LOS ANGELES, May 16: Unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather tops Sports Illustrated’s list of highest-paid pro sportsmen for the second straight year, according to the list released by the magazine.

Mayweather stretched his perfect record to 44-0 with a 12-round unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero on May 4, the first fight in his new megadeal with Showtime television that guarantees him at least $32 million per fight over six bouts.

The fight for Mayweather’s World Boxing Council welterweight world title was the champion’s first since serving a jail term for domestic violence last year.

In compiling its Fortunate 50 list, Sports Illustrated reckoned Mayweather would earn $90 million in 2013.

Tiger Woods, who was number one on the Fortunate 50 every year from 2004-11, falls to his lowest ranking ever at number five with estimated earnings this year of $40.8 million.

LeBron James, the Miami Heat superstar who was recently named NBA Most Valuable Player for the fourth time in his career, is second on the list with projected earnings of $56.5 million.

James becomes the first player in a team sport to be in the top two since former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal in 2004.—AFP