FLOYD MAYWEATHER last year announced he was coming out of retirement to fight again – and he has several reasons why.
The 43-year-old officially walked away from professional boxing in 2017, after beating UFC star Conor McGregor in 10 rounds to enhance his record to a perfect 50-0.
Floyd Mayweather announced last year that he would be coming out of retirement in 2020Credit: AFP
He did return a year later, taking out featherweight Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in just a round of their exhibition bout, before suggesting he could make more ring cameos.
But last year Mayweather sparked comeback rumours again after revealing he would be working on a “spectacular event” with UFC boss Dana White, later confirming his interest in fighting McGregor again or Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Here SunSport details the reasons Mayweather may want to lace up the gloves again.
‘GENERATIONAL WEALTH’ FOR HIS KIDS
Mayweather is said to have earned $1billion throughout his career but still had to deny “crazy” rumours he had blown all his cash and needed a comeback fight to recoup it.
But on a UK tour earlier this year, Mayweather revealed his motivation to return would be to build even greater futures for his four children, Iyanna, Zion, Jirah and Koraun.
He said: “Like I said before, I’m retired but I’m not retired from getting a couple of dollars.
“It’s crazy. You guys hear things about ‘Floyd needs money. I don’t need (anything) but I don’t mind making some more money.
“At the end of the day, when that bank account and when that wire comes, my kids are going to be like, ‘Dad, I’m proud of you.’
“So I talked about this earlier. Self-preservation comes first. I must take care of my home first, and I believe in creating generational wealth.”
Mayweather with sons Zion, left, and Koraun
REMAIN BIGGEST NAME IN BOXING
Mayweather has announced retirement only to make a lucrative comeback four times during his career.
And each time he makes a return, his purse is enhanced and stardom increases.
Since his final fight against McGregor, Mayweather has constantly remained in the headlines and fuelled comeback rumours by posting videos of himself training again.
It’s clear the former pay-per-view and pound-for-pound king isn’t yet ready to finally walk away and let his legacy rest as it is.
But without a fight it will be hard for Mayweather to receive the much needed attention that he desires and ultimately made him the biggest star of a generation.
WINNABLE COMEBACK FIGHT
Mayweather has made it clear if he is to return it will not be against a recognised boxer, citing he has nothing left to prove.
But he is interested in facing UFC stars McGregor and Nurmagomedov. Why? Well, he reckons both fights will bank him around £240m each while they both have a “country behind” them to drum up interest in the event.
Mayweather explained: “It doesn’t make sense for me to fight just any ordinary fighter because I’m at the point right now where it’s about business, I’m a businessman.
“Why would I fight any ordinary fighter for $30million when I can fight a guy who has a whole country behind him for $300million?”
And while earning a far more amount for fighting either boxing novice instead of a current champion, Mayweather’s unbeaten record faces far less risk if he boxes McGregor or Nurmagomedov.
Meaning it would be a no-brainer for the man who calls himself ‘Money’ to make a lucrative comeback after three years out to face someone from another sport.
Mayweather is open to rematching Conor McGregorCredit: Getty – Contributor
HE’S STILL GOT IT
Mayweather’s uncle and former trainer Roger passed away in March after years of battling health problems, which his nephew believes were caused due to his exciting, offensive fighting style.
Floyd instead mastered the ‘Sweet Science’ taught by his father, Sr, soon becoming a defensive mastermind with expert counter punching.
You can count on one hand the amount of times he was hit and seriously hurt during a fight, which is the reason why Mayweather had such longevity in the sport – reigning as world champion until he was 38.
Despite his flashy and party-going lifestyle, Mayweather has never drunk alcohol and had the most gruelling of training regimes during his career, including sessions lasting up to six hours at a time and starting at 3am.
The 43-year-old has always kept in shape and has since proved with recent videos that his hand speed and technique has not faltered in his years in retirement.
If Mayweather was to box again, he would do so nowhere near his prime of the fighting peak, but his current conditioning and masterful skills leave him more than capable to fight again.
Mayweather said last year he would come out of retirement in 2020
ANOTHER $600MILLION
Mayweather enjoys many things in life – but none more than making and spending money.
Having already established that he is only likely to face non-boxers or UFC fighters in a proposed comeback, with his ability to beat any of them, why would he not box again for unprecedented amounts of cash?
He claims to have held talks for fights against McGregor and Nurmagomedov, and would “absolutely” come out of retirement should they bank him his demanded purse.
Mayweather said: “If I’m able to entertain the world and have some fun, and this is easy entertainment and I can make $600 million with two guys, why not?
“So, if I can go get $600 more million invested and leave it to my children and my grandchildren and my loved ones, why not? Absolutely.
“We talked about the Conor McGregor fight, we talked about the Khabib fight. For myself, the number is $600m. If I’m going to go out there and risk it anything, it would have to be worth it.”
Mayweather believes he could make $600m to face McGregor and KhabibCredit: Getty
Floyd Mayweather hits the home gym to tease boxing comeback
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
