Summary Floyd Mayweather tops Sports Illustrated's list of highest-paid sportsmen for second straight year.
LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather tops Sports Illustrated s list of highest-paid pro sportsmen for the second straight year, according to the list released by the magazine on Wednesday.
Mayweather stretched his perfect record to 44-0 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero on May 4, the first fight in his new megadeal with Showtime television that guarantees him at least $32 million per fight over six bouts.
The fight for Mayweather s World Boxing Council welterweight world title was the champion s first since serving a jail term for domestic violence last year.
In compiling its Fortunate 50 list, Sports Illustrated reckoned Mayweather would earn $90 million in 2013.
Tiger Woods, who was number one on the Fortunate 50 every year from 2004-11, falls to his lowest ranking ever at number five with estimated earnings this year of $40.8 million.
LeBron James, the Miami Heat superstar who was recently named NBA Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in his career, is second on the list with projected earnings of $56.5 million.
James becomes the first player in a team sport to be in the top two since former NBA star Shaquille O Neal in 2004.
James s $39 million in endorsements were more than any other US sports figure in 2013, Sports Illustrated reported.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who didn t figure in the top 50 in 2012, shot to number three in 2013 thanks to a $37 million signing bonus from his NFL team.
The magazine s list takes into account salary, winnings, bonuses and endorsements.
