How Floyd Mayweather Schooled Canelo Álvarez and Made $42 Million

Floyd Mayweather walked into the ring in September 2013 with the calm confidence of a man who already knew the ending. He was facing Canelo Álvarez, a young, undefeated powerhouse who many thought could be the one to crack Mayweather’s code.

Instead, Mayweather dismantled Canelo in a way that left no doubt. And for his trouble, he pocketed a guaranteed $41.5 million, the biggest guaranteed purse in boxing history at the time.

That staggering payday didn’t even count pay-per-view earnings. When the dust settled and the final numbers came in, Mayweather’s total haul soared to roughly $80 million. Canelo, in comparison, earned $12 million.

A Fight That Was Over Before It Started

Canelo was just 23, strong, and unbeaten. Fans thought his size and youth might finally trouble the 36-year-old Mayweather. But Mayweather made sure the only trouble in the fight belonged to Canelo.

Canelo / IG / From the opening bell, Floyd controlled the distance, dictated the pace, and made Canelo miss all night.

The official scorecards read 116-112, 117-111, and a baffling 114-114 from judge C.J. Ross. That last card sparked outrage. Media outlets and boxing analysts had Mayweather winning by a landslide, with the average score around 119-109. CompuBox stats told the same story.

Mayweather landed 232 punches at a 46 percent connect rate, while Canelo managed just 117 at 22 percent.

The Catchweight Controversy

The fight was set at a 152-pound catchweight, two pounds under the light middleweight limit. Mayweather, who had spent most of his career at lower weights, looked comfortable. Canelo, who typically came in heavier, had to cut more than usual, and critics argued it drained him.

Adding to the debate was a rehydration clause, another factor some felt tilted the balance toward Mayweather. But even if those conditions favored him, it is hard to ignore what unfolded in the ring, a boxing clinic. Canelo never found his rhythm, and Mayweather punished every mistake.

Boxxing News / At the time, Mayweather’s $41.5 million guaranteed purse was unprecedented. That figure alone eclipsed the total earnings of most champions across their entire careers.

Only two fights would top it in Mayweather’s own history: the 2015 blockbuster against Manny Pacquiao, which earned him around $250 million, and the 2017 spectacle with Conor McGregor, which brought in a staggering $275 million.

That bout with Canelo became a milestone in Mayweather’s rise to financial history. His career earnings eventually totaled around $1.1 billion, putting him firmly in the ranks of the richest athletes in any sport.

The Aftermath and the Trash Talk

Right after the fight, Mayweather stayed professional. Years later, though, his tone shifted. But in hindsight, he didn’t sugarcoat his feelings. He called Canelo “easy work” and referred to the contest as a “cakewalk.” It was trademark Mayweather—sharp, brash, and unwilling to downplay his dominance.

The fight also carried consequences outside the ring. C.J. Ross, the judge who scored it a draw, faced such intense criticism that she retired soon afterward. The backlash highlighted the persistent controversy surrounding boxing’s scoring and the politics that often overshadow the action in the ring.