By Mehmood Ahmad: Floyd Mayweather has given one of the more sensible sounding and less cliché driven interviews I have heard from him for quite some time after releasing several clips of him training hard at his boxing club recently.
This has led to the usual outpouring of ‘comeback’ rumors, which he has commented on in an interview with FightHype.
“No, those are just rumors; I am retired, I’m through with boxing. It doesn’t hurt to stay in shape; your body is your temple, I am in the gym, training, keeping sharp, just for myself. Helping the young, up, and coming generation to accomplish what they want to achieve.
“It’s like a car; you can’t just wash the car and keep it clean, you have to get it serviced as well. It’s not just about the outer shell. In the gym working out, cardio, trying to keep my body looking good on the outside, as well as the inside also”.
Mayweather has had to deal with the passing of his ex-girlfriend, and Mother to three of his children, and the passing of his Uncle and long-time trainer, Roger Mayweather, in the last few months. For years, the issues the Mayweather family has been widely documented in the media, domestic violence, numerous court cases, and family feuds have all been well-publicized.
Mayweather was able to put all that aside on fight night though consistently performing at an unbelievable level for over fifteen years. Mayweather was quick to acknowledge that staying fit and training at his boxing club helps him mentally, something especially relevant in these times the world is currently facing.
“You really can’t do anything right now other than watch TV and workout. Bike rides, take walks, have my chef cook dinner for my team and me, go to the boxing gym, and try to stay out of the way. It’s the only thing I can do”.
Mayweather has been retired for some years now, making one-off money-spinning comebacks in ‘events’ such as the Conor McGregor fight and the slightly strange New Year’s Eve exhibition appearance in Tokyo back in 2018. The complete lack of boxing action currently no doubt leads to idle social network rumor spreading derived from boredom, comebacks from once-great fighters does seem to be all the rage right now. However, it is interesting to hear Mayweather completely dismiss the notion of fighting a current championship level boxer and acknowledge the risk this could cause to his health.
“When they say Floyd’s going to come back and fight this guy when they say this guy is going to fight Floyd, this guy said this; this guy said that, well, I say this…You guys sell out little arenas, do some baby numbers. Not bad. But I’m older and a lot wiser, meaning, I don’t want to end up like my Uncle Roger, and a lot of other fighters when you don’t know when to hang it up when you end up fighting for everyone else and not for yourself”.
“So even the fight with Conor McGregor, it was smart on my behalf, and it was smart on his behalf. He said even if I can or can’t beat Floyd Mayweather, let me try and share a ring with him so I can make more money than any MMA guy and any other fighter”.
“So even if I did it again, there is entertainment, and there is business. Once again, I’ll say it again; I’m not boxing any boxers at all. None. I am done, retired, and I love my life. It’s crazy when people are saying, ‘Floyd ain’t got no money, he don’t got this, he doesn’t got that.’ Well, I’m going to break certain things down; I don’t monitor anybody else’s pockets. Am I comfortable? Absolutely. Do I make seven figures every month? Absolutely. From smart investments? Absolutely”.
“But, if I see an opportunity, where I can entertain, have a little fun and make 600 million, why not? If I was to come back and fight a fighter, why come back and fight a fighter that can only sell out little cities? I like to face guys, once again, that got countries behind them. If I am gonna do something its got to be worth it. But, there’s no number that’s worth me getting back in that ring and fighting these young fighters to get any type and wear and tear on my body. So am I gonna fight any fighters as of right now? No, I’m retired. I’m training, having fun, enjoying life. I don’t want for nothing”.
Mayweather is good at leaving the door open for any possible opportunities that may arise for him to take part in an event as well as taking home a huge payday. Its likely speculation of him taking on UFC opponents will continue, and its possible new territories in the world of combat sports such as the Middle East may still be interested. However, I get the feeling the demand for this may be diminishing quickly, and surely even the lavishly spending Mayweather couldn’t get to the point of needing to fight for a paycheck. He is a competitor though, a brilliantly skilled one too, which is always going to be reflected in the crazy numbers earnt during his astonishing career.
“I’m not retired from business—these guys making a couple of dollars. If I’m not mistaken, Canelo got a deal for 11 fights right, for three hundred and something million, right? I got that in one night, I got that in 28 minutes. And I got his whole contract and made that in one night”.
“I made over three hundred million twice. And it only took me, like, one was 36 minutes, and one was 28 mins, so let’s say in one hour 650 million”.
“You gotta love my story, the American Dream. A lot of people say, ‘I took the easy route.’ I made it look easy. I took the hard route, but I made it look easy…..And I’m very, very happy with how my career went; I don’t have to fight anymore, you’re going to continue to have fighters that want to fight and call out Floyd Mayweather, I’m happy, and I’m retired”.
