By Allan Fox: Floyd Mayweather Jr posted on Instagram today that he’s planning on flying over to Japan on his private jet to meet with Rizin to set something up for 2020. The 43-year-old Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) didn’t specifically mention him fighting another exhibition match, but that’s what it’s believed to be.
Mayweather tells his boxing fans to “stay tuned” for his announcement. Floyd is going to need a big name for him to fight in his exhibition if he wants the U.S boxing fans to pay to see it.
Mayweather hasn’t stayed active enough in the last five years for him to keep his popularity up with fans. The newer fans have never seen Mayweather fight, so they’re not going to be interested in paying $100 to watch him beat up on another MMA guy. That act is tired.
Mayweather needs to change his routine
If Mayweather is going to keep fighting exhibition matches, which makes him look weak and afraid, he needs to fight at least someone from the boxing world that can compete. Picking out MMA guys to fight is pathetic, and makes Mayweather look like an opportunist [read: Cherry picker].
Mayweather hasn’t fought since beating the much smaller and younger 19-year-old kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa by a first-round knockout in December 2018 in Rizin show in Saitama, Japan. Floyd reportedly made $9 million for that match. That fight went under the radar for U.S boxing fans, as they didn’t see it.
The last time Mayweather fought in the U.S was his event against UFC fighter Conor McGregor in August 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather came out of a two-year retirement to stop McGregor in the 10th round. The fight was criticized on many fronts by boxing fans and the media for it not being sporting.
McGregor was making his pro debut in boxing, and he had no clue what he was doing. Mayweather appeared to carry McGregor into the 10th round before he put him away with a continuous barrage of punches.
The victory helped Mayweather break Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record, as the Nevada State Athletic Commission sanctioned it as a professional fight, even though McGregor was making his debut.
Mayweather made $300 million and McGregor $100 million for that fight. Since then, both guys have teased about fighting again. McGregor, who is now retired from the UFC, is currently in training, and some believe he’s planning on competing in a boxing event. Could it be against Mayweather?
Fans would like to see Mayweather face Pacquiao
It would be best for Mayweather to take a real risk by facing 41-year-old Manny Pacquiao in a rematch. Floyd should forget about his silly exhibition matches, which are horrible to watch, and focus on doing something that requires courage and risk. Fighting Pacquiao would be the ideal option if Mayweather wants to bring in pay-per-view buys, and win over the younger boxing fans.
Many of the older fans are already tired of seeing Mayweather’s mismatches against MMA guys, and they’re not going to waste their money on these circus fights any longer. Mayweather needs to break that routine of hand-picking guys from other sports for boxing events because it’s forlorn at this point.
Five years ago, Mayweather beat an injured Pacquiao in 2015 by a 12 round decision in ‘The Fight of the Century.’ Unfortunately, the fight was dull and lacked action from start to finish.
Mayweather stood on the outside, throwing jabs and single right hands all night long, while the injured Pacquiao cautiously attacked. It looked like two older fighters going through the motions and not attempting to entertain.