• Boxing

Mayweather to pocket £19m for Maidana fight

Floyd Mayweather Jr, already the highest-paid athlete in the world for 2013, is off to a great start for 2014.

Mayweather will earn a minimum guaranteed purse of £19 million ($32m) for his welterweight unification fight with Marcos Maidana of Argentina on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, according to contract figures released on Wednesday by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

"It's just a testament to what he brings to sports, not just boxing," said Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's close friend and chief executive of Mayweather Promotions. "He's a terrific entertainer and he is the reason why this arena will be packed and why there will be a million-plus (buys on pay-per-view) - because it's all about the Mayweather experience."

In 2013, Mayweather fought twice - both dominant decision wins - earning £43.5m ($73.5m) in minimum purses, £19m ($32m) against Robert Guerrero in May and 25m ($41.5m) against Canelo Alvarez in September.

Mayweather's take likely was much greater in 2013 - some estimate more than £54m ($90m) - because he controlled virtually all of the profit from the events beyond his purse guarantee, and the Alvarez bout set the all-time boxing revenue record for domestic pay-per-view (£89m) and live gate (just over £12m).

Maidana's official purse is a career-high £900,000 ($1.5m), but he also will earn more. He will make additional money from Argentina television rights and also has a chance to earn additional money depending on how well the pay-per-view performs.

This article first appeared on ESPN.com

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd