Top Sports Marketers Of The Year: Floyd Mayweather — Boxing, Branding
By the Staff of NYSportsJournalism.com
December 19, 2013: When it comes to talking about the life, times, accomplishments and legend of Floyd "Money" Mayweather, no one does it better than Floyd "Money" Mayweather.
So we'll let him do the talking.
"In 20 years, I want people to talk about Floyd Mayweather the way we talk about Muhammad Ali, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler today," said Mayweather during a media event in September following his.12-round victory over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez on Sept. 14. "It's not just the money. It's the history, the legacy,"
The Alvarez bout was part of a six-fight deal he signed with Showtime this past February. And by fight-viewing standards alone, Mayweather certainly is regarded as the head of the class.
The Alverez bout earned him a guaranteed $41.5 million, which could go as high as $100 million, according to Mayweather's representatives. It also garnered a record $150 million (and counting) in revenue from 2.2 million PPV hits, according to Showtime.
The live gate at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas topped $20 million, according to industry analysts.
Mayweather also is head of his own company, The Money Team, which promotes "Money" with apparel, hats, patches and other accessories. According to Mayweather, "At the MGM Grand, we sold out of TMT Money Wear apparel and hats twice." T-shirts were going for $35, hats for $70.
Although he has no officials endorsement deals, Mayweather has been atop the Sports Illustrated "Fortunate 50" highest-paid athletes list for the past two years.
"My brand is TMT," said Mayweather. "It is not about a [limited] endorsement. It is my brand. I have equity in it. It is long-term.
"If Nike or adidas want to put a patch on my [boxing] trunks for 36 minutes, it would be a seven-figure number. But the brand on my back does not define my greatness. Nothing against Nike or Under Armour, but is a guy with [those] endorsements a better fighter than me?"
The Alvarez pre-fight tour came with a ring full of marketing partners: Corona, Valvoline, AT&T, Nature Nutrition, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Fred Loya Insurance and the Mexican Tourism Board. They joined with Showtime, Mayweather Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy (which handles both Mayweather and Alvarez) to promote the bout.
"In 20 years, I want people to talk about Floyd Mayweather the way we talk about Muhammad Ali, 'Sugar' Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler today."
But it's not just the money and fame that drives Mayweather. On Dec. 15, he was at California State University, Northridge, to host the Ninth Annual Watson Celebrity Basketball Game, which benefits kids who come from economically disadvantaged families across Los Angeles County. This year, a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Lifedriven Foundation, which "provides children with access to health care, educates and promotes cancer awareness through screenings."
Mayweather is scheduled to be back in the ring, and back on Showtime, in May and September. Which means more big money days ahead and, with it, good times of Showtime and boxing.
"I got to where I am by focusing on Floyd Mayweather, not on the fighters who came before me," he said. "I beat everyone they put in front of me."
“People who think boxing is dead or dying are either ignorant or lazy,” said Stephen Espinoza, evp/GM Showtime sports and event programming, and the man was the catalyst behind Showtime's deal with Mayweather.
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Q&A: Floyd Mayweather Talks About Business, Boxing, Brand Mayweather