Canelo Alvarez set to surpass Floyd Mayweather Jr's fortune & become first $1 billion boxer

Four-weight world champion Canelo Alvarez has already cemented his legacy in boxing ahead of his barnstorming showdown with Terence Crawford later this year, and now looks set to become the sport's first ever $1 billion fighter.

The Mexican star has recently inked a lucrative four-fight agreement with Turki Alalshikh's Riyadh Season, with his first showdown under the Saudi umbrella taking place this past weekend in the Middle East.

The 34-year-old flattered to deceive as he eased to a routine victory over William Scull in what transpired to be a lethargic affair, although the victory did secure the pound-for-pound star a clash with fellow great Terence Crawford in September, and a bumper $100m pay day.

Crawford, who is yet to be beaten as a professional, will jump up two weight classes in a bid to prize Canelo's undisputed super-middleweight crown away from him in what many feel is a true boxing super-fight.

The bumper pay packet he will receive for the clash, together with mega purses he has already received throughout his career for bouts with fellow superstars Floyd Mayweather Jr, Gennadiy Golovkin and Shane Mosley are expected to bolster his prize money intake to a colossal $1 billion.

It's a figure that no other fighter, even the money man, Mayweather Jr himself, has ever managed to accumulate.

"Canelo is, without any question, the smartest businessman in boxing I have ever met," former Golden Boy CEO, and Canelo's current business manager, Richard Schaefer told Ring Magazine.

And we are going to get him over that next hurdle… Canelo Alvarez is going to be the first fighter to break the billion dollar net worth.

- Richard Schaefer (Ring Magazine)

"I have zero questions about it. When? Probably next year."

Canelo's recently penned agreement with Riyadh Season is reportedly worth $500m, and even his lacklustre victory over former Cuban IBF super-middleweight title-holder Scull generated him over $80m.

Mayweather Jr, who, of course, became the first fighter to beat Canelo back in 2013, amassed a career fortune just shy of $1 billion, although he is now worth significantly less than that as a consequence of his lavish lifestyle.

Whilst Schaefer is adamant that money isn't Canelo's sole driving factor at this stage of his career, he admits that establishing the Mexican as the first $1 billion fighter would only serve to boost his credentials of being regarded as the best of all-time.

"I'm very fortunate - I started with Canelo when he was 17-years-old, and I've known him since then. He's 34 now," he added.

"He's my friend, so I'm very happy to do that. I'm thrilled to be working with him, handling all different aspects; fight negotiations, all these other businessnes, everything.

He (Canelo) has ambitions in his fighting career still, he still has the appetite to fight the best and prove he is the best.

- Richard Schaefer (Ring Magazine)

The Mexican has hinted at a potential retirement in the next couple of years, but before then it appears he would like to feature in as many money-spinning showdowns as possible.

The upcoming collision with American star Crawford will boost his coffers by at least an additional $100m, with a rumoured dust-up with social media sensation, and boxing contender, Jake Paul likely to dwarf that total.

"I've fought everybody - I've fought the best and I've won many titles in many weight classes," Canelo told Ring Magazine.

"I've been a pound-for-pound king, fighter of the year; in everything. If we talk about money, it's never enough, but it's not just about money for me.

"It's about enjoying everything still and having that drive. I still enjoy boxing, that's why I'm here."