MANILA, Philippines ? Undefeated fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. insists he?s staying retired but his father Floyd Sr. has opened the possibility of a rematch with Manny Pacquiao so that the outcome of the Filipino icon?s rubber match against Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 9 suddenly becomes a critical factor in determining the viability of another encounter.
If Pacquiao beats Bradley convincingly, either by a knockout or a lopsided decision, the public will clamor for a return bout with Mayweather Jr. for sure. There was no real closure after their first meeting because Pacquiao fought with a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder starting the fourth round, raising some doubt on the credibility of Mayweather Jr.?s win by a unanimous verdict. Although Mayweather Jr. claims he won 10 of the 12 rounds, Pacquiao hasn?t conceded defeat.
Mayweather Jr. is now 39 and despite his pronouncements, his record of 49-0 isn?t an argument for greatness. Heavyweight Rocky Marciano retired with the same slate. But it?s Mexican Ricardo Lopez who owns the record of most wins in retiring with an unbeaten record as a world champion. Lopez was 35 when he hung up his gloves in 2001 as the IBF lightflyweight titlist with a 51-0-1 card, including 38 KOs. For Mayweather Jr. to cast his name in stone, he?s got to overtake Marciano and Lopez. Staying retired wouldn?t be an option if Mayweather Jr. intends to establish legacy.
Mayweather Jr. recently said he was offered ?crazy, nine-figure? sums of money to come out of retirement. He didn?t disclose if the offer was to fight Pacquiao once more. But Mayweather Jr. brushed off the invitation, saying he just wants to enjoy his retirement and wealth without thinking of ever lacing the gloves up again. He said he wants to live the rest of his life with his mental faculties intact.
Mayweather Jr. said he hasn?t spoken with either Top Rank CEO Bob Arum or Pacquiao?s adviser Michael Koncz on a possible rematch. ?Everything that you guys are hearing that Michael Koncz has said and what Bob Arum has said is totally false,? said Mayweather Jr. ?Totally false. I haven?t spoken to Arum. I haven?t spoken to Koncz. And as far as people keeping talking about Mayweather Promotions, I dictate and control what goes on with it. Leonard Ellerbe is the CEO but everything has to go through me and I have to put the green light on any and everything.? Mayweather Jr. didn?t disclose where the offer of a ?nine-figure? purse came from.
As for life after boxing, Mayweather Jr. said it?s great. ?My family has a comfortable life from me going out there and taking chances and risks,? he said. ?That was the ultimate goal. My kids will be going to college real soon. I?m very happy that I was able to be a risk-taker. Roll the dice and take chances. My being in the 12th grade, leaving school, leaving everything behind, leaving my family behind to go out there and do something that I love to do. It paid off in the long run.? Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
Mayweather Jr. pulled in about $250 million for his fight against Pacquiao last May. A rematch isn?t likely to bring in revenues close to that figure but even if Mayweather Jr. bankrolls half of it, the amount would still be substantial and in nine digits.
A few days ago, Mayweather Jr. said the only fighter who could bring him back into the ring is WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia, a 28-year-old brawler with a 32-0 record, including 18 KOs. Garcia is widely known as the man who sent Erik Morales into permanent retirement in 2012. Two other fighters mentioned as possible future opponents were WBA superlightweight ruler Adrien Broner and WBA, IBF, WBC and IBO middleweight titlist Gennady Golovkin.
Broner, 26, is set to face challenger Ashley Theophane in Washington, D. C. on April 1 while Golovkin, 33, takes on challenger Dominic Wade at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on April 23. Broner used to be Mayweather Jr.?s stablemate and is now feuding with his former handlers. Golovkin would be an intriguing proposition except that he fights in the 160-pound division and Mayweather Jr. is optimal at 147.
Floyd Sr. isn?t ruling out a Pacquiao rematch. ?Pacquiao wants to do it again,? said Mayweather Sr. ?For what does he want to do it? No one knows. The only good thing is Floyd?s gonna whoop his as where he can get enough money to go about his business and sit his ass down somewhere. That?s a real simple fight for Floyd. It was a long time coming and it came and when it came, Pacquiao got it. And guess what? Pacquiao can get it again.?
Writer Gianni Verschueren said Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao remain two of the biggest stars in the sport and predicted a rematch would likely be another goldmine for both. ?With every passing day, the chances of a comeback grow slimmer,? said Verschueren. ?Finding the right opponent would be one thing but finding the proper motivation to fight again will be far more important. It seems even Money?s father doesn?t know what his son?s plans for the future are but if anybody can tempt him back into the ring, you suspect it?ll be Pacquiao.?
Mayweather Jr. isn?t expected to be retired for long. He has unretired twice before so making another comeback wouldn?t be a surprise. What will entice Mayweather Jr. back into the ring are a hefty paycheck and more than a 50 percent chance of winning. If Pacquiao is able to trounce Bradley, the clamor for a rematch with Mayweather will resonate and that could only mean big bucks. And if Mayweather Jr. is confident that he can beat Pacquiao any day, anywhere, anyhow, then maybe, his father was right all along. The Mayweathers could just be waiting for the stars to realign.
