Tyson Fury named world's highest-paid fighter ahead of Anthony Joshua and Conor McGregor

Tyson Fury earned a staggering £46million over the last year to be crowned the highest-paid combat athlete in the world.

The heavyweight world champion has fought three times in the last 12 months, culminating in his stoppage of Deontay Wilder in their February rematch.

Fury earned £40m from his fight purses with the remainder of his earnings made up from sponsorship.

The Brit is ranked No.11 in Forbes' latest rankings of the world's highest-earning sportspeople, five places above Conor McGregor and eight ahead of Joshua.

Wilder is ranked No.20 and will have the chance to regain his world title when he takes on Fury for a third time later this year.

Former two-weight UFC world champion McGregor has fought just once since October 2018 as he stopped Donald Cerrone inside 40 seconds in January.

The Irishman earned £26m from that fight and a further £13m from endorsements, a total which is £1m more than Joshua.

The Brit lost and won back his heavyweight world titles last year when he was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr in New York before outpointing the American in Saudi Arabia in December.

Joshua's earnings of £38m is made up of £29m in purses and £9m in sponsorship and endorsements.

Forbes' annual list of the highest-paid athletes is topped by Roger Federer for the first time with the Swiss tennis star earning £86m, ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo (£85m) and Lionel Messi (£84m).

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star Neymar is ranked No.4 while basketball legend LeBron James rounds out the top five.

Stephen Curry, Kevin Durrant (both basketball), Tiger Woods, Kirk Cousins and Carson Wentz (both American footballers) complete the top 10.

After Wilder, the next highest-ranked fighter is Canelo Alvarez who banked just under £30m.