Canelo Alvarez Poised to Become Boxing’s First Billion-Dollar Star
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez continues to break new ground in the boxing world as he nears the twilight of his career. Recently, he achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first boxer ever to claim the status of a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion. Now, his longtime business manager Richard Schaefer suggests Canelo could be on track to achieve something even greater—surpassing boxing icons like Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson in career earnings and net worth.
Floyd Mayweather is widely known as the richest boxer in the sport’s history, earning approximately $1.5 billion over his career, with an estimated net worth of $500 million. Mike Tyson, though facing bankruptcy in the 2000s, also earned hundreds of millions and has since rebounded financially with various ventures. But Schaefer believes Canelo could outpace them both.
Speaking in an interview with Fight Hub TV, Schaefer praised Canelo not just for his in-ring abilities but for his business acumen, calling him “the smartest businessman in boxing” he’s ever worked with. He predicted that Alvarez would become the first fighter to exceed a billion-dollar net worth, expressing total confidence in that outcome.
Schaefer, who has known Alvarez since the Mexican boxer was 17, came out of retirement to help him reach even greater heights. This renewed partnership comes at a time when Canelo’s profile and earnings are soaring. Notably, Alvarez recently surpassed global soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to become the highest-paid athlete of 2025. According to Forbes, the 34-year-old boxer has already amassed an estimated $600 million over his two-decade-long career.
Adding momentum to this trajectory is Canelo’s recent four-fight agreement with Turki Alalshikh, a deal generating enormous excitement—particularly for his upcoming bout against Terence Crawford. This fight is seen as a potential game-changer for Canelo’s legacy and finances.
Schaefer also made bold claims about the significance of the Canelo vs. Crawford matchup. He believes it could surpass the legendary 2015 Mayweather vs. Pacquiao bout in terms of scale and excitement. Speaking to The Ring, Schaefer described the fight as the biggest he has seen in over 25 years, emphasizing that both fighters are still in their prime—unlike the Mayweather-Pacquiao contest, which many felt came too late in their careers.
He also praised Canelo’s toughness and consistency, pointing out that the fighter has never been knocked down or seriously hurt in his career. For Schaefer, the matchup against Crawford is not just a major fight—it’s a historic event with the potential to break records across the board.
While it remains to be seen whether Alvarez will hit the billion-dollar mark, all signs suggest he’s on a path unlike any other in boxing history. Whether he reaches that financial milestone or not, his legacy as one of the sport’s smartest and most successful figures is already taking shape.