Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua features in Sportico’s Highest Paid Athletes of 2023; no UFC stars in top 100

Boxers Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua make the Sportico's highest paid athletes of 2023. However, no UFC fighter makes the list.

Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua features in Sportico’s Highest Paid Athletes of 2023; no UFC stars in top 100

Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua ranks in the top 25 highest paid athletes (via Imago)

Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua are two of boxing’s top stars. They have made Sportico’s Highest Paid Athletes list of 2023. This significant accomplishment demonstrates their success both inside and beyond the ring. In 2023, Canelo Alvarez ranks at No.16 with $66M in earnings, while Anthony Joshua ranks just below him at No.24 with $55M in earnings.

Canelo Alvarez is regarded as one of the finest boxers of his time. He has won titles in various weight classes and established himself as a major figure in the sport. His abilities and popularity have resulted in some big paydays from fights and sponsorships, propelling him to the top of the athlete earnings list.

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On the other hand, Anthony Joshua is a heavyweight fighter from the United Kingdom. He has made a significant impression in the boxing world.  Joshua has established himself as a formidable opponent with multiple victories and titles under his belt. His fights draw large crowds and generate a lot of money. He will make more than $50 million for his upcoming fight against Francis Ngannou.

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Alvarez and Joshua have also established themselves as significant characters in sports and entertainment. They have a global fan following and a strong social media presence. Their success inspires aspiring sportsmen and illustrates the possibility of financial success via hard work, devotion, and intelligent branding.

Why are there no UFC fighters on the Sportco’s Top 100 list?

Surprisingly, not a single UFC fighter is on Sportico’s Highest Paid Athletes list for 2023. Given the UFC’s global fame and financial success, one would expect some of its best fighters to be among the highest-paid athletes in the world.

No UFC stars appears on Sportico's list of highest paid athletes
No UFC stars appear on Sportico’s list of highest paid athletes (via Forbes/Reddit)

Several factors might explain the absence of UFC fighters on this renowned list. For starters, UFC fighter earnings are frequently more complex than those of sportsmen in traditional sports like boxing or soccer. UFC fighters often receive compensation through a combination of fight purses, bonuses, and sharing in pay-per-view income.

Another factor contributing to this might be a lower basic pay for UFC fighters. It usually lies in the range of $ 12,000 to $30,000 per fight for lower-tier fighters. The pay does get better as the fighter climbs the ranking. Average fighter pay in the UFC stands at around $80,000 to $200,000 per fight. Moreover, megastar Conor McGregor has not fought in two years.

It is known that UFC fighters on average, fight 3-4 times per year. This is necessary as the fights cause injuries that are different from that of boxing. By combining all these factors, we can determine why there is no UFC fighter on Sportico’s highest-paid athletes list in 2023. Time will tell whether it will change shortly.

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