How Much He Earned Per Fight
Highlights
- Mike Tyson's fights have earned him millions, with major bouts like Tyson vs. Holyfield 1 bringing in a staggering $30 million purse.
- From dominating matches like Tyson vs. Spinks to controversial ones like Tyson vs. Holyfield 2, Iron Mike's boxing career defined the sport.
- With a comeback in 2020 against Roy Jones Jr. and facing Jake Paul in the future, Tyson's legacy as a boxing icon continues to grow.
Mike Tyson is currently set to return to the ring later this summer, against Jake Paul. The heavyweight bout will stream live on Netflix, and will likely be one of the biggest fights of all time. Sure, it will be a spectacle, and definitely a freakshow fight. However, it will go down as one of the most-watched bouts ever.
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From ring antics to outside-the-ring scandals, these boxers have left a question legacy due to their controversies'Iron Mike' will also likely be paid handsomely for the event itself. With that in mind, let's take a look back at the former heavyweight champion's illustrious career and his earnings. Given that he's one of the most famous people alive, Tyson made a fortunes from his purses.
Note: Payout information is from a variety of sources. Including athletic commission releases, Marca, as well as Celebrity Net Worth.
10 Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr.: $10 Million Purse
Tyson's 2020 Comeback Paid Quite Well
Mike Tyson | Roy Jones Jr. |
|---|---|
5'10" | 5'11" |
220.4 Pounds | 210 Pounds |
50-6 (2 NC) Record | 66-9 Record |
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike Tyson, like most of the world, got pretty bored. So, he began training again and showed interest in an exhibition bout. Eventually, he found a suitable opponent, a fellow legend in the form of Roy Jones Jr.
The two fought to a draw under the Triller Fight Club banner, in an event that grossed 1.6 million pay-per-view buys. Both legends were paid well for the exhibition bout, with Tyson reportedly making $10 million for the bout.
9 Mike Tyson vs. Francois Botha: $10 Million Purse
Tyson Ended A Near Two-Year Suspension With A Dominant Performance
Mike Tyson | Francois Botha |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'2" |
223 Pounds | 233 Pounds |
45-3 Record | 39-1 Record |
Mike Tyson famously bit a chunk out of Evander Holyfield's ear in their 1997 rematch. As a result, he was suspended, having his boxing license revoked for 16 months. In January 1999, he returned to the ring to face South Africa's finest, Francois Botha.
Botha outboxed the rusty Tyson early, but his success was short-lived. In the fifth round, the South African was put on the mat twice, and he couldn't get up. With the comeback win, Tyson made $10 million.
8 Mike Tyson vs. Andrew Golota: $10 Million Purse
'Iron Mike' Demolished This Longtime Heavyweight Contender
Mike Tyson | Andrew Golota |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'4" |
222 Pounds | 240 Pounds |
48-3 (1 NC) Record | 36-4 Record |
Mike Tyson and Andrew Golota were both trying to get back to the title picture in 2000. The two met in The Palace in Michigan, in what promised to be a heavyweight slugfest. Instead, it was a vintage performance from Tyson.
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These are the elite boxers who never clinched a world title during their careers.The former champion battered Golota across three rounds, eventually forcing the Polish boxer to quit due to a litany of injuries. While the win was later overturned due to a failed drug test by Tyson for marijuana, he still got his money like a bandit.
7 Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks: $22 Million Purse
'Iron Mike' Demolished The Former Champion In Seconds
Mike Tyson | Michael Spinks |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'2" |
218 Pounds | 212 Pounds |
34-0 Record | 31-0 Record |
If there's a single fight that made Mike Tyson a legend, it was his 1988 title about with Michael Spinks. 'Iron Mike' was the younger man, who won all the titles that 'Jinx' left vacant. However, the 31-0 Spinks still held the lineal and The Ring heavyweight championships.
In a swift display of dominance, Tyson managed to secure victory over the former undefeated legend in a mere 91 seconds. Adding to his triumph, Tyson also exited the ring with a hefty $22 million payday.
6 Mike Tyson vs. Peter McNeely: $25 Million Purse
Tyson's Comeback Fight Was Incredibly Quick
Mike Tyson | Peter McNeely |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'2" |
220 Pounds | 224 Pounds |
41-1 Record | 36-1 Record |
After spending time in prison, Mike Tyson returned to boxing in August 1995. Despite talks of a fight with George Foreman, 'Iron Mike' instead met the 36-1, yet lowly regarded, Peter McNeely. 'Hurricane' promised to wrap Tyson in his cocoon of terror.
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Mike Tyson is one of the most eccentric boxers in history and has had some ridiculous moments during his career.Instead, he was knocked down two times inside of 90 seconds and his corner threw the towel in. For under 90 seconds of action, Tyson made $25 million.
5 Frank Bruno vs. Mike Tyson II: $30 Million Purse
'Iron Mike' Wrecked Bruno's Retirement Fight
Mike Tyson | Frank Bruno |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'3" |
220 Pounds | 247 Pounds |
43-1 Record | 40-4 Record |
Mike Tyson knocked out Frank Bruno in 1989, in their first meeting. Seven years later, he met with the British boxer, who became the WBC heavyweight champion, and the result was the same.
Tyson knocked out Bruno in round four, and he retired post-fight. This fight was the first of a long run for 'Iron Mike', that saw him earn the highest paydays of his career.
4 Bruce Seldon vs. Mike Tyson: $30 Million Purse
'Iron Mike' Earned A Crack At Evander Holyfield With This Win
Mike Tyson | Bruce Seldon |
|---|---|
5'10" | 6'1" |
219 Pounds | 229 Pounds |
44-1 Record | 33-3 Record |
Just a year after being released from prison, Mike Tyson was already WBC heavyweight champion. In September 1996, he met then WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, in a title unification bout. The bout went on to be one of the shortest in heavyweight title history.
It took Tyson less than two minutes to brutally knock out the overmatched Seldon. This fight again saw the legendary heavyweight make $30 million.
3 Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield 1: $30 Million Purse
These Two Heavyweights Put On One Of The Biggest Bouts Ever
Evander Holyfield | Mike Tyson |
|---|---|
6'2" | 5'10" |
215 Pounds | 222 Pounds |
32-3 Record | 45-1 Record |
Something newer fans might not know is that Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield took years to make. That's why when the bout finally happened in 1996 after years of waiting, it was one of the biggest ever. To both men's credit, the fight lived up to the hype.
Both men went back and forth early, but it was Holyfield who dominated down the stretch to earn an 11th-round victory. However, it wasn't all bad for Tyson, who earned 30 million dollars.
2 Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II: $30 Million Purse
The Rematch Produced One Of The Wildest Endings Of All-Time
Evander Holyfield | Mike Tyson |
|---|---|
6'2" | 5'10" |
218 Pounds | 218 Pounds |
33-3 Record | 45-2 Record |
Just a year after Mike Tyson lost to Evander Holyfield, they ran it back. This time, however, there wasn't much of a definitive conclusion. Early in the contest, Tyson was angry that the referee wasn't doing anything about Holyfield's headbutts.
So, he bit him and took a chunk out of his ear. Tyson was disqualified after the referee noticed at the end of the round, and was suspended for nearly two years. However, he did make $30 million for the three-round bout.
1 Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson: $103 Million Payout
'Iron Mike' Earned Millions In Defeat
Lennox Lewis | Mike Tyson |
|---|---|
6'5" | 5'10" |
249 Pounds | 234 Pounds |
39-2-1 Record | 49-3 (2 NC) Record |
When Mike Tyson met Lennox Lewis in June 2002, everyone knew that both men were near the end. Still, they met with four world titles on the line, at the newly opened The Pyramid venue in Memphis. Unfortunately for 'Iron Mike', he was largely dominated en route to a stoppage loss.
Tyson and Lewis each had a $17.5 million purse, but each had clauses in their contract for pay-per-view revenue. The event went onto be one of the most bought ever, resulting in a $100 million-plus payout for both men.
