By Allan Fox: Floyd Mayweather Jr. (50-0, 27 KOs) will be fighting in some capacity or another in the Fall, according to UFC president Dana White. Dana has an agreement with the former 5 division world champion ‘Money’ Mayweather for him to return to the ring in 2020, be it against an MMA fighter or a boxer.
White says he’ll be meeting with Premier Boxing Champions manager Al Haymon to in the summer, and come up with a plan for the soon to be 43-year-old Mayweather to fight in the fall.
Fans have seen Mayweather in action against hapless MMA fighters Conor McGregor and Tenshin Nasukawa in mismatches under the rules of boxing in his last 2 fights. Neither fight came close to being entertaining. It was like a chess champion taking on a novice that had just learned the game. Mayweather’s fight with Tenshin was an exhibition match, and truly disturbing to watch. It was a pure slaughter, and had no sporting value.
“Some things have to play out and then I’m going to start talking to (Al) Haymon maybe this summer and then I’ll have something for Floyd in the fall,” White told ESPN (via MMA Junkie). “The money is in Floyd competing.”
You can argue that the only way that a fight between Mayweather and an MMA fighter would be compelling would be if it involved a mix of the two sports. If the MMA fighter is able to kick, wrestle or use some kind of submission holds, it might be an interesting fight. But if it’s strictly a fight that is under the rules of boxing, then it won’t be fair.
The last two guys that Mayweather fought in boxing matches from the MMA sport would likely be over their heads even against journeyman level fighters . It’s not exciting for fans to see Mayweather beating up guys that have no background in boxing.
In Mayweather’s last fight, he defeated 22-year-old Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa by a 1st round knockout in December 2018. The fight was a worse midmatch than Mayweather’s previous fight against former UFC star Conor McGregor in August 2017.
That was a horrible fight in which Mayweather appeared to be fighting at one-quarter speed in boxing McGregor, who was making his professional debut in the sport. The Nevada State Athletic Commision sanctioned the fight despite the huge disparity in experience between the two fighters. With the victory, Mayweather broke Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record.
It would be nice if White can talk Mayweather into stepping into the cage, and take on one of the MMA fighters. Even if it’s moderately talented fighter, it would still be leagues better than to see Mayweather fighting one of them in a boxing match.
