The former WBO Interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang is going to square off against Germany’s Agit Kabayel on February 22nd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It was only in June last year that he emerged victorious against Deontay Wilder in a stunning 5th-round TKO. And now they will be fighting for the WBC Interim World Heavyweight title.

As he prepares to tackle the 25-0 boxer, ‘The Big Bang’ is expected to collect a fat paycheck for his efforts. So the question is, how much wealth does the 41-year-old have currently? How much does he earn per fight? And what else does he do besides boxing? Luckily, we have the answer for all of them.

Zhilei Zhang 2025 net worth

While he turned pro in 2014, it was his game-changing victory over Peter Graham in 2017 after his Silver win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that truly set him on the world map. Fast forward to 2023, Zhilei Zhang hit the jackpot when he knocked out an undefeated Joe Joyce for the 1st time in April 2023. According to a report from Sporty Salaries, he pocketed almost $375k, including a 35% cut from the pay-per-view shares for the fight.

The Big Bang is reportedly one of China’s richest boxers. According to Sporty Salaries, his net worth is currently estimated at around $5 million. A part of it comes from his contract deal with Queensberry Promotions with whom he signed a promotional contract in 2023. His earnings per fight vary, ranging from $500K to $2 million. But it’s not just the money that’s skyrocketed. After his win over ‘Juggernaut’, the 41-year-old became a household name in his home country.

According to reports, his knockout of Joe Joyce captured the imagination of the Chinese public with his victory finding over 300 million mentions across social media. Some reports even suggest their rematch was viewed by over 50 million people in China. As a result, even his promoter, Terry Lane had to confirm that the Bloomfield resident became the top trending topic on social media and news outlets. So, now with his popularity on the rise, Zhilei Zhang’s Riyadh fight is poised to send his star even higher. Talk about cashing in on success!

How much did Zhilei Zhang make? Fight purse history

While his earnings might not be in the stratosphere, Zhilei Zhang has certainly carved out a solid financial position with a blend of talent, hard work, and smart decisions. His transition from amateur into professional boxing in August 2014 wasn’t without its hurdles. Managerial disputes, promotional issues, and visa complications were just a few of the bumps in the road. However, his determination paid off when he signed with Matchroom Boxing in 2020. It was a move that opened the door to bigger paydays.

Zhang’s fight purses have been steadily rising since then. After his initial victory against Joe Joyce, they squared off again after 4 months. In the September bout, the Zhoukou native reportedly earned $1.6 million, which included a $500k purse and 40% of the pay-per-view shares, according to Sporty Salaries. But the biggest payday until then came when he faced Joseph Parker in March 2024. Despite a loss, Zhilei Zhang reportedly made $1.8 million, a nice sum that showed just how much his stock was climbing. Little did he know, the numbers would grow bigger in the next fight.

Zhilei Zhang’s fight against Deontay Wilder was another game-changer. How? See, after the 5th-round TKO victory at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Zhilei’s purse shot up to $2 million, with 30% of the PPV shares added to his base earnings. And now, the 41-year-old’s next fight, set for February 22, 2025, against Agit Kabayel in Saudi Arabia, is expected to net him an impressive $2.5 million.

Talk about striking while the iron’s hot! While Zhilei Zhang has already accumulated a hefty fortune, a victory against Agit Kabayel will undoubtedly skyrocket his earnings even further. With that said, what are your thoughts on this? And most importantly, who do you think is going to win – Zhilei Zhang or Agit Kabayel?