Their Fight of the Century last May 2 was the biggest in boxing history in terms of payday. And the mega fight also made Floyd Mayweather and Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao the highest paid celebrities in the world, according to the latest Forbes Magazine's 2015 Celebrity 100 list.
Mayweather generated $300 million during the fight, earning him the top spot in the highest paid celebrity list.
Manny Pacquiao was estimated to have earned $160 million this year alone, with $148 million coming from boxing and as a congressman in General Santos City in southern Philippines and as a playing coach in a professional basketball team also in the Philippines.
The 36-year-old Pacquiao, the second highest-paid celebrity in the list, also earned an estimated $12 million from his endorsement deals with global brands like Nike, Foot Locker, Wonderful Pistachios, Nestle's Butterfinger, and several other local brands.
Pacquiao pocketed at least $125 million from his bout with Mayweather, Forbes estimated.
Pacquiao Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
Meanwhile, the former eight division world champion, Pacquio, is reported to be recuperating well from his shoulder surgery. Pacquiao suffered a shoulder injury during his training for his May 2 fight against Mayweather which hampered his performance.
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum said Pacquiao will return to the U.S. on July 4 for another check up of his surgery with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, said Christian Today. "Manny says he has been doing well. He said he has been feeling better," Arum said in the final news conference for the Bradley-Vargas bout at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
The 83-year-old Arum further stated, "Manny is coming over to see the doctor and then he will start his serious rehab. He'll stay here for probably about two weeks and then he will go back to the Philippines. One of the rehab guys will go with him to make sure he is doing his rehab program the right way."
A second bout between Mayweather and Pacquiao remains unlikely at this stage as the American fighter has already rejected talks of a rematch. Arum said Pacquiao might face British fighter Amir Khan who also want to fight Mayweather.
Timothy Bradley Wants Third Fight With Pacquiao
Another American fighter, Timothy Bradley, is eyeing a third fight against Pacquiao to settle the score with the Filipino boxer, said GMA News. The 31-year-old Bradley won via a controversial split decision against Pacquiao in their first meeting in 2012.
But Pacquiao scored a convincing unanimous decision against Bradley in their second fight in 2013. Bradley told ontheropesboxing.com, "Manny feels that he could have done better against Mayweather if he would have had his left hand, and I feel I would have done a lot better in the second fight if I would have had my right calf, to be able to move and do the things that I was planning on doing."
"The second half of the fight I could have used my legs more if I had my legs underneath me and moved and made Manny Pacquiao miss more. But I didn't have that ability, I didn't have that mobility to be able to do that," added Bradley who won the vacant WBO welterweight title this past weekend against Jessie Vargas.
