...the rich athletes

Pacquiao, Rodriguez highest-paid athletes

By NICK GIONGCO

April 23, 2011

Manila Bulletin


MANILA, Philippines — Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees have been named as the highest-paid athletes in the world.

Manny Pacquiao, boxing

Alex Rodriguez, baseball

In the latest issue of ESPN magazine, said Pacquiao and Rodriguez each earned $32 million in 2010 and the amount doesn’t include “endorsements, appearance fees, sponsorship money and other sources of income.”

Trailing behind Pacquiao and Rodriguez are race driver Kimi Raikkonen ($26,333,333), NBA player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers ($24,800,000) and soccer idol Cristiano Ronaldo ($19,500,000).

Kimi Raikkonen, race driver

Kobe Bryant, basketball

Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer

The $32 million came from Pacquiao’s fights with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in March and Mexican Antonio Margarito in November. Both fights were held before huge crowds at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Pacquiao is expected to cash in once again as he has a much-publicized fight on schedule on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao should earn big once again owing to his drawing power.

The purse Pacquiao has earned the past few years have been incredibly awesome considering that when he made his US debut in June 2001, he was only paid a paltry $40,000 as a last-minute substitute against Lehlo Ledwaba.

Pacquiao only barged into the millionaire’s circle in 2005 when he was pitted against Erik Morales of Mexico.

Arum has said that Pacquiao is going to have a few more fights before calling it quits and tops on the list of priorities is a showdown with the elusive Floyd Mayweather.

A fight with Mayweather should shatter all box-office and revenue records in the sport.