Manny Pacquiao winning big against Floyd Mayweather — in commercial endorsements

Manny Pacquiao won't climb the ring against Floyd Mayweather until May 2 (May 3 PHL time), but the Filipino ring icon has already knocked out his opponent in one key area: commercial endorsements.

 

Despite Mayweather being American, Pacquiao is the boxing superstar raking in endorsements left and right in the United States.

 

Over the past six months, Pacquiao has inked lucrative deals with Nike and Nestle that will net him about $5 million, according to a report by Kurt Badenhausen of Forbes Magazine.

 

According to the same report, Mayweather does not earn any money from endorsements.

 

American snack brands Butterfinger and Wonder Pistachio are reportedly planning major campaigns around Pacquiao.

 

Nike, meanwhile, will unveil a new line of Pacquiao apparel.

 

"It will be available exclusively at Foot Locker, Nike.com and Nike stores on the West Coast, where Pacquiao’s U.S. fan base is the biggest. Pacquiao’s royalties on the apparel line and his sponsor deals in the Philipines will push his 12-month endorsement income well over $5 million," wrote Badenhausen.

 

"Most companies are apprehensive about boxing, but they love Manny Pacquiao," said Top Rank’s Lucia McKelvey, the point person for Pacquiao’s marketing in the US.

 

Mayweather, meanwhile, seems to be OK with Pacquiao getting all of that marketing money.

 

"Mayweather wears his lack of endorsements almost like a badge of courage. It keeps him from being beholden to any company, and Mayweather says he would rather have a piece of the action in any deal where he is involved," wrote Badenhausen.

 

"He also carries baggage from multiple domestic violence charges, as well as a three month jail sentence in 2012 in a plea deal over battery and harassment charges. Mayweather was the highest-paid athlete in the world between June 2013 and June 2014 with $105 million in earnings, but not a dime of that was from endorsements." — JST, GMA News