LOS ANGELES - As he finished speaking at the post-fight conference of his showdown with Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. approached some reporters in their seats dangling a check he just claimed after a night's work.
It was a check issued by Bank of America indicating a staggering $100 million (about Php4.46 billion).
"No pictures, though," Mayweather, sliding the check out of an envelope. "Don't want any pictures of it."
On Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Mayweather reminded everyone why he proudly calls himself "Money".
He just outpointed Pacquiao in boxing's richest fight ever, fashioning out a unanimous decision victory in front of over 16,000 fans. And he was paid handsomely for it.
Since the fight went the full 12 rounds, Mayweather has made around $55,000 per second. He did it by side-stepping his way out each time Pacquiao cornered him on the ropes and countering the gritty Filipino with jabs and short rights.
The $100 million check was just the first of other possible paychecks Mayweather will receive, when income from the live gate receipts, pay-per-view buys and other revenue sources comes in. He walked away from the ring a big winner - unifying the WBC, WBA and WBO welterweight titles - and will even be a bigger winner when he walks into the bank.
His boxing brilliance has made him the world's highest paid athlete for several years now.
"The ultimate goal is to make nine figures in a night. And that's what I did," he said at the dais.
Mayweather has been a staple in Forbes' list of world's highest-paid athletes, ranking first in 2014 with total earnings of $105 million. Pacquiao, for his part, is at 11th with total winnings of $41 million.
Pacquiao, for his part, was handsomely rewarded as well, taking home around $80 million, or roughly P3.5 billion. He is also entitled to a share of other revenues generated by the fight.
But unlike the unbeaten Mayweather, Pacquiao isn't someone who loves to brag about it. - With report from AP
source: philstar.com
