When Mike Tyson walked out to fight Jake Paul, one thing was certain. The fireworks, glamor, and a stacked card—everything screamed money. Money was one factor behind how the card was weaved. It eventually resulted in 60 million households turning in to watch it live. At one point the figures even touched 65 million streams.

Could it have been possible 50 or 60 years ago? How would the greats of that time, such as Muhammad Ali, have reacted to boxers taking home huge payouts? Good thing that we now have a fair idea.

Notably, Tyson, 58, reportedly took home $20 million when he traded blows for 16 minutes with Paul, 27, who himself banked $40 million. The number is so great that it would have “mortified” Ali, if his daughter, Rasheda Ali Walsh, is to be believed. It’s a mouth-watering money bag, given the Saudis were not even involved. But did you know Ali’s biggest purse was $7.9 million when he fought Larry Holmes in 1980?

During a conversation with Fox News, Rasheda Ali drew a parallel between fighters of her father’s era and how ‘Iron Mike’ revolutionized the boxing landscape and added a hefty amount to his bank balance in his latest fight against the Problem Child. She said, “Boxers didn’t make money, like you know, Tyson’s making. And daddy would have been excited he made that kind of money.”

The 54-year-old then pointed out how boxers of her father’s era were fighting for their lives, not money. But ‘The Greatest’ led the way to boxers making the kind of money they are making today. She continued, “Daddy would have been mortified. Because back then, boxers didn’t really make that much. They were fighting for their lives, and I think as my dad started to make boxing more entertaining, that’s when people came on board and how boxers started to, after my dad, make a lot of money.”

But how did Ali do it when there were no promoters or marketing teams around?

Muhammad Ali built the platform for Mike Tyson to stand on

The American author explained in the same conversation how her father wanted to bring more attention to the sweet science. The Louisville native had encouraged people to pay for the ticket and come and watch fights. She added, “He wanted eyes to bring eyes to the sport, and he did that. Before there were promoters and managers and marketing people for boxers, he did it on his own. And what I think daddy wanted to do was, he wanted people to spend money to watch him fight.”

Ali’s meteoric rise to stardom changed the boxing landscape as he bagged big purses progressively in his career. What’s more? His willingness to fight in different countries and stage events there, such as ‘Thrilla in Manila’ and ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ made boxers global superstars.

Ali’s career earnings stood at $57 million. Tyson built on it, as he ended his first run in his professional career with an estimated earnings of over $400 million. Now that’s a sight Ali would have looked at and smiled.

What do you make of these comments by Rasheda Ali Walsh about the difference in earnings between Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.