Floyd Mayweather is putting his perfect record of 44-0 on the line against Canelo Alvarez on September 14 in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
The bout is already being labeled "The One," and as if the stakes aren't high enough, Money May is raking in a rather large payday that only adds to the pressure.
Forbes.com's Kurt Badenhausen reports that Mayweather has been given an unprecedented guarantee of $41.6 million just to enter the ring. For a fight of this magnitude to live up to the hype, it's critical for Mayweather to bring his best.
Per the report, high-definition telecasts have jacked the pay-per-view prices up to $74.95 for boxing fans just to watch the fight.
Mayweather suggested the pressure is on Alvarez—despite the Mexican's questionable level of competition to date:
But imagine making $41.6 million for what amounts to one evening of work and ultimately failing in front of millions of viewers to blow a perfect record that has stood for 17 years.
That is essentially what faces Mayweather, while Alvarez would be pulling a massive upset if he somehow knocked Mayweather off of his perfect-record perch.
Granted, Mayweather has dealt with these type of expectations before in taking then-record $32 million guarantees for his most recent clashes with Miguel Cotto and Robert Guerrero, per Badenhausen. However, Alvarez is definitely his most formidable opponent in quite some time.
Facing Guerrero was an expected easy in for Mayweather by unanimous decision in his first action in approximately a year after a stint in prison.
The 23-year-old Alvarez doesn't know what defeat tastes like in his professional career either, boasting an undefeated 42-0-1 record.
As precise of a technician as Mayweather has been in wearing down opponents over the years, he is in for a 12-round grinder against a methodical foe with exceptional power.
Clamoring for Mayweather to fight Manny Pacquiao has been incessant, but Mayweather has insisted that Pacquiao is not a worthy opponent and that he's finished considering Pacman as an option.
There is merit to that to a degree, because Pacquiao has lost his past two decisions, but a loss by Mayweather to Alvarez would suggest that he may be on the decline as well. Thus, the hype for that prospective showdown would likely regain steam—something Mayweather wouldn't be eager to address yet again.
The guarantee for Mayweather in this fight is so ridiculously high, and the next move after a possible loss is muddy at best. Where would he go from here, with his one career defeat coming in a fight labeled as "The One?"
Combine that scenario with the WBC, The Ring and WBA Super Light Middle Weight titles all being on the line, and it's all the more critical for the 36-year-old Mayweather walk away with win No. 45.
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