Boxing Continues To Dominate As Jake Paul And Canelo Land On Forbes Highest Paid Athletes List
Boxing once again proved its financial power after Canelo Álvarez and Jake Paul emerged as the only fighters included on Forbes’ new 2026 highest paid athletes rankings. The list, which is filled mostly with global football and basketball stars, highlighted just how valuable major boxing events still are in today’s sports industry.
According to the reported rankings, Cristiano Ronaldo once again topped the list with massive earnings of around $300 million. Canelo reportedly came in second with an incredible $170 million, while Jake Paul landed at number 23 with earnings estimated around $70 million. Luka Dončić also featured further down the rankings.
One of the biggest talking points surrounding the list is the complete absence of MMA fighters. Despite the growth of mixed martial arts over the last decade, no active MMA star managed to break into Forbes’ latest rankings, while boxing still produced two names inside the list.
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Jake Paul’s Rise Continues To Shock Combat Sports
Jake Paul’s position on the rankings will probably surprise a lot of people, but it also shows how much influence and business power he has built over the last few years. What started as a social media driven boxing experiment has now turned into one of the biggest attractions in combat sports.
Paul has consistently generated massive pay per view numbers, huge sponsorship deals and constant online attention. Whether fans love him or hate him, his events continue to bring in money at a level that many traditional fighters struggle to reach. His ability to market fights may be one of the biggest reasons he has already become one of the highest earning athletes in the world.
Meanwhile, Canelo continues to represent the more traditional side of boxing greatness. The Mexican superstar remains one of the sport’s biggest global draws and has maintained elite earning power for years thanks to blockbuster fights, sponsorships and worldwide popularity.
Boxing Still Holds Financial Power
The absence of MMA fighters from the list will likely spark debate among combat sports fans online. MMA has grown massively worldwide, but the Forbes rankings show that boxing’s biggest stars are still operating in a completely different financial category.
A major reason for that difference comes down to fighter pay structures and pay per view revenue. Top level boxers often have far more control over negotiations and event earnings compared to most MMA athletes signed to major promotions.
The list also highlights how crossover stars are changing combat sports. Jake Paul is not just earning money as a boxer. His social media reach, business ventures and online audience have helped turn him into a mainstream celebrity far beyond fighting.
For boxing fans, though, the biggest takeaway is simple. Even with the rise of other combat sports, boxing still knows how to create massive stars and even bigger paydays.
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