By Craig Daly: Canelo Alvarez came in at #5 on Forbes’ Highest-paid athletes list for 2023, making him the highest-paid boxer in the sport.
Surprisingly, Gervonta Davis didn’t make it on the Forbes list, which means he’s NOT the ‘Face of Boxing’ because his popularity isn’t on the level of Canelo’s when it comes to making money bringing attention from fans.
Canelo (58-2-2, 39 KOs) is still making huge money and bringing in pay-per-view buys after 18 years in the sport.
Forbes’ highest-paid Athletes 2023:
1. Cristiano Ronaldo: $136m
2. Lionel Messi: $130m
3. Kylian Mbappe: $120m
4. LeBron James: $119.5m
5. Canelo Alvarez: $110m
6. Dustin Johnson $107m
7. Phil Mickelson: $106m
8. Stephen Curry: $100.4m
9. Roger Federer: $95.1m
10. Kevin Durant: $89.1m
“For Canelo, this is the first time in twelve years to come here, and he’s obviously taken a pay cut to come here, which is unusual in boxing,” said promoter Eddie Hean to Boxing Social about Canelo’s homecoming bout this Saturday, May 6th against John Ryder in Guadalajara, Mexico. Alvarez hasn’t been in Guadalajara since 2011 when he fought Kermit Cintron.
“Also, personally for John Ryder, who has grafted away for years and years and years. He’s one of the loveliest blokes you’ll ever want to meet that has carved out this opportunity for himself and has earned this shot. It’s a massive opportunity, and he’s carved it out.
“Tony Sims, who has had a horrible time in the last six or seven months, and now with a big win for Joe Cordina, they fancy it [beating Canelo]. It’s a massive task ahead, but he will give it everything on Saturday night,” Hearn said about the underdog Ryder.
“I think he’s in a great place, in the shape of his life, as you would be. When you get the call to fight Canelo Alvarez, you aren’t going to take it easy in camp. He’s had an unbelievable camp. They aren’t stupid. They know what they’re in for.
“They do feel, and you have to agree with them. It’s a good time to fight Canelo. It might be bad time to fight Canelo, by the way, but on paper, it’s a good time to fight him. He’s coming off the surgery and coming off a couple of so-so performances [against Gennadiy Golovkin and Dmitry Bivol in 2022]. They’re up for it; he’ll give it everything on Saturday night,” said Hearn.
