Floyd beats Pacquiao in Forbes richest list

MANNY Pacquiao finished only second best to boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. not as the best boxer in the world today, but rather as the world’s highest-paid athlete.

Pacquiao finished second best in the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Highest-Paid Athletes, behind rival Mayweather Jr.

According to Forbes.com, the unbeaten 35-year-old American boxing icon earned a whopping amount of $85 million in his two bouts against Victor Ortiz and Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather Jr. earned $40 million in his controversial fourth-round knockout over Ortiz and $45 million in his unanimous decision victory against Cotto.

Even without endorsements, Mayweather Jr. maximized his earnings by being his own
promoter.

Mayweather Jr. dethroned Tiger Woods, who has been the highest-paid athlete since 2001.

Pacquiao earned a total of $62 million with $56 million from his last two fights against Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley. Pacquiao won a controversial majority decision in his third encounter with Marquez last year and lost to Bradley by a contentious split decision this month.

Pacquiao made $6 million in endorsements for Nike, Hewlett-Packard, Monster Energy and Hennessy.

Woods is behind Pacquiao at No. 3 with $59.4 million, followed by Miami Heat star Lebron James at No. 4 and Tennis icon Roger Federer at No. 5.

Former NBA MVP Kobe Bryant is at No. 6, Phil Mickelson at No. 7, David Beckham at No. 8, Cristiano Ronaldo at No. 9 and Peyton Manning at No. 10.