Floyd Mayweather is set to earn a staggering $25 million dollars (£19.4 million) through sponsorship and branding alone on his fight shorts, robe and caps before a punch is thrown in his boxing match against UFC star Conor McGregor on August 26.
The astronomical sums involved are in keeping with the boxer's extrordinary rise to fame, wealth and notoriety in a 20-year career in which he remains unbeaten in 49 fights, having won world titles in five weight classes. Mayweather could earn in the region of $240 million for this fight with a novice boxer, and could retire in ten days' time with career earnings close to $1 billion.
Mayweather's reach as the undisputed pay per view fight king is undeniable, the defensive genius having generated approximately 19.5 million pay per view buys for his fights which have grossed $41.3 billion in revenue over the course of his career.
The extraordinary earning power of Mayweather's brand has seen his sponsorship partners One Entertainment request up to $15.5 million for six sections on the boxer's shorts, with requests for $3.5 million for his waistband, and $1.5 million for a 4 x 2 inch patch on the front thigh of his shorts. They are asking for $1 million for his robe and even a million for his 'victor's cap'.
The ring cushion behind Mayweather's head during the fight, in one of the corners, has been bought out by a betting agent for $3.1 million. Mayweather Promotions are also asking for additional compensation for mass production of any caps or boots.
Brand sponsors are keen to be involved in a contest which could gross more than $700 million and may reach 5 million pay per view buys. For a decade, since Mayweather became self-promoted after earning $25 million for defeating Oscar De La Hoya, he has brought in a residual earning capacity for the city of Las Vegas which is unlikely ever to be matched.
Since 2007, Mayweather has been involved in the three biggest pay-per-view boxing events of all time, against Manny Pacquiao - currently the top performer with 4.4 million buys - De La Hoya, and Saul Alvarez, with two heavyweight bouts at fourth and fifth, respectively Tyson versus Holyfield, twenty years ago, and Tyson versus Lennox Lewis, fourteen years ago.
Mayweather's carefully curated has image seen his social media reach from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram rise to 80 million fans, which, combined with McGregor's following, sees the two fighters reach a digital audience of 115 million followers.
Measure Mayweather's impact against all others in fight sports and he stands alone, unbeaten at 49-0 in the ring across five weight division, yet he also remains peerless as a businessman/boxer. The American boxer led the Forbes and Sports Illustrated lists of the highest-paid athletes of 2012 and 2013 respectively, and the Forbes list again in both 2014 and 2015, in which he was recorded as the highest paid athlete in the world.
Over time, Mayweather has generated approximately 19.5 million in PPV buys and 41.3 billion in revenue, surpassing the likes of former top PPV attractions, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.
The fight with Filipino Pacquiao drew 4.4 million buys at $100. The contest with McGregor will cost almost $100 dollars in the USA for high definition viewing. It is set to be the richest fight in history.
