By Tony Jeffries, The Sunday Sun
IN boxing we've just found out that Filipino superstar and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is the second highest-earning non-American athlete in the world, based on the list compiled by CNN Sports.
The highest is Swiss tennis star Roger Federer.
I struggled to believe this.
Even at the top level I never thought there was that much loot in tennis, but Federer’s enormous endorsement portfolio puts him at No 1.
He’s only buttons in front of Pacman, barely a quarter of a million dollars – buttons, yeah right!
The Filipino boxer and now congressman earned more than $50million for two bouts over the past 12 months.
Pacquiao earned an estimated $52,500,000 (£32,656,145.39) from his fights against Antonio Margarito and “Sugar” Shane Mosley. Federer got a whopping $52,781,940.
The other top 10 non-Americans were Formula One driver Fernando Alonso ($45,000,000), Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi ($38,800,000), former Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo ($38,800,000), basketballer Yao Ming ($35,686,100), Federer’s rival Rafael Nadal ($31,506,278), superbikes rider Valentino Rossi ($30,000,000), and footballers Wayne Rooney ($29,200,000) and Kaka ($27,300,000).
I was very surprised by the list for top-earning US athletes and the top two are both golfers. I never even thought a golfer was classed as an athlete!
It’s up there with darts for having to be fit.
Unless the golf buggy has got a flat battery it’s not much exercise!
Former world No 1 Tiger Woods topped the list with $62,294,116 (£38,741,297), followed by Phil Mickelson with $61,185,933.
LeBron James is the third ranking American top-earner with $44,500,000 despite having taken loads of stick over here this past week for his poor performances in the NBA basketball finals.
Source: sundaysun.co.uk
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