How much Vitaliy Klitschko earned for a boxer’s career – a complete story of fees Boxing

On June 10, 2018, Vitaliy Klitschko was solemnly accepted in the International Hall of Boxing Glory. He became the first citizen of Ukraine in this honorary World Boxing Society. What is not the reason to remember what fees the current mayor of Kiev received for his legendary work in the ring.

The author of these lines had to work on 10 championship battles Vitaliy Klitschko. One of the most striking memories of this period is the next protection of the title of 38-year-old Ukrainian for 20,000 Staples Centre in Los Angeles in September 2009. The opponent is a 28-year-old American Cristobal Arreola, who was born and raised in the city of angels.

Having accredited in the Ringing Ringsida, before the fight near the ring, I inadvertently touched someone with my shoulder. Automatically say « Sorry », I return to the person and see that it is … Mike Tyson.

A few minutes before, the audience explodes with a friendly chanting « ROC-KY, ROC-KY ». This means that Sylvester Stallone appeared in Staples Centre.

And when the referee raised Vitaliy’s hand, fixing the confident victory of Klitschko, the Ukrainian stood for a long time in the palm of the then governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger (sitting in the first row together with Stallone), Guy Richie, Koby Braiant and Dolf Lundg. In the United States, this battle broadcast NGO.

« NGO we sell the rights to broadcast our matches with Vladimir for several million dollars, » Klitschko Sr. confessed to me after the fight.

Universum Box Promotion: 14 million in 8 years and first championship

As in the case of Vladimir, Vitaliy Klitschko’s professional boxing career should be divided into 2 stages. The first lasted from 1996 to 2004, when the affairs of the brothers was conducted by the German company Universum Box Promotion.

On November 16, 1996, Vitaliy made his debut in the professional ring and managed to hold 3 rating duels this year. In 1997, the Ukrainian won 10 battles, and in all early, mainly in the 1st or 2nd round. In 1998 he demonstrated an identical result – 10 victories with a knockout in 10 battles.

In his 25th battle in the professional ring, Klitschko Sr. was a chance to become a WBO world champion. To do this, it was necessary to go to London to fight the current world champion – the British Gaidy Gaid. Interestingly, the Promotor of the Dark British was Frank Warren, who is currently sweeping the nearest opponent of Alexander Usik – Daniel Duba.

On June 26, 1999, Vitaly in the UK capital was knocked out in the second round and, according to legend, was a real surprise for his German promoter Klaus-Peter Kohl.

But further on the path of the Ukrainian there were not only victories. Already in April 2000, Vitaliy lost the title, receiving a serious injury during a battle with American Chris Burda – a tearful of the shoulder muscle of the left hand. Klitschko Sr., he received his chance to regain a chance on June 21, 2003, when he reached the ring against the legendary Lennox Lewis. At that time, Vitaliy had the status of the most popular and paid boxers in Germany with his younger brother, and their promoter Claus-Peter signed record contracts with the German TV channel ZDF and the American NGO.

Lennox Lewis – Vitaliy Klitschko

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For the enchanting battle against Lewis Klitschko Sr., he earned $ 1.4 million + a bonus from the sale of television to Germany. At that time, Vitaliy and Vladimir had already registered their own K2 Promotions with an office in Los Angeles and, apparently, had plans to promote themselves in the future. Universum Box Promotion took a commission of 35 percent of their fees from their boxers, and had a limited impact on the promotional market in the US market.

On the other hand, thanks to cooperation with the German company between 1996 and 2004, according to calculations “Champion”Vitaliy Klitschko earned about 14 million euros on battles and advertising.

The market price of battle is over $ 10 million

Vitaliy became a completely different order of fees after he won the title of WBC in 2004 against Corri Sanders in 2004. The news of the tender on the battle Vitaliy Klitschko – Hasim Rahman in 2005 allows us to understand the difference. If the boxers are unable to agree on financial conditions, the boxing organization, which authorizes the duel, conducts a tender. Any company that wants to organize the event can take part in it. During the auction, envelopes with financial proposals are revealed. Whose application is greater, he wins the right to organize the show.

In 2005, 4 companies decided to participate in the tender. The K2 application amounted to $ 10.7 million and took only 3rd place. Hasima Rahman’s promoter Odiony Don King with an offer of $ 11 million took second place, and the winner was Bob Arum Top Rank, whose application was 12 million and $ 1. According to the then WBC rules, the prize fund was divided in the ratio of 65% for the champion and 35% for the applicant. Therefore, Vitaliy Klitschko had to earn a fee for this battle of 7.8 million. And the market value of his championship fights in the United States at that time was more than $ 10 million.

Unfortunately, this fight never happened. Vitaliy was injured and was eventually forced to make a 46-month-old pause in professional boxing.

K2 Promotions and KMG: 52 million in 4 years

A 37-year-old Klitschko spent his next match in Berlin in October 2008. In order for the current World Champion Nigerian Sam Peter flew to Germany, Klitschka was forced to promise him more than 50 percent of his income. Vitaliy suddenly declared Sam, a bonus for which was a fee of $ 4.5 million. At least, this amount was called by his then manager Ivaylo Gottsev.

Vitaliy Klitschko and Samuel Peter

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After returning to the ring, Vitaliy Klitschko conducted 10 championship fights. Everyone won. 9 matches took place in Europe (6 of them in Germany) and only one in the United States. Ient revenues in Europe ranged from 5-8 million euros.

In terms of construction of the marketing component, an interesting case with a Ukrainian match with Tomasz Adamek on a 45,000th arena in Wroclaw in September 2011. At that time, Poland and Ukraine were preparing for football Euro 2012. The stadium in Wroclaw was built for municipal money on the eve of this grand tournament.

Klitschko – Adamek’s battle became the first event in the football arena. According to information “Champion”local authorities Wroclaw paid the equivalent of 2 million euros of KMG (Klitschko Management Group) for the right to take this event. And it was quite logical solution for promoting the new arena, because the broadcasting of the match could be seen in 100 countries.

And before that Vitaliy and Vladimir Klitschko in their interviews for some time told that it would be cool to hold a championship battle in Donetsk at Donbas Arena. Most likely, this story has not been continued because of the political component. Vitaliy Klitschko was already a politician-opposition, while the owner of Shakhtar and Donbas Arena Rinat Akhmetov at that time belonged to the party.

According to estimates “Champion”in 11 championship battles (2004, 2008-2012), Vitaliy’s income and his company amounted to about 52 million euros. So, for his professional boxing career, Klitschko Sr. earned 66 million euros.