While Floyd Mayweather earned $1.5 billion for his fights, how much has Canelo earned in his career?

In recent years, athletes’ financial gains have seen exponential growth, and few figures illustrate that better than Floyd Mayweather. The American boxer turned his ring dominance into an unprecedented fortune, setting income records never before seen in the history of sports. Naturally, those earnings far surpass what Canelo Alvarez has generated to this point.

Mayweather’s nickname isn’t just a catchy moniker—it perfectly encapsulates a career built on triumphs across five different weight divisions. His undefeated streak in high-profile bouts made him the highest-paid athlete of all time, eclipsing even global icons like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Despite his lavish acquisitions and billionaire status, Mayweather has faced recent speculation regarding financial trouble. Just days ago, reports surfaced about unpaid wages at his Los Angeles boxing gym. Employees claim they haven’t received paychecks, leading to a public protest outside the facility on Highland Avenue—raising questions about the current state of the former champion’s finances.

Comparing Mayweather and Canelo’s career earnings

Over the course of his 20-year career, highlighted by a perfect 50-0 record, Mayweather amassed a remarkable $1.5 billion in earnings. His bouts against elite opponents—including Canelo himself—often came with nine-figure paydays. These figures are based on financial analyses published by Forbes and Sports Illustrated, which have consistently placed Mayweather among the highest-paid athletes in history.

Mexican champion Canelo Alvarez continues to generate a large amount of money from his boxing fights. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Perhaps the most lucrative was his 2017 mega-fight against UFC star Conor McGregor, which earned him $400 million in a single night. That win punctuated a flawless retirement for the American champion, who secured world titles in super featherweight, lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight, and super welterweight divisions.

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On the other hand, Canelo has accumulated approximately $730 million in career earnings from his fights. At 34 years old and still an active world champion at super middleweight, the Mexican superstar is far from finished. His earnings are expected to continue rising steadily in the near future, according to data from Sportico’s ranking of the 50 highest-paid athletes of all time.

To illustrate the point, Canelo is scheduled to face William Scull on May 3 and later take on Terence Crawford in September. The former bout will net him $50 million, while the latter is set to bring in another $150 million—raising his total to an estimated $930 million by the end of the year.

Looking back at Mayweather vs. Canelo

Mayweather and Canelo squared off in 2013 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, captivating the global boxing audience. That match marked Mayweather’s 45th professional victory and served as one of his final displays of brilliance inside the ring. Following that win, he would go on to defeat Marcos “Chino” Maidana twice, Manny Pacquiao, Andre Berto, and finally Conor McGregor—retiring unbeaten.

In that memorable 2013 showdown, Mayweather walked away not only with a victory but also with a $50 million purse—more than triple what his opponent earned. At the time, a young Canelo earned $13 million and suffered the first loss of his professional career.