Oleksandr Usyk is in line for a purse of over £40million after successfully defending his world titles against Anthony Joshua.
Usyk out-pointed Joshua for the second time in 11 months after another impressive display in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. The Ukrainian was given the nod by two of the ringside judges with the other, inexplicably, awarding victory to Joshua.
And as a result, Usyk could bank a £9million bonus on top of his £33m purse, as long as the fight performed to expectations at the Box Office. Saudi Arabia splashed out £66m to stage the fight with Sky Sports spending a whopping £23m for the rights to ensure huge paydays for both men.
Joshua's defeat was his third in his last five fights and leaves questions over his future in the sport. He insists he will not retire and has already pencilled in a return in December in what would be his first non-world title fight since 2015.
But Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insists his legacy is secure regardless of what comes next. "We wouldn’t be here now, none of us would be in this room, without Anthony Joshua. Our business would not be what it is without Anthony Joshua,” Hearn said.
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"No boxers would be earning the kind of money they are in the UK if it wasn’t for Anthony Joshua. He has taken the sport in terms of popularity and attraction from broadcasters and sponsors to another level. Fighters are benefiting because of the growth he has injected into the sport. If the public don’t respect him for what he’s done, you might as well give up.
"I would like to see him get back to enjoying himself, get back to the pressures of working his way back up to the championship belt. Now he will actually really start to enjoy himself."
