This is how much the judges and referee will earn in the Canelo vs Crawford fight

In boxing, it’s not just the fighters who take the glory and the headlines. On September 13, 2025, when Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford meet at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, there will be other silent protagonists stepping into the ring with a not insignificant incentive: the judges and the referee.

The Nevada Athletic Commission has confirmed the names responsible for enforcing the rules in the year’s most anticipated fight. Veteran Tom Taylor will be the third man in the ring, earning $25,000 for keeping order.

Judges Tim Cheatham, Max Deluca and Steve Weisfeld will each take home $20,000 for sitting ringside. Altogether, the four officials will receive $85,000 – less than 0.1 percent of the projected revenue from a night expected to generate hundreds of millions through ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorships.

Canelo-Crawford: business for everyone

The appointment of referees and judges is far from a formality. Each selection goes through filters of experience, reputation and the ability to withstand pressure. In a fight that will decide the undisputed 168-pound champion, any mistake could cost reputations, millions – even the legacies of two legends.

Taylor is no newcomer: he has refereed world title bouts and is regarded as one of the most trusted officials for high-profile fights. His most recent major assignment was Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios.

The same goes for Cheatham, Deluca and Weisfeld, all frequent judges in Nevada, where boxing has grown into a billion-dollar annual industry.

The most expensive fight of the year

Canelo vs Crawford is not only a clash of unbeaten records and storied careers. It also ushers in a new era in sports promotion. The event will be staged by TKO Group Holdings, parent company of UFC, with financial backing from Saudi Arabia through Turki Alalshikh, the influential chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.

UFC CEO Dana White will serve as lead promoter of a card that will stream exclusively on Netflix, cementing the platform’s entry into pay-per-view boxing. Allegiant Stadium, home of the Raiders, expects more than 60,000 fans, with tickets ranging from $500 to $15,000 for ringside seats.

Millions and pressure

The paradox is striking: while Canelo could pocket more than $80 million and Crawford around $30 million, the judges and referee remain discreet figures in boxing’s financial divide. Their paychecks are high by normal standards but modest in a sport where purses reach astronomical sums.

History and numbers

In 1971, the referee of the “Fight of the Century” between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier earned just $2,500. Fifty years later, that figure has multiplied tenfold.

In Las Vegas, each assignment is subject to scrutiny. Weisfeld, for example, was one of the judges in the controversial 2017 draw between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo that sparked global debate. Cheatham, by contrast, has become a reliable presence in recent undisputed title fights, showing consistency in his scorecards.

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