Pacquiao likely to be voted highest-paid athlete in 2019
By Leo Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 27 Aug 2018
A knockout or a very convincing victory by Manny Pacquiao over his next foe on Dec. 2 could be a record-breaker for him as the world?s highest-paid athlete not only in boxing but in sports in general.
Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) is coming off a knockout win against Lucas Matthysse of Argentina on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
The newly-crowned WBA welterweight champion has penciled December 2 for his next fight but did not say where the fight will be held and who will be his opponent.
Niall Doran of World Boxing News and Views writes: If Pacquiao wasn?t boxing on pay per view for his final three fights you?d have to think over the course of the three fights he?s probably looking for somewhere in the region of $100 million in total for three fights.(https://www.boxingnewsandviews.com/2018/08/27/what-it-might-cost-a-promoter-to-sign-manny-pacquiao/)
While Pacquiao may not surpass Floyd Mayweather?s record as the world?s highest paid athlete in the 2014 and 2015 Forbes ranking, his estimated earnings for his next three fights would still be a record-breaker.
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was Forbes highest-paid athlete for 2017 with a purse of $93 million followed closely by basketball star LeBron James with $86 million. These two athletes are likely to rank high in the 2019 highest-paid athletes list.
Pacquiao?s next fight would be crucial in selling his last two fights in 2019. A loss on his Dec.2 scheduled fight would definitely weaken his appeal to fans considering his advancing age.
Matchroom Promotions head Eddie Hearn, who has been courting Pacquiao to join him in his DAZN venture as lead endorser/fighter with a promise of lucrative fights in 2019 including the highly-awaited Pacquiao-Khan showdown at the Wembley, hopes the eight-division world champ will soon decide in favor of Matchroom.
Pacquiao is being wooed by the world?s top promoters including Top Rank, Mayweather Promotions and Matchroom.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum, who served as Paquiao?s promoter for over a decade had a meeting with Pacquiao early this month in the Philippines to explore possible partnership including a fight against Vasyl Lomachengko, who is one of Top Rank?s fighters.
Mayweather has likewise dangled lucrative fights for Pacquiao if he decides to fight for his promotions company.
While Mayweather downplayed the possibility of a rematch with Pacquiao at this time, fans are still hoping he comes back to faced Pacquiao for the second time.
It appears that Hearn has the upper hand among the three aspiring promoters in the race to acquire the services of the fighting senator from the Philippines.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Leo Reyes.
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