua.
It should even be happening lower than a month after Fury takes on Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title. The heavyweights are going to rule the game for the primary quarter of the yr, and Riyadh is the centerpiece for the division’s resurgence.
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