By Edward Chaykovsky
Retired Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez, who works as an expert analyst for ESPN Deportes, is among the growing number of insiders who believe Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) will return to the ring and fight WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia (32-0, 18KOs) in the fall.
Mayweather retired last September after winning a twelve round decision over Andre Berto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
After his win over Berto, the five division world champion announced his retirement from the sport.
A few months after Mayweather retired, all of his world titles became vacant. At the time of his final bout, he was the owner of the WBC/WBA welterweight and junior middleweight world titles.
Garcia captured the vacant WBC title in January with a twelve round unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero, who also lost a decision to Mayweather in 2013.
When discussing Mayweather's potential comeback options, Cortez tabbed Garcia as the top choice. Garcia and Mayweather both work with adviser Al Haymon.
"I don’t think Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao again, I think if Mayweather is going to do anything, he’s going to end up fighting Danny Garcia, who is not as dangerous. Mayweather can probably get an easier win over Garcia than he would over Pacquaio, so being that Pacquiao looked outstanding, I think Mayweather says, 'I better stay away from him, he looks a little too fresh, he still looks like he has a little spark of the old flash. He may be too strong for me, let me go with somebody easier.' Mayweather will probably go with Danny Garcia if he ever comes back," Cortez told On The Ropes Boxing Radio.
