Canelo Alvarez had a rough year in boxing, finishing with one win and one loss. He lost to Terence Crawford, who took the undisputed super middleweight title from him. Despite these ups and downs, Canelo remains a top earner. In 2026, he was named the second-highest-paid athlete in the world by Forbes, raking in a whopping $170 million. Out of that, $160 million came straight from his fights, while the remaining $10 million was from sponsorships.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still leading the pack, earning $300 million and securing the top spot for the fourth year in a row. Canelo’s recent fights included a unanimous decision victory against William Scull in May and the loss to Crawford in September. He opted for elbow surgery and is set to return to the ring on September 12 against Christian Mbilli for the WBC super middleweight title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In contrast, Jake Paul is another boxer making waves. He earned $70 million last year, placing him at No. 23 on the Forbes list. Similar to Canelo, Paul had a mixed year with one win and one loss. He won against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. but lost to Anthony Joshua, leaving him sidelined with a broken jaw.
Also featured in the top five were soccer star Lionel Messi, with $140 million; NBA superstar LeBron James at $137.8 million; and baseball talent Shohei Ohtani, who earned $127.6 million.
Recent statistics show that boxing remains a robust sport for income. According to a 2022 report, top boxers can earn millions from pay-per-view sales alone, sometimes bringing in several million dollars per fight. This highlights how just a few matches can significantly impact an athlete’s financial outlook.
The debate over athlete earnings often arises on social media. Many fans believe that star athletes like Canelo and Ronaldo deserve their earnings due to their hard work and talent. However, others argue that such sums are excessive. Regardless, Canelo’s upcoming fight will be critical for his career. How he performs could shape his future earnings and place in the sport.
For those interested in the financial side of sports, check out the full list of the highest-paid athletes on Forbes.
