By Edward Chaykovsky
According to Showtime Sports VP and General Manager Stephen Espinoza, former five division world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, 26KOs) has no intention of coming back to the ring.
Mayweather retired from the sport last September after winning a twelve round decision over Andre Berto at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The fight was also Mayweather's last of his exclusive six fight agreement with CBS/Showtime.
Since his retirement, there have been constant rumors of a potential ring return - especially now with Manny Pacquiao returning to the ring on November 5th.
Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs), 38 years old, will face 27-year-old World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (27-1, 10 KOs) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao himself also announced his retirement in April after beating Timothy Bradley but was soon itching to get back in the ring.
Mayweather on the other hand is more focused on his promotional company and spending the money he's earned over the years. The fight was Pacquiao alone netted him $300 million last May.
“Floyd’s been as consistent as he’s ever been. He says he enjoys retirement and promoting and won’t engage with us, even in a joking way, about coming back,” Espinoza said to the Los Angeles Times. “So I’m not sure how to get the ball rolling in regard to getting him back in the ring, but I’m not going to give up."
Pacquiao is still holding out hope that he can receive the opportunity to avenge last year's decision loss to Mayweather.
“If there’s a rematch, that’d be OK,” Pacquiao said. “It’s so important to show my career is not over yet, that I’m still here – my strength, my quickness, my speed. It’s still there. God gave me this gift of talent and that’s what I’m trying to show to all.”
