How Floyd "MONEY" Mayweather Became Boxing's First $1 Billion Fighter
Floyd Mayweather squares off against Conor McGregor Saturday night in Las Vegas in the much-hyped fight that is one-part boxing and four parts spectacle. Most boxing experts gave McGregor little chance, but the one sure bet Saturday night was both fighters pocketed massive paychecks for their at-most 36 minutes of work in the ring. McGregor cleared at least $100 million with Mayweather in line for more than $200 million, pushing his career earnings close to $1 billion. Mayweather’s road to $1 billion was paved by shrewd marketing and a prescient $750,000 bet on himself. Notorious gambler Mayweather didn’t wager on himself in the ring, but outside of it by splitting from Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum a decade ago. Mayweather figured he could make more out on his own than under the thumb of the promoter who worked with Muhammad Ali, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. Arum promoted Floyd under his Pretty Boy moniker dur...