Why did Mayweather retire in 2008?

[4truth]

It was Oscar, there is little doubt. Floyd was afraid of being jabbed for 12 rounds and taking a loss.

[travestyny]

It was Oscar, there is little doubt. Floyd was afraid of being jabbed for 12 rounds and taking a loss.

Why would he duck someone he already beat...and clearly.

Would make more sense if Hoya found the jab later in the fight instead of having success with it early and having Floyd take it away from him.

[sugar ray lenrd]

There were no big fights out there besides Cotto, who wasn’t a viable option at the time. Margarito and Paul Williams weren’t big fights.

What duh Hell!!!??? There was big fights to be made, but at that time they weren't making the big money Floyd made like years later with Cotto, Pac, Canelo. But they were there...and he quit!

[4truth]

Why would he duck someone he already beat...and clearly.

Would make more sense if Hoya found the jab later in the fight instead of having success with it early and having Floyd take it away from him.

That isn't what happened. Oscar went away from the jab willingly thinking he could do more but he couldn't.

The rematch was set up already for September, Floyd retired in June. The month after Oscar retired Floyd came back.

[travestyny]

That isn't what happened. Oscar went away from the jab willingly thinking he could do more but he couldn't.

The fight was set up already for September, Floyd retired in June. The month after Oscar retired Floyd came back.

I think maybe he was tired of getting counterpunched.

Floyd clearly beat Oscar. So the argument is that he ducked someone he clearly beat? Nah.

And that scenario doesn't make much sense. De la Hoya got nearly killed in the ring by Pacquiao in December. No one was afraid of him at that point.

[sugar ray lenrd]

People don't get on Marvin Hagler for retiring when middleweight was getting hot.

Nahh bro, different scenario, Hagler dominated his division for a decade & he retired when he felt he was rob of a decision against Leonard (me)

[GhostofDempsey]

Letting other guys beat each other is my only other guess

Exactly this. Too many prime lions on the scene. So rather than fight them or rematch Oscar, he chose to "retire" and let the smoke clear. Let them all fight and eliminate one another from the #1 spot and then come back when the dust has settled.

[The Big Dunn]

That isn't what happened. Oscar went away from the jab willingly thinking he could do more but he couldn't.

The rematch was set up already for September, Floyd retired in June. The month after Oscar retired Floyd came back.

That doesn't make any sense. You are suggesting ODH willingly gave the fight away to try and KO Floyd but his output and the amount of shots he ate don't reflect this strategy.

Further, by the start of round 10 it was apparent to the large majority of people watching and in the arena that he was losing the fight. Had he returned to this strategy he'd have won the last 3 rounds and maybe the fight.

Regarding the rematch, have you ever thought this was Floyd sticking it to ODH for him making Floyd wait so long for a fight?

[RL_GMA]

Letting other guys beat each other is my only other guess

People will look at this as a knock to Floyd but essentially that's what he did, directly or indirectly.

Timeline:

2007:

Floyd (WBC / Lineal Champ) beats Oscar and Ricky Hatton.
Margarito loses to Paul Williams (WBO Belt)
Cotto (WBA Champ) beats Zab and Mosley

2008:

Floyd "Retires"
Paul Williams loses to Carlos Quintana (WBO Belt)
Margarito beats Cotto (WBA Belt)
Paul Williams beats Quintana (WBO Belt)
Paul Williams moves to 154
Clottey wins vacant IBF belt

2009:

Mosley beats Margarito (WBA Belt)
Cotto wins vacant WBO belt (beats Clottey)
Pacquiao beats Cotto (WBO Belt)
Floyd returns against Marquez

2010:

Floyd beats Mosley (Lineal title)

Floyd vs Pac saga begins.

Mayweather for whatever it's worth missed out on prime versions of Margarito, Paul Williams, and Miguel Cotto which at the time would've been his toughest match ups to date.

[bballchump11]

Nahh bro, different scenario, Hagler dominated his division for a decade & he retired when he felt he was rob of a decision against Leonard (me)

Hagler didn't fight



Sumbu Kalambay, Mike McCallum, or Michael Nunn all in their prime ranked in the top 10 when he retired.