Mayweather motivated to earn more money than keep unbeaten record

MANILA, Philippines – Even though he managed to preserve his undefeated record intact in 47 professional fights, Floyd Mayweather believes keeping his pocket full of cold cash is more important than being unbeaten inside the boxing ring.

Mayweather’s marquee match-up against Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2 (Sunday in Manila) will likely end up as the richest bout in the sport’s history.

According to Mayweather, the foremost motivating factor for choosing to finally face Pacquiao after nearly six years is the money that he will receive.

“My daughter can’t eat an undefeated record. But she can eat money,” he told Ring Magazine.

Mayweather is set to take home 60% of the super-fight’s revenue and receive a career-best $180 million as his 12-round welterweight showdown with Pacquiao at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena could gross over $300 million courtesy of gate attendance, pay-per-view numbers and sponsorships.

“I do everything for my kids and I can say that the work I did [for] the past 19 years will take care of my kids and their kids for life,” he said.

It is expected that the aforementioned ring encounter will help the unbowed American boxer to shatter the all-time record for a sportsman’s annual pay, pursuant to Forbes Magazine.

The financial news publication reported that Mayweather’s haul would represent the highest yearly earnings ever by an athlete, surpassing renowned golfer Tiger Woods’ inflation-adjusted record of $125 million in 2008.

“I made $11 million just in the past 48 hours because of my team and smart business decisions,” he bragged.

The 38-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Michigan credited his financial success to adviser Al Haymon as he shared his own story on how the blockbuster duel came into fruition.

“I was sitting in my house one day with Al Haymon, who is a pure genius. He said to me did we get the big boy mansion built when you wanted it? I said yes. Then he asked me did we get the house in Miami you wanted? I said yes. Did we get the Bugatti? I said yes. Did we get the 14-seat private jet you wanted? I said yes. Al then said let’s get this fight and I said yes,” Mayweather narrated.

Mayweather also feels sorry for Pacquiao, asserting that the Filipino fighter is losing out on profits because of Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.

“If Manny was with Al Haymon, he would make much more for this fight than what Top Rank is getting for him,” he ended. – Rappler.com