Biaggio Ali Walsh shared how his legendary grandfather Muhammad Ali refused to believe the enormous amounts of money Floyd Mayweather Jr. was earning from boxing matches. The rising MMA fighter revealed this surprising anecdote during an exclusive interview, offering a glimpse into the generational shift in boxing economics.
"Years ago when he was still alive, we were telling him how much Floyd was getting paid for his fights because Floyd was making a lot of money," Walsh explained. "He was making over 100 million for his fights. And my grandpa was sitting in the chair. He's like, 'No, no, no.' I'm like, 'Yeah, dude, that's where boxing is now.'"
The contrast between the eras is stark. Ali's career-high purse was approximately £5.9 million for his 1980 bout against Larry Holmes, while his iconic 1975 "Thrilla in Manila" against Joe Frazier earned him around £4.4 million. These figures, though unprecedented at the time, pale in comparison to Mayweather's earnings.
Just how much more has Mayweather earned? According to reports, the self-proclaimed "Money" Mayweather collected a staggering £203 million for his 2017 fight against Conor McGregor and approximately £184 million for his 2015 "Fight of the Century" against Manny Pacquiao. His 2013 victory over Canelo Alvarez reportedly netted him £59 million.
Interestingly, Walsh isn't trying to follow his grandfather's footsteps specifically into boxing. The 26-year-old is forging his own path in MMA with a current record of 2-0. He's scheduled to face Ronnie Gibbs at a Professional Fighters League event on June 27.
"What's crazy is he didn't inspire me to go into combat sports," Walsh admitted about his grandfather. "He inspires me to live the way he was as a person is how he inspires me the most."
Walsh particularly highlighted the contrast between his grandfather's humble approach to fame and Mayweather's more ostentatious style.
"Papi was a people's champion," Walsh said. "He didn't have no bodyguards. He walked down the street and just signed autographs, take pictures with you, he loved the people. Not like Floyd today who walks around with 10 foot bodyguards acting like he's better than you."
With an estimated net worth of £295 million in 2025 and career earnings exceeding £839 million, Mayweather has certainly capitalized financially on his perfect 50-0 professional record. But will his legacy match Ali's impact beyond the ring? That remains the greater question that transcends prize money.
