Over the last nine months, Francis Ngannou has earned more money than at any other time in his nine-year professional fighting career which began in 2015. This surge in earnings has come from his ventures in professional boxing which significantly surpasses his previous income from his time in the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage.
Could these unprecedented purses see Ngannou spend the swansong of his career in the boxing ring? Let's go back to October 2023 to try and get a clearer answer.
Eye-watering bonuses
It was only nine months ago that Ngannou’s life changed for good after he fought Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia. Up until that point, Ngannou had been picking up checks from the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for $600,000 for every heavyweight showdown he was involved in.
However, Ngannou flew out of the Middle East after his bout with Fury having been paid just over $10 million for his maiden professional boxing fight.
Ngannou’s performance against Fury was so impressive that despite losing on a split decision, he had earned himself a fight against Anthony Joshua just six months later. This time, the former UFC heavyweight champion would be paid $20 million, taking his earnings in the ring to over $30 million for just two fights - both of which he lost.
Having experienced the riches and crucially, the generous bonus structure that only the business end of heavyweight boxing can provide, there are now valid questions about how hungry Ngannou will be when he returns to MMA competition in 2024. It is expected that when he does return, Ngannou will make his Professional Fighters League (PFL) debut against Brazilian Renan Ferreira.
While the PFL is offering Ngannou substantially more than Dana White and the UFC were - around $2 million per fight, it still pales in comparison to his recent boxing purses and the lucrative broadcast bonuses available to the 37-year-old.
The reality in life is that earning generous bonuses often ensures repeat business. Whether they’re from a workplace incentive, a rewards program, a casino promotion listed on a bonus reviewing platform, or in this case, from competing in a boxing match, bonuses typically foster a strong sense of loyalty. In other words, Ngannou might focus the bulk of his energy on matters in the ring during the twilight of his career.
Making hay while the sun shines
Crucially, his contract with PFL allows the 37-year-old to box at his discretion which should see him return to Saudi Arabia regularly. Ngannou has proved that he can bring in millions of pay-per-view subscribers and boxing’s new power brokers in the Middle East will see the MMA champions as a vital marketing tool in helping make Saudi Arabia the capital of professional boxing.
Ultimately, this might mean that while Ngannou will continue to fight in the cage, his best and most productive MMA days could be behind him.
This is the natural consequence of finally gaining access to a world where he has long had his sights set.
Indeed, you get the unmistakable impression from Ngannou that he is making up for being inadequately remunerated for his fighting services after years of stand-off with UFC president Dana White. With the end of his career now in sight, you can’t begrudge Ngannou the chance to see his ship come in, even if it comes at the cost of seeing him at his determined best in the MMA cage.
