highlight
- Daniel Dubois trained not for financial gain, but in a mansion with luxurious facilities.
- Chris Algieri started boxing out of love, earned a degree, and went on to have a successful career as a nutritionist.
- Despite being a member of Ghana's royal family, Isaac Dogboye entered boxing with expectations for a different career.
Boxing is often seen as a tough sport for the working class. Low-income athletes are trying to fight their way out of poverty to build a better life for themselves and their families.
However, not everyone has the same journey. Some boxers don't necessarily fight for financial gain because they were born into less stressful environments.
10 Anthony Joshua's biggest purse: how much does he earn per fight
Anthony Joshua is one of the highest-paid martial arts athletes and a PPV star.
Ten Daniel Dubois trains at the mansion
Dubois had access to a hot tub as a child.
- The big puncher's path to glory was carved in his father's lush mansion.
Daniel Dubois hopes to follow in the footsteps of Lennox Lewis and Tyson Fury as Britain's next great heavyweight. Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) pushed former WBA champion and unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk to the limit. Dubois was able to train comfortably thanks to his father's wealth. Dubois' father was a successful art trader and amassed a small fortune.
9 Chris Algieri started boxing because he loved it
Boxing was not seen as a way out of poverty
- Algieri holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree.
Former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri was also an undefeated world champion kickboxer. Algieri (25-4, 9 KOs) has had a successful career outside the ring as a nutritionist. He grew up in an upper middle class area of New York. Both of Algieri's parents had stable jobs, his father working as a highway superintendent for more than 40 years, and his mother working as a secretary at a local hospital.
8 Isaac Dogboe boxed to help deal with bullies
Dogboye's family was disappointed when he turned professional
- Boxing is considered a lower class sport in Ghana.
Former WBO junior featherweight champion Isaac Dogboye (24-4, 16 KOs) is a member of Ghana's royal family. Dogboye's grandfather is the ruler of the Volta region of Ghana. Because of the resources available to Dogboye, his family hoped he would become a lawyer or a doctor. At an early age, Dogboe was sent to England to live and study with his father. Even though he became a world champion, Dogboye plans to finish his degree eventually.
7 Billy Joe Saunders is a two-division world champion
Sanders is proud of his romantic heritage
- Saunders is the first boxer from the traveling community to win world titles in multiple weight classes.
A crafty southpaw, Billy Joe Saunders won the WBO middleweight and super middleweight titles. Saunders (30-1, 14 KOs) is of Romani descent. Sanders grew up in a traveling community. His family is in boxing, as his father and great-grandfather also boxed. The Sanders family built their wealth through many skilled trade jobs.
10 boxers who should try bare-knuckle boxing
The rapidly emerging sport of boxing has been home to many past fighters from all disciplines of martial arts. These 10 boxers might be a good fit.
6 Freddie Welsh wanted to find his own way
Welsh people had a privileged childhood in Wales
- Wales didn't want to become a professional boxer because he knew it wouldn't make his family happy.
Freddie Welsh reigned at the top of the lightweight division for three years. Welsh (74-5-7, 34 KOs) grew up in a working-class family and was dedicated to pursuing his dreams. The Welshman attended several private schools in Wales while helping out at his parents' luxury hotel. Welsh eventually retired and worked odd jobs in England, Canada and the United States, eventually pursuing a career in professional boxing. Wales' efforts paid off, as he defeated Johnny Summers to win the European lightweight title and Hall of Famer Willie Ritchie to win the world lightweight title.
Five Azuma Nelson is one of Africa's greatest martial artists
Nelson grew up in a wealthy part of Ghana.
- Nelson achieved stardom by knocking out Wilfredo Gomez to win the featherweight title.
Hall of Famer Azuma Nelson is a former WBC featherweight and lineal super featherweight champion. Although his parents had great jobs and steady incomes, Nelson (39-6-2, 28 KOs) said there was sometimes conflict due to the size of his family. Nelson is the oldest of his parents' six children. Nelson also competed against his fellow Hall of Famers Pernell Whitaker and Salvador Sanchez.
Four Ken Norton is one of America's greatest heavyweights
Norton admits he was spoiled as a child
- The Hall of Famer gave Muhammad Ali some of the toughest fights of his career.
Former heavyweight champion Ken Norton, known for his rivalry with Muhammad Ali, also fought George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Ernie Shavers. Norton (42-7-1, 33 KOs) grew up in a working-class community in Jacksonville, Illinois. Norton's father was an engineer and his mother a therapist. Norton enlisted in the Marines, but he didn't know what to do with his life until he discovered boxing.
3 Tyson Fury is the son of an Irish traveler
Fury opens up about his privileged childhood
- Fury worked in his father's auto shop as a teenager to learn discipline.
Lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is one of the top boxers in the sport. Fury (34-0-1, 24 KOs) grew up in an upscale suburb of Cheshire, England. Fury attended Styal Elementary School, which is considered an elitist learning environment. But boxing has always been in Fury's blood.
Tyson Fury asks Francis Ngannou to 'kiss' his feet, takes credit for proceeds from Anthony Joshua fight
Tyson Fury praises the success of Francis Ngannou, who narrowly defeated the mixed martial artist in his boxing debut.
2 Marco Antonio Barrera may have been a lawyer
Barrera's father is a legend in Mexican cinema.
- The three-division world champion is known for his epic trilogy with Erik Morales.
Marco Antonio Barrera was one of boxing's top fighters. The Hall of Famer grew up in Mexico City, one of the wealthiest areas in the country. Barrera (67-7, 44 KOs) pursued boxing as a passion, not a way to survive. He actually studied law at a local university. In between training for upcoming matches, Barrera occasionally worked on film sets in Mexico City, sometimes helping his father.
1 Babut Shumenov is a lawyer
Shumenov's family is worth millions
- Shumenov's father made several successful investments and became a millionaire.
Babut Shumenov is a former WBA light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion. Shumenov (18-2, 12 KOs) started boxing to get stronger. His father was a wealthy accountant, and his mother worked as a school teacher. Shumenov earned a law degree while pursuing a career in boxing. Unfortunately, Shumenov's career was cut short when he suffered a serious eye injury during training. Shumenov works as a lawyer and helps his parents manage construction sites and markets.
