Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have more mouth than a little bit. But he has backed it up in the ring, and that proficiency has earned him the largest guarantee in boxing history.
For taking on junior middleweight challenger Miguel Cotto Saturday night in Las Vegas, Mayweather will earn at least a whopping $32 million. On top of that, he stands to pocket substantially more from his take of the pay-per-view audience, which is expected to top one million units at $59.95 per showing.
Mike Tyson held the previous record by earning $30 million on the night he ruined what was left of his career by biting off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear in 1997.
“This is just a testament to his star power,” said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s closest adviser. “Floyd Mayweather is a one-man walking conglomerate. Of course, this is exciting. Over the last 12 months he is the highest-paid athlete in sports.”
Cotto, meanwhile, is guaranteed a career-best $8 million but also will receive a pay-per-view take as well.
