By Norm Frauenheim-
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is No. 1 on the list that really matters to him. After all, he calls himself Money for a reason.
That reason turned up big – as in $915 million – on top of the Forbes’ list of the top-earning athletes of the decade. From this corner, at least, it is further confirmation of his place in boxing over the last 10 years.
There’s a reasonable argument for Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao. But he beat them both. There’s a better argument for Andre Ward, but it’s eroded by the controversy over the scoring in his decision over Sergey Kovalev in their first fight. Ward clearly won the rematch.
But there was really no argument about what Mayweather did in the ring for the last 10 years. There’s plenty of argument about what he did outside of those ropes. Within them, however, he won. He only won. There wasn’t much drama attached to any of the victories. But there was the money, suit cases full of it. Mayweather posed with the Benjamins more often than he did with opponents.
For 10 years, his defensive skill had no equal. But it was the money – all that money – that separated him from everybody else. It brought – and bought – drama often lacking in his bouts. It also brought – and bought – worldwide attention. Bottom-line, he is The Fighter of the Decade for not losing a fight while earning unprecedented money. Risk-to-Reward, he had no rivals in this decade or any other.
He has talked about coming back in the decade that will begin in a few days. Then again, he has also said, no, he won’t be back. Maybe, maybe not. Guess here: He’ll try. Remember, money is his motivation. Eighty-five more million and he’ll be billionaire.
I’m not sure he could earn $85 million in today’s market. It began to shrink in 2019, although Canelo was still earning $35 million-a-fight. In the Forbes annual list of top earners last June, Canelo was No. 4 at $92 million and Anthony Joshua No. 13 at $55 million.
I’m also not sure what Mayweather’s place a top the decade’s money list will mean to his place in boxing history. From jets to Ferraris, it’ll buy him a lot of toys. But it’ll only buy a Legacy if it’s made and named by a high-end car maker. His boxing legacy will be judged and re-judged throughout the forthcoming decades.
He has tried to influence that historical view with T-shirts and caps that are inscribed with his official record: 50-0. That includes the money-making show against a boxing novice, Conor McGregor, an MMA star who had about as much of a chance against a pound-for-pound best as an amateur would have had. History, it says here, won’t look kindly on that bout, or whatever it was.
Meanwhile, Mayweather risks his historical claim on the 50-0 milestone if he ventures back into the ring against just about anybody other than another MMA star or perhaps in an oft-rumored rematch with 41-year old Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather is 42. He’ll be 43 on Feb. 24. Mayweather’s dates with McGregor and Pacquaio paid him more than $500 million, according to Forbes.
He’ll be tempted. In fact, it sounds as if he’s wrestling with that temptation now. That’s why we’re hearing that, no, he’s coming back on one day. Then the next day, he reverses himself, saying, yeah, he’ll be back 2020.
Who knows? I’m not sure he knows. But know this: Mayweather caps and T-shirts proclaim him to be the best ever with the acronym TBE. But it really means: The Best Earner. Ever. If you don’t believe, read Forbes.
