Floyd Mayweather teases comeback from retirement

MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather Jr has claimed on several occasions that he is fine as a boxing promoter since retiring from fighting after routing Andre Berto to tie Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record in September 2015.

However, the 38-year-old boxer now says he would consider a return to fighting for a 9-figure paycheck and a world title shot. 

“If I came back, of course, it would have to be a 9-figure payday. Probably a championship fight,” Mayweather said in an interview with Showtime Sport’s Jim Gray prior to the super middleweight championship clash between Badou Jack and Lucian Bute on Sunday, May 1 (Manila time).

.@floydmayweather would need a 9-figure fight to consider a comeback. #JackBute #Boxing https://t.co/E11BEX33Fs

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) May 1, 2016

Mayweather, who earned a reported $120 million for his heavily-hyped meeting with Manny Pacquiao in May 2015, revealed that he recently sat down with CBS and Showtime for a possible comeback bout. 

“Right now, I’m happy being on this side, but I’ve been talking with CBS and Showtime, and you just never know. But right now, I’m just happy on this side,” he stated.

Many boxing fans are clamoring for a showdown between unified middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin and Mayweather, but the latter indicated that it is unlikely to happen because he has not fought as high as 160 pounds. 

Mayweather suggested that Andre Ward is the right match-up for Golovkin, who recently defeated Dominic Wade via second-round knockout last April 23.

“I think that it’s best that he go up and fight Andre Ward,” he asserted. “I think that would be a good fight for Triple G and Andre Ward. How can Floyd Mayweather fight at 160 [pounds] when I can never even make 154?” 

Another name to be considered as opponent is WBC welterweight titleholder Danny Garcia, who is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Robert Guerrero this past January. 

“Danny Garcia, another name, undefeated prospect, undefeated champion in two different weight classes,” Mayweather said. “Very exciting fighter. You just never know.” 

Meanwhile, Mayweather did not seem too intrigued about squaring off with either Keith Thurman or Shawn Porter, who will fight in June for the WBA welterweight belt. 

“Thurman and Porter are good fighters, but I am happy to be on this side. All I want to do is continue to build my company,” he shared. – Rappler.com