Floyd Mayweather earned roughly $3.3 million per minute for a quick night’s work after his career had ended.
Mayweather pocketed a mammoth $1.2 billion in estimated earnings from his professional boxing career, where he retired as a true icon with 50 wins undefeated.
Some of his biggest nights saw him generate obscene revenue, setting up a generational worth for himself fighting the likes of Manny Pacquiao in 2014 and Conor McGregor in 2017.
He eventually hung up his gloves after battering Irish UFC superstar McGregor in 2017, with many expecting he would indeed leave the sport behind.
But Mayweather was always hungry for more, and although his professional career was over, ‘TBE’ decided there was still a route to making money.
His first exhibition came in 2018 when he took on Japanese star Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan where he earned a big purse.
In 2021, Mayweather took on Logan Paul where he earned a guaranteed $30 million for an unscored exhibition.
In his third non-professional encounter that year, he defeated Don Moore.
But the American landed a second staggering exhibition for another appearance in Japan, having been approached by promotion RIZIN.
He would take on Japanese MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in a boxing fight, but it was to be just three rounds of three minutes, a breeze for the regular twelve-round king.
Bu it was upon discovering the purse he would receive that sent the boxing world into a frenzy.
He had managed to negotiate $20 million for his latest comeback appearance, a staggering fee given he wouldn’t even risk his perfect record.
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It was expected he would breeze past his Japanese opponent, given his sensational talent and natural ability, despite being past his prime years at the age of 45.
A huge crowd packed into the venue in Saitama, a sign that star power and a chance to see the legend in action alone would still see him pick up purses.
Mayweather was under an illusion it would be routine, but he was caught by a surprising hand in a fast-paced opening round.
It was a big shot, and a big shock that he had been clipped, given his defensive skills were nothing short of perfect throughout his career.
But that was the one and only time of real adversity as he rallied in the short format and began to show his true class.
And he earned his money and impressed the crowd in the second round as he upped the tempo and began landing at will.
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The final seconds of the second period ticked away, but the breakthrough moment came.
Mayweather landed a left hand which shook his opponent’s boots but he shook his head.
Although just before the bell sounded, the former five-weight world champion unleashed a booming right hook.
It found the target and sent Asakura on to the canvas on the seat of his shorts, and the fight was quickly stopped.
The short format failed to even go the distance, and Mayweather had pocketed $20 million for around six minutes of work.
It saw him earn a mind-blowing $3.3 million per minute of action, but it was little surprise to his team who had helped him reach that position.
He produced a simply incredible boast, insisting he was ‘stealing’ a living from his paid glorified sparring sessions.
“Why do you keep doing exhibitions? Why do you keep stealing money? Get out of my business,” he said directed at critics.
“Stay out of my money business and get yourself some money. This is so fun and so easy.
“Easy payday, easy pay cheque, easy opponent. That is all I do, line them up like bowling pins and I will knock them all down.
“And I am going to keep tricking them, you all keep fighting them hard fights but I’m gonna keep fighting in exhibitions and killing the game and stealing money.
“Legalised bank robbery, if you all keep paying I will keep playing.”
Mayweather has since appeared in the UK with a money-spinning bout against Aaron Chalmers in 2023, as well as taking on KSI’s brother Deji in the Middle East and holding two bouts against John Gotti III.
It is unclear if he now has any more plans to return, but his career revenue is simply jaw-dropping.