BOXING
Canelo vs Berlanga purse money: How much will they make and how will they split it?
The ways of the boxing world’s paydays are shrouded in mystery and none more so than the finances of a Canelo fight, but we try to separate fact from fiction.
Canelo Álvarez is stepping into the ring once again, this time against Edgar Berlanga, on Saturday, September 14, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the kind of fight you’d expect to see on Mexican Independence Day - a date Canelo rarely misses. With three belts on the line - WBC, WBO, and WBA - the stakes are sky-high, and so is the money.
Canelo has built a career as a powerhouse in boxing, both in skill and earning potential. For his recent bout with Jaime Munguía, Canelo walked away with a guaranteed $30 to $35 million, and that’s not even counting his cut from pay-per-view (PPV) sales, which pushed the total even higher. The fight with Berlanga is expected to follow a similar pattern. While the exact numbers are still up in the air, Canelo is likely to take home anywhere between 50% and 80% of the PPV earnings. That puts him in line for another massive payday, potentially exceeding the $35 million mark.
On the other hand, Berlanga, a rising star with Puerto Rican roots, is looking at the biggest opportunity of his career. Up to now, Berlanga has earned between $500,000 and $700,000 per fight. This time, though, he’s stepping onto a much bigger stage, and the money will reflect that. Although the specific purse hasn’t been made public, it’s expected that Berlanga will see a significant boost. There were rumors floating around that Berlanga could be making up to $30 million for this fight, with $17.5 million guaranteed. But Berlanga himself shot down that figure, calling it “too high.”
“No, no, no, no. Let’s see, let’s see. I don’t want to talk about that, but that’s not it. That’s too high. Oh, my God. That’s a lot,” he said, while also admitting, “Yes, yes, yes, of course, yes, of course,” when pressed on whether it’s still a large amount.
So, while the exact breakdown isn’t clear, one thing is certain: both fighters stand to make millions. For Berlanga, this fight isn’t just about titles - it’s a shot at transforming his career and bank account. And for Canelo, it’s another day at the office, where the rewards are as massive as his reputation.