UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s father and coach, Andy Aspinall, has revealed his desire to see his son pursue a lucrative boxing match in the future. Speaking candidly during a day-in-the-life episode on Tom’s channel, the elder Aspinall made it clear that the financial opportunities in boxing are too significant to ignore.
“I’d love him to have a very highly paid boxing match for the money,” Andy stated without hesitation. His reasoning stems from the stark financial disparities between UFC fighters and boxers, despite the similar levels of skill and danger involved.
“I don’t see why somebody as talented as Tom shouldn’t have a piece of that money when the boxers are getting hundred times more, more than a hundred times more. The UFC ain’t paying that type of money.”
Andy’s perspective on fighter compensation reflects broader concerns within mixed martial arts about athlete pay. He drew comparisons to other major sports, noting that even as one of the world’s best at what he does, Tom earns “a tiny fraction” of what soccer players and American footballers make.
Having dedicated decades to developing Tom’s skills, starting when Tom was just seven years old, Andy has invested countless hours in the gym. “From being 16 to 22, five times, 5 hours a day and then night times and then sparring on top of that – millions of hours,” he reflected on their training journey together.
Despite his success, Andy maintains a grounded perspective on his son’s achievements. “It’s his job,” he said about Tom being heavyweight champion. “If I was doing a job, I’d want to be the best at doing the job.”
Andy’s vision for the immediate future includes Tom headlining a card in England, followed by strategic career decisions. However, the boxing opportunity remains an attractive option given the financial rewards available. The sport’s potential for mainstream growth also factors into his thinking, as he believes the UFC needs to expand and provide better compensation for elite athletes like his son.
