In boxing, stories of going from poverty to wealth often capture people's attention, and Anthony Joshua has one of the most remarkable rises to success. Starting with a modest £15,000 for his first professional fight, he has now earned a staggering total of £500,140,000 throughout his career. This journey illustrates his unwavering determination, relentless commitment, and pursuit of excellence, as described by PETER AKINBO.
Before Before experiencing the fame and luxury of professional boxing, Joshua honed his skills in amateur boxing, where he gained recognition and praise, foreshadowing his future dominance.
Having an exceptional amateur record and winning an Olympic gold medal in 2012, Joshua smoothly transitioned into professional boxing, marking the beginning of a new era in heavyweight boxing.
Emanuele Leo was his first professional opponent and Joshua quickly earned his first paycheck of £15,000 by knocking Leo out in the first round at the 02 Arena.
Joshua continued to succeed, earning £50,000 in his next two fights, both won by knockouts against Paul Butlin and Hrvoje Kisicek. He then secured a £75,000 pay-day by defeating Dorian Darch, who also fell victim to Joshua’s knockout power.
It wasn't until his 8th professional fight against Konstantin Airich that Joshua earned his first million-pound purse, after dispatching Airich by TKO. His steady climb up the rankings, with each victory contributing to his growing reputation and financial prosperity.
Joshua’s ambition always set him apart from his peers. In an honest interview from April 2017, Joshua spoke of his aspirations to not only dominate the boxing world but to surpass it, envisioning himself as the sport’s first billionaire.
“When I first started, the goal was to become a multi-millionaire,” Joshua said.
“But now there are ordinary people, grandparents, who are worth millions just because of property prices. So the new mindset is that I need to be a billionaire.”
Joshua earned £1m from four other fights, and £2m from wins over Kevin Johnson and Gary Cornish, before a £3m purse for his victory over Dillian Whyte and a total of £14.5m from his next three bouts.
However, it was his remarkable triumph over Wladimir Klitschko that propelled Joshua into boxing stardom. Not only did the win secure his status as a heavyweight champion, but it also significantly boosted his earnings, with a remarkable £15m purse attached to the fight.
His rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr., where he regained his titles from the American who previously defeated him, resulted in an impressive £66m payday, showcasing his enduring appeal and drawing power.
Joshua’s highest purse from a fight was earned in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, which he lost by split decision. In the first bout, Joshua earned £20m, and in the rematch in Saudi Arabia, the two-time heavyweight champion received a substantial sum of £70m.
Unfazed by setbacks, such as his losses to Usyk, Joshua exhibited his resilience by bouncing back with victorious performances in his next four fights, earning a total of £86 million, with the largest payment coming from his most recent fight against Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia, where he pocketed £40m.
Every win not only added to his reputation in the boxing but also increased his bank account, highlighting his position as one of the most profitable stars in boxing.
Looking to the future, Joshua’s focus is firmly on the future, his desire for success as strong as ever. With a record of 28-3-0 (25 KOs), the 34-year-old now aims to become a three-time heavyweight champion.
three-time heavyweight champion.
