Simon Zachenhuber: This is how much the boxing star really earns – and why his fortune is almost zero

Simon Zachenhuber has developed from a lateral entrant without any amateur fights to an international titleholder in professional boxing. Athletically, things are progressing for the super middleweight – financially, however, he still describes his situation as tight: According to his own statements, his recent earnings were just enough to cover ongoing expenses. He says he has no savings.

Career and recent promoter change

The boxer from Erding stands for an unusual path. Since switching to the professional ranks in 2018, he has been working his way up step by step. With the junior world championship in 2022 and the WBC International title in 2023, he set sporting highlights. At the end of 2025, there was then a turning point outside the ring: Zachenhuber parted ways with promoter P2M and manager Klaus Kärcher. From 2026, he will be under contract with Goldensport Promotion, led by promoter Spencer Brown – a change that is intended to more closely link sporting perspective and marketing.

From versatile young athlete to pro without an amateur career

Zachenhuber was born on June 6, 1998 in Erding, north of Munich. Four weeks after his birth, his father had a sports accident and has been severely disabled ever since. Zachenhuber has an older and a younger sister; in 2004, his sister Amelie was born, who was later considered a great swimming talent. Also since 2004, the family has run its own swimming school in Erding, which is also called "Babydelphinchen." This family environment and early influence through sports run as a constant throughout his biography.

His own path does not begin in the boxing ring. At the age of five, he started swimming, and at twelve, kickboxing was added. Between the ages of ten and seventeen, he also did biathle and pentathlon; among his best results are the German runner-up championship in 2009 and third place at the German championship in 2014. At various times, Eitting, a place near Erding, also played an important role – at times, it was both his training location and residence.

The decisive step came at age 19: Zachenhuber switched directly to the pros without a single amateur boxing match. Since January 2018, he has been training with Conny Mittermeier in Stuttgart; he has lived there ever since. He made his professional debut on May 18, 2018 in Potsdam at Sauerland Event.

This direct entry makes his career in German boxing special: Zachenhuber had to acquire technique, ring routine, and tactical skills under professional conditions – without the usual "safety net" of a long amateur career. The nickname "The Matador" accompanies him: it originally comes from his appearance in the Paso Doble on "Let’s Dance," and fans and media later transferred it to his boxing career.

Titles, rankings, and the significance of the WBC belt

In sporting terms, Zachenhuber has set several solid milestones in recent years.

• January 22, 2022: Junior world championship in middleweight against Maurice Morio
• 2023: WBC International title in super middleweight
• July 2025: Victory against Paulinus Ndjolonimu on points

This belt is, in the WBC system, an international or regional level below a regular world championship title. For boxers, it can be especially important strategically: it increases visibility within the association, improves the starting position for rankings, and can thus open the door to bigger fights. In Zachenhuber’s career, the title fits exactly this pattern: not an endpoint, but a lever to work closer to a world title shot.

In July 2025, he also defeated Namibian Paulinus Ndjolonimu in a close fight on points. The victory helped him further improve his position in international rankings and recommend himself more strongly for a world championship fight. The impression: Zachenhuber is building his rise not through short-term attention, but through belts, opponents, and understandable steps.

Financial situation and earnings

Despite his sporting development, the economic side remains manageable according to Zachenhuber’s own account. His income is variable and depends on fights and sponsors. As a guideline, a range of about 60,000 to 100,000 euros per year is mentioned for a professional boxer of his profile – however, in the boxing business, this is not a classic, plannable annual salary, but the result of:

• Fight purses
• Bonuses
• Sponsorship
• Marketing

This exact cost structure is the core of the problem Zachenhuber describes: training camps, trainer and team fees, travel, medical care, and the daily professional setup eat up a significant portion of what looks like good income on paper.

• Training camps
• Trainer and team fees
• Travel
• Medical care
• Daily professional setup

Zachenhuber puts it clearly himself: “Boxing has been my profession for eight years. So far, what I have earned has just been enough to cover the costs and get by in life. I have no savings.” And he adds how much, from his point of view, financial development depends on professionalism outside the ring: “With the right marketing of the fights, with sponsors, in advertising and on social media, I could already be a millionaire.”

Additional source of income: Participation in “Let’s Dance”

An additional source of income was his participation in the 14th season of “Let’s Dance” in 2021. With professional dancer Patricija Belosouva, he reached the semifinals and finished fourth; he is said to have received 30,000 euros for participating. He remained publicly visible – a visibility that can help in boxing, but does not automatically replace stable top fight purses if matchmaking and sponsor structure do not keep pace.

Outlook and promoter change

Thus, Zachenhuber’s career currently stands for two parallel curves: In the ring, his international relevance is growing, economically he describes the return as too small to build up reserves. The promoter change from 2026 is therefore not only the next sporting milestone – above all, it is an attempt to finally translate sporting value into financial stability.