How much are Manny Pacquiao and Yordenis Ugas getting paid for welterweight title fight

Eight-division champ Manny Pacquiao makes his return to the ring on Saturday, fighting for the first time in two years. He is scheduled to find WBA Super welterweight champ Yordenis Ugas on a FOX Sports and YouTube PPV event, with the card costing $74.99.

Pacquiao originally signed to fight WBC and IBF welterweight champ Errol Spence, Jr., but Spence had to withdrew ten days ago due to an eye injury. Ugas was scheduled to fight as the co-feature, but he got bumped up to the main event rather than delay Pacquiao’s return.

There are a variety of factors impacting how much the two fighters will earn for the fight. Reports have Pacquiao earning a guaranteed $5 million plus a share of PPV sales. Two years ago, he earned $10 million guaranteed plus a PPV percentage. His fight against Spence would have been arguably a bigger fight, but it makes sense the guarantee would come down amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that Pacquiao has not fought in two years.

We don’t have Pacquiao’s PPV percentage split, and the actual buys will be an interesting number. Spence withdrew from the card ten days ago, which means it is possible some folks already bought the PPV before the news. Of course, even with the change in opponent, Pacquiao fans likely would have bought the PPV regardless. Spence fans might be different, but would also be a decidedly smaller crowd.

Pacquiao-Thurman did approximately 500,000 PPV buys. If that number repeats, we’d be looking at revenue of approximately $37,495,000. If Pacquiao got 60% of that figure, he’d take home an additional $22,497,000. on top of his $5 million guaranteed. Of course, given the change in the bout, the PPV percentage split could change.

It’s a bit murky as to what Ugas will earn for the fight. He was already fighting on the card, but this promotion would seemingly bring with it more pay than whatever he was originally scheduled to earn for fighting Fabian Maidana as the co-feature. There was a report Spence was due more than $2 million in guaranteed money plus his PPV share. Ugas is likely to earn less than the $2 million guaranteed and potentially less on the PPV sales given he is not as big a name as Spence.