Floyd Mayweather Jr. has responded to a report he is waiting to receive his payment from his upcoming mega fight against UFC superstar Conor McGregor to pay off a 2015 tax liability.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reported on Monday that Mayweather had requested a reprieve from the Internal Revenue System (IRS) until after the McGregor fight, but he took to Instagram on Tuesday to clarify things:
Per Rovell, Mayweather made $220 million from his win over Manny Pacquiao alone in 2015.
Rovell also detailed precisely what Mayweather has been charged to pay: “Mayweather’s 2015 taxes are currently 15 months past due, which would equal a 7.5 percent charge on top of what is owed.”
The must-watch matchup of the decade looks likely to earn both fighters an astronomical pay cheque, too, particularly after Fox Sports UFC confirmed the pay-per-view price would match that of Mayweather-Pacquiao:
Rovell also cited a press release from legal website Law360 that included a petition from Mayweather’s representatives requesting he be granted a reprieve from the alleged outstanding tax until after his August 26 bout:
“Although the taxpayer has substantial assets, those assets are restricted and primarily illiquid. The taxpayer has a significant liquidity event scheduled in about 60 days from which he intends to pay the balance of the 2015 tax liability due and outstanding.”
It hasn’t been specified how much Mayweather is said to owe the IRS in unpaid taxes, but while personal matters might muddy the waters, his focus will surely be entirely on what’s to come in the ring.
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