Floyd Mayweather Jr. listed what he views are the top three fighters in boxing today, picking Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia, and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis as his biggest stars.
While it may upset some of the world champions, like Devin Haney, to be left off Mayweather’s list, it is logical based on popularity and money-making ability in terms of the U.S. audiences.
Haney’s recently reported lackluster PPV numbers were a strong indication that he’s NOT considered one of the must-see fighters in North America. As such, it’s not surprising that he didn’t make Mayweather’s well-chosen list of the biggest names in the sport.
The chosen ones
Speaking with @Insidefighting, Mayweather picked these as his top guys in the sport:
- Canelo Alvarez: This is an obvious pick, as the undisputed super middleweight champion, former four-division world champion, and monstrously huge money-maker is a massive star in the U.S. and in Mexico. The 33-year-old Canelo is seen by many as the biggest star, and he arguably has the biggest fortune of an active fighter, with an estimated net worth of $200 million. If Canelo hangs around for much longer, he could wind up with Mayweather-like money, heading toward billionaire status.
- Ryan Garcia: Some fans might take issue with Ryan making the list, considering he’s never won a world title, was recently knocked out, and looked terrible in his last fight. However, the 25-year-old Kingry Garcia has 11 million followers on Instagram and many on Twitter & YouTube. These followers make Ryan one of the most popular fighters in the sport, as they’re willing to purchase his fights on PPV. In terms of PPV, Ryan could eclipse Canelo as the biggest seller if he can keep winning.
- Gervonta Davis: The ‘Face of Boxing,’ Tank Davis holds the WBA lightweight title, and brings in excellent numbers on PPV. Tank’s fighting style is on another level, and he arguably has the most fan-friendly ability.