Mayweather is world’s top sports earner with $105m for just two fights

American boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather has again come out on top of the list of the world’s top-paid sports stars. The undefeated 37-year-old star fought just twice in the last 12 months, but despite his lack of endorsements he raked in enough from the bouts against Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana to collect an astonising $105m. No wonder he’s nicknamed himself ‘Money’, and constantly flouts his wealth with pictures on Instagram. Perhaps most surprising of all, however, is how he makes so much: While the other top earners make a huge chunk of their money through endorsements (90 per cent of it, in the case of golfers and tennis players), the boxer’s money all comes through earnings.

Floyd Mayweather is going to live his life like he wants to live it. I am Mr. Boxing; Mr. Money Man; Mr. I’m Getting It; Mr. 500 million dollar man. When you speak boxing, you’re speaking Mayweather.

Floyd Mayweather’s self-assessment

Mayweather’s cash haul was enough to see him overtake Tiger Woods at the top of Forbes magazine’s latest rankings of the world’s best-paid athletes, $25m ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo on $80m. Basketball superstar LeBron James was third on $68m, just ahead of Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi on $64m.

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