Light heavyweight boxers salaries showcase the 175-pound division’s elite earning power. Dmitry Bivol earned $35 million including his Beterbiev battles. Roy Jones Jr accumulated $45 million dominating multiple weight classes. Artur Beterbiev commands $12 million per unification fight.
The division produces technically brilliant fighters whose skills translate into multi-million dollar purses when elite matchups materialize under proper promotion.
Explore the Light Heavyweight Division boxers biography and net worth by clicking on their name.
| Name | Nationality | Net Worth |
| Artur Beterbiev | Russian/Canadian | $6 million |
| Dmitry Bivol | Russian | $5 million |
| David Benavidez | American | $5 million |
| David Morrell | Cuban | $3 million |
| Joshua Buatsi | British | $1.5 million |
| Callum Smith | British | $6 million |
| Anthony Yarde | British | $5 million |
| Adrian Diaconu | Romanian | $3 million |
| Tommy Fury | British | $4 million |
| Antonio Margarito | Mexican | $18 million |
| Jean Pascal | Canadian | $4 million |
| Braian Nahuel Suarez | Argentine | $2 million |
| Shefat Isufi | German | €500,000 |
| Eléider Álvarez Baytar | Colombian | $2 million |
| Serge Michel | German | $1.1 million |
| Hosea Burton | British | $1.5 million |
| Chad Sugden | British | $1 million |
| Doudou Ngumbu | Congolese-French | $1-5 million |
| Deji Olatunji | British | $5 million |
| Joe Fournier | British | $130 million |
10 Highest Paid Boxers in Light Heavyweight Division Ranked
Light heavyweight creates boxing’s most skilled champions who leverage undisputed opportunities into career-defining paydays, though purses remain modest compared to heavyweights despite superior technical displays.
| Rank | Boxer | Net Worth | Career Earnings | Active/Retired | World Titles |
| 1 | Roy Jones Jr | $10M | $45M | Retired | Undisputed Champion |
| 2 | Bernard Hopkins | $40M | $35M | Retired | Undisputed Champion |
| 3 | Dmitry Bivol | $10M | $35M | Active | WBA Champion |
| 4 | Artur Beterbiev | $10.5M | $40M | Active | WBC/WBO/IBF Champion |
| 5 | Sergey Kovalev | $10M | $30M | Retired | Unified Champion |
| 6 | Andre Ward | $8M | $20M | Retired | Unified Champion |
| 7 | Joe Calzaghe | $21M | $18M | Retired | Unified Champion |
| 8 | Chad Dawson | $5M | $12M | Retired | 2-time Champion |
| 9 | Jean Pascal | $4M | $8M | Retired | 2-time Champion |
| 10 | Joe Smith Jr | $3M | $6M | Retired | WBO Champion |
Roy Jones Jr built $45 million career earnings through dominance across four weight classes. His light heavyweight reign featured $5 million purses against Antonio Tarver and Glen Johnson, exceptional for the division during that era.
Bernard Hopkins accumulated $35 million with $10 million coming from his light heavyweight title fights. His Sergey Kovalev upset earned $6 million guaranteed, becoming the oldest world champion at 49 while banking career-high purses.
Dmitry Bivol reached $35 million through smart matchmaking. His $10 million Canelo upset doubled his career earnings instantly, while $20 million from two Artur Beterbiev fights pushed him into elite financial territory.
Who Is the Highest Paid Light Heavyweight Boxer?
Dmitry Bivol earned approximately $35 million career total, making him the division’s highest-earning active fighter. His $10 million Canelo victory represented light heavyweight’s largest modern purse, proving smaller fighters can command elite pay against superstar opponents.
Bivol’s Beterbiev battles generated $20 million combined. The first undisputed clash paid $10 million guaranteed, while the February 2025 rematch matched that figure, demonstrating unification bouts command maximum purses at 175 pounds.
His consistent championship defenses earned $500,000-$2 million before hitting superstar territory. The Canelo fight transformed Bivol from solid earner to elite boxer financially, opening doors to Saudi Arabia’s massive paydays.
Light Heavyweight Earnings Growth Analysis
| Boxer | 2020 Net Worth | 2023 Net Worth | 2025 Net Worth | Growth % | Key Income Sources |
| Dmitry Bivol | $3M | $8M | $10M | 233% | Canelo upset ($10M), Beterbiev fights ($20M) |
| Artur Beterbiev | $4M | $8M | $10.5M | 163% | Bivol unification ($22M), Smith KO ($1.6M) |
| Roy Jones Jr | $10M | $10M | $10M | 0% | Exhibition earnings, commentary work |
| Sergey Kovalev | $10M | $10M | $10M | 0% | Retired, Canelo loss ($12M) final payday |
Dmitry Bivol’s 233% growth came from strategic opponent selection. His $10 million Canelo upset in 2022 transformed his career trajectory, proving elite skills against bigger names generate maximum financial rewards.
Artur Beterbiev doubled wealth through patient championship building. His $22 million from Bivol fights dwarfed previous career-high $1.6 million against Callum Smith, demonstrating unification bouts multiply purses exponentially.
Sergey Kovalev maintained stable wealth post-retirement. His $12 million Canelo payday in 2019 represented light heavyweight’s highest purse before Bivol-Canelo, though his knockout loss prevented follow-up mega-fights.
Current Light Heavyweight Champion Purses
Artur Beterbiev commands $5-12 million as unified champion. His February 2025 Bivol rematch paid $5 million guaranteed plus estimated $7 million PPV shares, totaling $12 million for his biggest career payday.
Dmitry Bivol earns $4-10 million per major fight. His Beterbiev battles matched Beterbiev’s $10 million guarantees each, reflecting equal drawing power despite Bivol holding fewer belts initially.
Lesser champions earn $500,000-$2 million. Joe Smith Jr made $400,000-$1 million as WBO champion, while current contenders command similar ranges depending on opponent quality and promotional investment.
Historic Light Heavyweight Purses
Dmitry Bivol’s $10 million Canelo upset stands as light heavyweight’s largest modern purse. The May 2022 bout proved smaller weight classes can generate eight-figure paydays when facing pound-for-pound superstars.
Sergey Kovalev earned $12 million losing to Canelo in 2019. His light heavyweight title defense attracted massive attention due to Canelo’s star power, creating unprecedented payday for the division.
Roy Jones Jr commanded $5-6 million against Antonio Tarver in their trilogy. The early 2000s rivalry generated substantial PPV revenue, exceptional for light heavyweight during that era.
Bernard Hopkins made $6 million upsetting Sergey Kovalev at age 49. His historical achievement commanding elite purses late-career demonstrated marketability transcends physical prime when storylines captivate audiences.
FAQs
How much did Dmitry Bivol make fighting Canelo?
Dmitry Bivol earned $10 million fighting Canelo Alvarez in May 2022. His upset victory doubled his career earnings and established him as light heavyweight’s top earner.
What’s Artur Beterbiev’s biggest payday?
Artur Beterbiev earned $12 million in his February 2025 rematch with Dmitry Bivol. His first Bivol fight paid $10 million, making those his two largest purses.
Do light heavyweight champions make millions per fight?
Top light heavyweight champions earn $4-12 million for unification bouts. Regular title defenses pay $500,000-$2 million depending on opponent and promotional backing.
How much did Roy Jones Jr earn at light heavyweight?
Roy Jones Jr earned approximately $45 million career total, with $25-30 million coming from light heavyweight fights including $5-6 million purses against Antonio Tarver.
