The recent passing of his beloved uncle has prompted Floyd Mayweather Jr. to carry out a new legacy, while also ensuring that history doesn’t repeat itself.
Despite continued rumors of a comeback in the works for 2020, the former pound-for-pound king and five-division world champion insists he is forever done with boxing at the competitive level. Mayweather—who long served as his own promoter for the second half of his eventual Hall of Fame career before assuming the role full time following his August 2017 retirement—has now set his sights on training the next generation of boxers.
The career choice stems from passion and for love of the game, while also honoring the memory of uncle and longtime head trainer Roger Mayweather, who was one month shy of his 59th birthday at the time of his passing in March due to deteriorating health. The elder Mayweather and his two brothers—Floyd Sr. and Jeff—were all professional boxers, with Roger the only one of the three to win a world title, doing so at 130- and 140-pounds.
What he also did was fight well past his sell dates, something that the younger Mayweather has long sought to avoid.
“When they talk about, ‘Yeah Floyd’s gonna fight this guy,’ and ‘This guy said this and this guy said that,’ I say this—you guys fill up little arenas and do some little baby numbers. Not bad,” Mayweather Jr. explained in a recent interview with FightHype.com. “But, I’m older and a lot wiser. Meaning, I don’t want to end up like my uncle Roger. End up like a lot of fighters where you don’t know when to hang them up. End up where you’re fighting for others rather than fighting for yourself.
“Even with the Conor McGregor—that was smart on my behalf. It was also smart on his behalf. He said, “You know what? Even if I can or can’t beat Floyd Mayweather, let me try and share the ring with him, so I can make more money than any MMA fighter or any other fighter except Floyd. So, even if we did it again, it’s entertainment and it’s business.”
Mayweather points out the distinction between the two as the motivating factor behind his own one-fight comeback in 2017.
The sport’s all-time box-office king had previously retired shortly after his 12-round win over Andre Berto in September 2015, which ran his ring record to 49-0 (26KOs) and also completed his then record-breaking contract with cable giant Showtime. The win over Berto came four months after outpointing fellow ring legend Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) in their May 2015 pound-for-pound showdown which still stands as the most lucrative event in boxing history.
Rumors have swirled of rematches with Pacquiao and McGregor, along with the absurd suggestion of a one-off fight with former four-division titlist Adrien Broner. Mayweather has emphatically shut down talk of the latter, while dismissing suggestions of a comeback of any kind.
“Let me say it again—I’m not boxing no boxers at all, none,” insists Mayweather. “I’m done, retired and I love my life. I enjoy being retired. It’s crazy, people saying “Floyd ain’t got no money, he ain’t got this and he ain’t got that.” No, let me break some things down. I don’t monitor nobody else’s pockets. Am I comfortable? Absolutely. Do I make seven figures? Absolutely. Do I have smart investments? Absolutely. If I see an opportunity where I can entertain and have a little fun and make $600 million, why not!
“If I was to come back and fight a fighter, why fight a fighter who can only sell out little cities? I like to face guys that once again that got countries behind them. And if I am gonna do something, it’s got to be worth it. There’s no number worth me getting back in that ring and fighting these young fighters to [put] any type of wear and tear on my body. So, am I gonna fight these young fighters as of right now? No, I’m retired. I am retired from the sport of boxing and I’m enjoying life.”
–BOXINGSCENE.COM
