Floyd Mayweather Jr. (left) and Manny Pacquiao. AFP FILE PHOTO
The biggest payday in the boxing careers of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have also catapulted both legends of the sport to the top of the highest-paid celebrities list this year.
Mayweather is No.1 in Forbes’ ranking after earning $300 million due in large part to the financial windfall delivered by his May 2 super fight with Pacquiao.
The bout had shattered financial records in combat sports history including Pay-Per-View buys, total gate receipts, and sponsorships.
And when it has been all said and done, the fight is expected to generate over $600 million, according to Forbes.
Pacquiao came in a far second, earning $160 million.
Boxing’s only eight-division champion took home $125 million for the megafight alone. Pacquiao is currently recuperating from a shoulder surgery.
Mayweather and Pacquiao earned more than the likes of award-winning artist Katy Perry, ($135 million), who is third in the list, boy band One Direction ($130 million), and Avengers star Robert Downey Jr. and singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, who garnered $80 million each. CFC