SOMETIMES in boxing, you have made a killing before the bell has even sounded.
Many of the biggest purses have been awarded to the loser of a prizefight, such as Oscar De La Hoya’s defeat to Floyd Mayweather.
Other times the bout is so big, it commands a huge fee even for the B-side of negotiations, like was the case with Manny Pacquiao against Mayweather.
Billy Joe Saunders pocketed around £5.5million for his brutal loss to Canelo Alvarez, which left him with a broken eye socket and cheekbone.
Here, SunSport looks at seven of boxing’s largest payouts for fighters on the losing end of a result.
Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, 2015
Still the most lucrative fight of all time, Mayweather ended five-years of drawn out talks with a 12-round points win.
It earned him not only $250m, equivalent to £177m today, but also bragging rights over his great rival.
But it was not all bad for Pacquiao, who walked away with $150m, equivalent to £106m today, a record sum for a losing fighter.
Pay from defeat: Pacquiao earns $150m
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor, 2017
In Mayweather’s highest-earning night, he pocketed $275m, now £195m, for beating McGregor in ten rounds.
For the Irishman, he took home $85m, now £60m, an unprecedented amount for a UFC fighter, especially while making their boxing debut.
McGregor, who earns the majority of his UFC purses through bonuses, has flirted with a return to the ring, having been in talks with Pacquiao before.
Pay from defeat: McGregor earns $85m
Oscar De La Hoya vs Floyd Mayweather, 2007
This fight marked the last time Mayweather was ever playing second fiddle in talks, with De La Hoya at the time boxing’s Golden Boy.
He banked $52m, now £37m, for his part in the points loss, the only ever split-decision on Mayweather’s record.
The winner still received a healthy $25m, now £17.7m, and became the face of the sport and forever the boss in the negotiation room.
Pay from defeat: De La Hoya earns $52m
Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson, 2002
After years of feuding, the heavyweights finally put it all on the line and shared the revenue down the middle.
Both were guaranteed $17.5m, now £12.4m, but Tyson is said to have earned $35m, now £24.8m after bonuses.
Iron Mike was knocked out in round eight, but still walked away with his joint-highest payday.
Pay from defeat: Tyson earns $35m
Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson II, 1997
After Tyson was stunned by Holyfield in 1996, their rematch a year later proved lucrative.
But it will forever be remembered as the ‘Bite Fight’ as Tyson sunk his teeth into his rival and was disqualified in round three.
Still, Iron Mike earned $30m, now £21.3m, for his disgraceful defeat, while winner Holyfield took the lion-share of $35m, now £24.8m.
Pay from defeat: Tyson earns $30m
Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield, 1996
Tyson was the WBA champion and favourite to beat Holyfield when they fought for the first time.
Iron Mike was guaranteed the same purse that he got for their rematch, but Holyfield took home $12m, now £8.5m.
Tyson was stopped in 11 rounds and lost his title, never again reigning as champion.
Pay from defeat: Tyson earns $30m
Floyd Mayweather vs Canelo Alvarez, 2013
Canelo’s sole defeat to date came against Mayweather when he was just 23-year’s-old.
He was paid $12m, now £8.5m, while Mayweather banked $80m, now £56.8m.
Mexican superstar Canelo has since gone on to become boxing’s pound-for-pound No1, currently the highest-paid fighter in the world.
Pay from defeat: Canelo $12m
