Floyd Mayweather Canelo Alvarez
Canelo Alvarez could get a shot at Manny Pacquiao a year after losing to Floyd Mayweather. Reuters

In the past few years, no athlete has made as much money from their profession as Floyd Mayweather. That will continue in 2013, following the boxer’s recent record-setting fight.

Mayweather’s Sept.14 bout with Canelo Alvarez made history by generating $150 million on 2.2 million Pay-Per-View buys. Before the fight, Maweather was guaranteed a payday of 41.5 million. With all the money that he’s generated from his latest match, the undefeated boxer’s career earnings are likely to reach $350 million.

The 36-year-old began boxing professionally in 1996, but didn’t see his cumulative purses reach $1 million until 2001, according to Forbes. His first PPV fight came in 2005 against Arturo Gatti. In 2007, Mayweather’s bout with Oscar De La Hoya set a record with just 2.5 million PPV buys.

With all the money he’s made, Mayweather doesn’t need to step in the ring anymore. He’s been able to avoid the fate of great boxers before him, like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, who were both forced to file for bankruptcy.

Walking away would also ensure that he retires with a perfect record and help support his claim of being one of the best ever. Before his death in 2012, boxing historian Bert Sugar told the International Business Times that Mayweather desperately wants to remain undefeated when his career is over. Mayweather’s desire to avoid a loss might be the biggest reason that he has never fought Manny Pacquiao, who Mayweather has been accused of ducking.

The fight against Alvarez, however, won’t be Mayweather’s last. His current contract with Showtime calls for him to have four more bouts. The boxer says he’ll hang up his gloves after fights in both May and September of 2014 and 2015.

After beating Canelo, though, there doesn’t seem to be a boxer that can give Mayweather much of a challenge. Alvarez was expected to give Mayweather his toughest fight in years, but he was barely able to remain competitive. Seeing a Mayweather - Pacquiao megabout finally come to fruition could draw an historical amount of money, but it wouldn’t be the fight that many hoped would have taken place three years ago. Pacquiao is coming off two straight losses and doesn’t look like the fighter that many thought would break Mayweather’s unbeaten streak.

A fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao doesn’t appear to be in the near future. Mayweather has indicated that such a bout doesn’t interest him, and Pacquiao would first have to get by Brandon Rios on Nov.23. Rios has just one loss in his career and could put himself in the running to eventually face Mayweather in the future with a victory. Rios, however, is a heavy underdog against Pacquiao.

Mayweather’s next opponent may hinge on the Dec.7 bout between Amir Khan and Devon Alexander. According to Showtime executive vice president Stephen Espinoza, the winner will be one of Mayweather’s top choices. It was once thought that Mayweather and Alexander would meet in May, but it turned out to be Robert Guerrero who faced the champ.

Boxing