The enormous earnings of Usyk from his fights with Dubois

The heavyweight division continues to deliver some of the most dramatic spectacles in sports. Among these, the battles between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois stand out not only for their action in the ring but also for the enormous financial figures they generated. Fans and analysts often ask: how much did Usyk make against Dubois? The answer highlights the extraordinary prize money at the very top of professional boxing.

In this article, we will break down the purses from their first fight in 2023, examine the reported figures for the 2025 rematch, compare them to other massive heavyweight contests, and explore what these numbers mean for the future of boxing economics.

The First Usyk vs Dubois Fight: Poland 2023

On 26 August 2023, Oleksandr Usyk defended his world titles against Daniel Dubois in Poland. It was a mandatory defense, which meant the purse split was determined by sanctioning body rules.

• Usyk’s Earnings: $6,042,750 (75% share)

• Dubois’s Earnings: $2,014,250 (25% share)

• Total Purse: $8,057,000

This purse split reflected Usyk’s position as the champion and Dubois as the mandatory challenger. Despite the gap in earnings, Dubois earned a career-high payday. He even managed to score a knockdown in the fifth round, though Usyk ultimately secured the victory.

The Usyk vs Dubois 2023 purse illustrates the traditional economics of boxing, where champions typically command a far greater share of the prize money than challengers.

Boxing Sponsorships and Money Flow

High-level boxing fights are not funded by ticket sales alone. Massive sums come from sponsors, broadcasters, and betting companies.

• Casinos have invested more than $10 million to sponsor recent heavyweight title fights.

• Online gambling companies spent about $5 million across several championship bouts in 2023.

• Sports betting platforms paid as much as $15 million for exclusive partnerships in boxing.

These sponsorship deals inject money into the sport, helping promoters afford the astronomical purses demanded by elite fighters like Usyk and Dubois.

The Rematch: Record-Breaking 2025 Purse

Fast forward to 2025, and the second Usyk vs Dubois fight is shaping up as one of the richest events in heavyweight history. Reports suggest the total purse is around $203.5 million.

• Usyk’s Earnings: Approximately $132.3 million (65% share)

• Dubois’s Earnings: Approximately $71.2 million (35% share)

• Total Purse: $203.5 million

This represents a staggering leap from their first fight. Usyk went from earning just over $6 million to potentially more than $130 million in their rematch. Dubois also saw his purse skyrocket from $2 million to over $70 million.

The Usyk vs Dubois 2025 purse demonstrates the incredible growth in commercial value when fighters deliver drama, controversy, and excitement in their first encounter. Dubois’s knockdown of Usyk in the initial bout created narrative tension that promoters used effectively to hype the second clash.

Comparing to Other Heavyweight Paydays

To truly appreciate the Usyk vs Dubois purse, it helps to compare it with other famous heavyweight contests:

• Usyk vs Tyson Fury (Rematch, 2024): Usyk reportedly earned around £83.3 million (about $100 million USD).

• Fury vs Usyk (First Fight, 2024): Fury earned about $100 million, while Usyk earned about $45 million.

• Dubois vs Anthony Joshua (2022): Dubois’s purse was around £3.5 million ($4.6 million).

These comparisons highlight how quickly fight purses can escalate in boxing. A fighter who once earned in the single millions can, within a few years, command tens or even hundreds of millions thanks to high-stakes showdowns.

Net Earnings: What Usyk Really Takes Home

It is important to note that the headline purse figures are gross earnings. The actual take-home pay for fighters like Oleksandr Usyk is reduced by various deductions, including:

• Management fees: 20–33% of earnings

• Promotional costs: Event organization, marketing, and broadcast expenses

• Training camp costs: Sparring partners, coaches, nutrition, and facilities

• Taxes: Depending on fight location and nationality, taxes can consume 30–50% of gross earnings

• Legal and sanctioning body fees: For contracts, compliance, and title defenses

For the 2025 rematch, after deductions, Usyk’s net earnings are estimated at around $101.87 million. Even after expenses, this makes him one of the highest-paid boxers in modern history.

Economic Impact on Heavyweight Boxing

The massive Usyk vs Dubois purses reshape the financial landscape of the heavyweight division. Promoters, fighters, and broadcasters now recognize the earning potential of compelling matchups, even when one fighter has already won before.

• Tyson Fury’s biggest payday shows that even fighters with established reputations are being challenged by Usyk’s financial numbers.

• Mid-tier heavyweights like Kevin Lerena or Efe Ajagba cannot command anywhere near these sums, often earning purses in the hundreds of thousands rather than millions.

• Rising prospects like Moses Itauma may benefit from this environment if they can build the right narrative and fanbase.

The Role of Controversy and Narrative

Boxing thrives on drama. The Dubois punch that dropped Usyk in their first fight became a central talking point and controversy. Fans debated whether it was legal, whether Usyk was vulnerable, and whether Dubois deserved a rematch.

This single moment added enormous commercial value to their rivalry. Promoters used it to fuel interest in the rematch, leading to a fight purse that surpassed even Usyk’s bouts with Tyson Fury.

Purse Comparison Table

Here is a breakdown of the financials from both Usyk vs Dubois fights:

This table shows just how monumental the leap has been in only two years.

Future Earnings Potential for Usyk

With Usyk cementing his place among boxing’s all-time greats, speculation continues about his next fight and potential purse sizes. Possible future matchups with names like Tyson Fury again, Anthony Joshua, or even rising stars could command purses in the hundreds of millions.

The Ukrainian champion’s undefeated record, his ability to move between divisions, and his reputation for technical brilliance make him one of the sport’s most bankable stars.

Conclusion

So, how much did Oleksandr Usyk make against Daniel Dubois? The answer depends on which fight you look at.

• In 2023, Usyk earned around $6 million to Dubois’s $2 million.

• In 2025, Usyk is projected to earn over $132 million, while Dubois could walk away with more than $70 million.

These figures highlight the extraordinary growth of boxing purses at the elite level. They also illustrate how controversy, narrative, and promotional strategies can turn a good fight into a blockbuster event.

The story of Usyk vs Dubois is not only about what happened inside the ring but also about the massive financial rewards that come with heavyweight glory. It underscores why heavyweight boxing continues to be one of the most lucrative and compelling sports on the planet.