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LAS VEGAS. — Floyd Mayweather’s earnings for his fight against Manny Pacquiao will help him break Tiger Woods’ record for a sportsman’s annual income.
He will also break a record held by former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Mayweather’s earnings for the year will set a record for a sportsman’s annual income, Forbes.com has calculated.
Forbes noted on Thursday that the undefeated American would probably earn at least $150 million and Pacquiao more than $100 million for the welterweight world title showdown in Las Vegas.
The financial news website said payouts could be higher if more than three million pay-per-views were sold.
“Money” Mayweather’s haul would represent the highest yearly earnings by an athlete, surpassing Woods’ inflation-adjusted record of $125 million in 2008, Forbes said.
Woods is in first and second place on Forbes’ list of highest-paid athletes in a given year, adjusted for inflation.
His adjusted earnings in 2009 came to $120 million.
Basketball star Michael Jordan is third, with inflation-adjusted earnings of $115 million in both 1997 and 1998. Woods also earned $113 million in 2007 and 2010.
The highest boxer on the list is former heavyweight champion Tyson, with inflation-adjusted earnings of $112 million in 1996.
Forbes said its figures were the result of 25 years of tracking athletes’ earnings.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has predicted that revenue for the mega-fight could surpass $400 million. That includes $74 million from just over 15 000 tickets at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Foreign rights to the fight sold for a record $35 million, Arum has said.
Boxing’s record for pay-per-view purchases is the 2.4 million buys from Mayweather’s split-decision win over Oscar de la Hoya. The record for pay-per-view receipts is the $152 million set by Mayweather’s bout with Saul Alvarez in 2013.
The fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao is expected to “crush” both pay-per-view numbers, Forbes noted.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the pay-per-view price for the fight would be a record $99 for the high-definition feed, with a standard definition version costing a slightly cheaper $89.
Muhammad Ali is not backing Manny Pacquiao to beat Floyd Mayweather next month.
The former heavyweight champion’s publicist has denied reports that Ali favours the Filipino against the unbeaten American.
A report on celebrity website TMZ this week quoted Ali’s daughter Rasheda as saying he “is Team Pacquiao all the way.”
“He knows Manny’s a great fighter . . . but it’s more about what he does outside the ring. He’s such a charitable person,” the website quoted her as saying.
On Thursday, however, a statement posted on the Muhammad Ali Centre website denied that the champ was backing either fighter.
“Muhammad Ali would like to wish both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao well in their upcoming fight on May 2,” the statement said.
“Muhammad never offered to anyone his prediction on the fight. Information that was published earlier this week and picked up by other media is either a misquote or someone else’s personal opinion.
“The stories saying that Muhammad Ali has chosen a favourite in the fight are false.”
Ali, who turned 73 in January and has battled the effects of Parkinson’s disease for decades, has not attended a fight in years.
He is not expected to be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 2 when Pacquiao and Mayweather meet in a welterweight title fight.
“Muhammad has the utmost respect for both fighters who will undoubtedly give boxing fans an incredible match,” the statement said.
“He believes the significance of this fight will rival other historic matches. Muhammad Ali will join the rest of the world on May 2 to watch this match-up.” — SuperSport.
Online Reporter