How Much Did Floyd Mayweather Make Per Fight?

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have well retired from the boxing scene, but his name is and will forever be a force to reckon with in the boxing industry.

He has not only achieved greatness through boxing but accumulated immense wealth. But how much did Floyd Mayweather make per fight?

However, the road to stardom wasn’t all that rosy. The 50-0 undefeated boxer hadn’t always commanded a hefty purse.

At the early stages of his career, all he had was his potential to show to the world.

This article takes a tour down memory lane in the boxing career of Floyd Mayweather, or “Mr. Money” as he is fondly known, thereby revealing his purse earnings at various stages of his career.

However, before diving, here is a brief summary of his career.

Career Summary

Floyd Mayweather enjoyed a highly revered career that spanned more than two decades.

He first stepped into the ring as a professional boxer in 1996 and stepped out in style to the light professionally in 2017.

In his debut fight, he was matched against Roberto Apocada and didn’t waste minutes thumbing him out via TKO in the 2nd round. That was the birth of an illustrious career that would see him never tasting defeat. 

Two years after his debut, Mayweather, after 17 professional fights, stood strong against Genaro Hernández in vying for the super-featherweight WBC title.

He strained but defeated Hernández in the 8th round via RTD and became the super-featherweight of the world. He was 21.

His acts of boxing recognition didn’t end there. He would go on to become a three-time unified world champion (welterweight (2x) and super-welterweight) and win 15 world titles across five weight classes. 

Some of his most memorable fights include wins over several other reputable boxers in the sport, some of which were Hall-of-Famers such as Arturo Gatti, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Márquez, Miguel Cotto, and Shane Mosley.

Leaving his name dented in glory and a well-decorated career, Mayweather professionally hung up the gloves in 2017 with a clean, undefeated 50-0 record, including 27 knockout wins.

In 2021, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF).

Regardless of retirement, he hasn’t turned down the opportunity to exhibit the skills of his arms in the ring when the opportunity presents itself.

He entertained the boxing world in exhibition fights and made huge profits.

How Much Did Floyd Mayweather Make Per Fight?

Professionally, Mayweather fought a total of 50 bouts and not only won all 50 but made a name and money doing so.

However, not all of his monetary winnings were bogus seven figures. At the onset of his career, he expectedly got paid only four figures.

However, as his name and his success in the ring exploded, so did his pay. Below are some prestigious fights in his illustrious career and the financial gain he made from them. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Roberto Apodaca 

Fight Purse Earnings: $2,500

On October 11, 1996, Mayweather faced fellow newcomer Roberto Apodaca in his professional debut fight just after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

At the time, his father, who had been his trainer early on in his career, was serving a prison sentence for a conviction of illegal drug trafficking in 1993.

Hence, his uncle, Roger Mayweather, had filled in as his trainer. Mayweather knocked out Apodaca twice in the second round on route to becoming the winner, winning the prize money of $2,500.

As for Apodeca, he hung up the glove after three more fights, all of which he lost. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Genaro Hernández

Fight Purse Earnings: $137,000

Within two years of going pro, Mayweather was billed to fight reputable boxer Genaro Hernández who was dominating the scene, for the world title on October 3, 1998.

At that point in time, Mayweather was 21 years of age and had a record of 17 wins, 13 of which were achieved by knockouts.

Hernández was 32 years old with a 38-1-1 record and entered into the fight with a six-streak win.

The fight lasted the 8th round; however, as we all know, Mayweather came on top victorious via RTD and won his first world title, the WBC super-featherweight. His monetary winning for the bouts was $137,000.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Angel Manfredy

Fight Purse Earnings: $500,000

A few months after winning the WBC super-featherweight title, Mayweather was set to defend his title against Angel Manfredy, a 24-year-old with a 25-2-1 record. 20 of his win had been by knockouts.

Prior to the fight, Manfredy hadn’t lost in four years. December 18, 1998, was the day, and the fights took hold.

Unfortunately for Manfredy, a young, agile, speedy Mayweather ripped him apart and won the fight in the second round via TKO, successfully defending his title.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Diego Corrales

Fight Purse Earnings: $1,500,000

Mayweather’s fight against Corrales on January 20, 2001, will go down as one of the most memorable fights in his career.

Corrales went into the fight undefeated with a clean record of 33-0, 27 of which were knockouts.

Both fighters had animosity towards each other and wouldn’t even touch gloves.

Before the fight, a young Mayweather had declared he would put Corrales down as a lesson for his alleged charge of beating up his pregnant wife.

At the time, Corrales was ranked The Ring’s no. 1 super featherweight in the world, with Mayweather ranking no. 2 behind.

However, Mayweather kept true to his words and won every round of the fight, which lasted 10 rounds. His prize money for the fight was his first million earned in boxing, $1.5 million.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Carlos Hernández

Fight Purse Earnings: $2,200,000

Fighting on home ground, the Grand Rapids, Mayweather faced Hernández to retain his WBC super featherweight title in what he would later describe as one of the toughest fights of his career.

It all happened on May 26, 2001. Although Mayweather prevailed, he suffered the first knockdown of his career after pounding Hernández a left hook which left him in pain that he dropped his injured hand down the canvas.

After the fight, Mayweather summed up his performance as disappointing despite winning and praising his opponents, something which he rarely did.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. José Luis Castillo II

Fight Purse Earnings: $2,400,000

Mayweather had earlier in 2002 slugged it out with Jose Castillo in a controversial 12-round combat and won by unanimous decision, clinching the WBC and vacant Ring Magazine lightweight titles in the process and pocketing a fight purse of $2.2 million.

Yet again, he faced him on December 7, 2002, entering into the fight with a 28-0 record. He was 25 years old at the time. Castillo was 28 years old with a record of 45-5-1 and on a one-fight winning streak.

This bout, similar to the previous, lasted all 12 rounds, and Mayweather retained his titles. Mayweather earnings for the bout was an upgrade of $2.4 million.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. DeMarcus Corley

Fight Purse Earnings: $3,000,000

On May 22, 2004, at 27 years of age, Mayweather made his 140-pound debut against “Chop Chop” Corley at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

He won by unanimous decision in a bout that went into the tenth round. That bout set Mayweather up against then 140-pound champion Arturo Gatti. He made $3 million with the fight.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Arturo Gatti

Fight Purse Earnings: $3,200,000

In what would be Mayweather’s last fight in the light-welterweight division and earned him the third belt of his career, Mayweather dazzled 33-year-old Gatti.

Gatti had entered the fight on a five-fight winning streak with a 39-6 record. Mayweather, at the time, had a clean 33-0 record.

However, Mayweather emerged as the winner defeating Gatti via RTD in the 6th round and winning the WBC super-lightweight title.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Zab Judah

Fight Purse Earnings: $5,000,000

April 8, 2006, Floyd Mayweather fought Zab Judah in a 12-round bout that saw him become the IBF welterweight champion.

Before the fight, 28-year-old Judah had a record of 34-3 and Mayweather an astonishing 35-0 with 24 KOs.

Into the tenth round of the fight, Judah had hit Mayweather clearly below the belt, which in turn provoked Roger Mayweather, Mayweather’s uncle, and cornerman, who entered the ring to challenge Judah.

That act cost Mayweather’s uncle a $200,000 fine and a one-year ban from the ring.

Yet, all that mattered was a win that Mayweather secured via unanimous decision. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Carlos Baldomir

Fight Purse Earnings: $8,000,000

Baldomir was billed to face Mayweather on November 4, 2006, and despite not having recorded a loss in more than eight years, he was the underdog of the fight.

Come fight day, Mayweather convincingly defeated Baldomir to take his WBC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles and rope in a career-earning high fight purse at the time of $8 million.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Fight Purse Earnings: $25,000,000

A year after defeating Baldomir, Mayweather’s fight against De La Hoya was widely anticipated in the boxing world.

At the time, a 34-year-old De La Hoya was a six-division champion and titleholder of the WBC light-middleweight belt.

He entered into the fight with a 38-4 record. Mayweather was 30 years old at the time with a 37-0 record. On May 5, 2007, the two fighters touched gloves and waged war.

As history would have it, Mayweather prevailed, winning via a 12-round split decision to become the WBC champion.

He racked in another career, earning a high of a massive $25 million. De La Hoya, on his part, went home with $58 million. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton

Fight Purse Earnings: $38,000,000

Mayweather shook the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in one of the biggest welterweight showdowns at the time in his fight against Hatton.

Mayweather was coming out of a brief retirement into the fight, his last fight being against De La Hoya.

Hatton was 29 years old at the time and had an impressive record of 43-0, 31 of which were KO, compared to Mayweather, then record of 38-0, 24 KO.

At the onset of the fight, Mayweather expectedly dominated and, by the 10th round, defeated Hatton via TKO, thereby retaining the WBC and Ring Magazine welterweight titles.

After the fight, Mayweather heaped praises upon Hatton, naming him one of the most tenacious opponents he had ever fought, and earned a hefty purse that ran into tens of millions of dollars.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Victor Ortiz

Fight Purse Earnings: $40,000,000

After going over a year and a few months off the ring, Mayweather fought then-WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on September 17, 2011.

The fight, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, saw Mayweather cruise to victory in perhaps a controversial manner.

Ortiz had been knocked down unexpectedly, and he couldn’t beat the count.

After the fight, Ortiz had claimed he was following the referee’s instructions but was blindsided by Mayweather, and “Mr. Money” shot back, saying, “In the ring, you have to protect yourself at all times.”

The fight generated a huge revenue of $78.4 million, making it the second-highest-grossing non-heavyweight pay-per-view event of all time. Mayweather went home with a fat check of $40 million.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Miguel Cotto

Fight Purse Earnings: $45,000,000

After negotiations with Manny Pacquiao had failed, Mayweather was billed to face then WBA super welterweight champion and The Ring no.1 light middleweight, Miguel Cotto.

Mayweather was 35 years of age at the time with a flawless record of 42-0. Cotto, who was on a three-fight winning streak, came into the fight with a 37-2 record.

However, Mayweather came up on top, winning via a 12-round unanimous decision, and claimed the WBA super welterweight title.

After the fight, Mayweather confessed Cotto to being the toughest opponent he had ever faced in the ring.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Sául Canelo Álvarez

Fight Purse Earnings: $80,000,000

On September 14, 2013, MGM Grand Garden was once again lit up in another Mayweather boxing showdown but this time against a rising talent, a promising 23-year-old Álvarez with an impressive record of 42-0-1.

Prior to the fight, Mayweather had been guaranteed a mouth-watering boxing record fee of $41.5 million even before throwing a punch.

Came fight night, before 16,746 fans, Mayweather proved his greatness in the ring, almost effortlessly defeating Álvarez by majority 12-round majority decision, handing Álvarez the first loss of his career.

In the end, Mayweather made over $70 million from the fight, with Álvarez walking off with at least a base purse of $5 million.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao

Fight Purse Earnings: $250,000,000

Undoubtedly the biggest revenue-generating fight in boxing history, the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao showdown finally took place on May 2, 2015, after several failed negations over the years.

However, fans felt the event failed to live up to expectations. Yet, 38-year-old Mayweather conquered 36-year-old Pacquiao in 12-round bouts via unanimous decision.

Mayweather claimed the WBO welterweight title with the win and retained the WBA (Super), WBC, and Ring Magazine welterweight titles. He made over $200 million from the fight. 

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor

Fight Purse Earnings: $275,000,000

To mark his retirement from professional boxing in style, Mayweather fought UFC McGregor on August 26, 2017, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Months before the fight, rumored traveled to and fro with speculations that the fight might not happen, yet it did happen.

In a bid to make up for the dull showdown against Pacquiao, Mayweather entertained fans with an awesome night of boxing by defeating McGregor via TKO in the 10th round before a crowd of 14,623.

McGregor started the bouts on a winning note but soon tired out, leaving himself vulnerable to Mayweather’s merciless punches.

The fight, which became the second highest-grossing PPV boxing fight of all time behind the famously dubbed “fight of the century” between Mayweather and Pacquiao, saw Mayweather go home with a paycheck of $275 million.

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap

Before he retired from boxing, Mayweather’s paycheck per fight grew from a meager $2,500 in the late 90s to over $200 million in the 2010s.

Some of his fight earnings included percentages from PPV. He reportedly made over a billion dollars in career earnings.

Retired from the sport, he still gets in large paychecks running his popular “TMT” promotions.

Featured Image: @floydmayweather/Instagram