FLOYD MAYWEATHER called boxing “a very brutal sport” following four deaths in the ring this year.
The American poured cold water on suggestions he could come out of retirement to rematch Manny Pacquiao.
Floyd Mayweather called boxing ‘a very brutal sport’ following four deaths in the ring in 2019Credit: AP:Associated Press
Mayweather has watched from the sidelines since his last professional contest, against UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017.
But the promoter has seen Patrick Day of America, Russian Maxim Dadashev, Argentina’s Hugo Santillan and Bulgaria’s Boris Stanchov all lose their lives in the ring this year.
And aged 42, having not fought a fully fledged boxer since his 2015 points win over Andre Berto, Mayweather admitted to rejecting comeback fights as he knows when to “hang it up”.
He told Reuters: “I’ve got calls to get back into the ring, but my health is my wealth.
“Boxing is a very, very brutal sport. In the last few years a lot of fighters have died inside that squared circle.
“You have got to know when to hang it up. I had a great career.”
Despite ending talk of a mega-money rematch with Pacquiao, the American is still open to non-pro exhibition bouts.
Mayweather pocketed £7million at the end of 2018 after demolishing Japanese featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
And while not willing to get back in the ring against the sport’s elite, the former pay-per-view king revealed he is still going to be earning a lot of money, in non competitive bouts.
Devin Haney works out and takes advice from boxing legend Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather added: “I’ll still travel and do exhibitions.
“I make great money doing exhibitions; between $10 and $30 million.
“I think I make more doing that than most fighters make fighting.”
Mayweather revealed he is open to more exhibition bouts despite his retirement from pro boxingCredit: Splash News
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
