By Keith Idec
Floyd Mayweather took time out after a recent trip to Neiman Marcus to begin publicly negotiating for a fight fans definitely would want to watch.
The retired superstar challenged lightweight contender Ryan Garcia to first fight Rolando Romero. If Garcia can beat Romero, Mayweather promised that Garcia would then get a shot at the highest-profile fighter his company promotes – Gervonta Davis.
Mayweather made the offer during a brief interview with TMZ Sports while walking to his car outside that high-end department store. It was posted to TMZ’s website Sunday morning.
When the videographer told Mayweather and Davis, who was on the phone with Mayweather, that Garcia wants to fight Davis, Mayweather replied, “No, the f*** he don’t! He gonna get f***ed up!”
The videographer reminded Mayweather that the 20-year-old Garcia (17-0, 14 KOs) has speed.
“Man, Ryan Garcia, actually, you know what I’m gonna do?,” Mayweather replied. “Ryan Garcia say he wants to fight ‘Tank.’ Well, I’m putting the money up right now. If Ryan Garcia can beat ‘Rolley,’ I’ll give him $200,000 cash. He gonna fight one of my other fighters, who have less fights than he has. He’s gonna fight ‘Rolley.’ Accept the bout with ‘Rolley,’ I’ll give him $200,000 cash if he beat Rolley. Now, once he lose to Rolley, I don’t wanna ever hear him say ‘Tank’s’ name again.”
The videographer then asked for a clarification on Mayweather’s offer.
“If he can get through ‘Rolley,’ ” Mayweather reiterated, “then he can get ‘Tank.’ ”
The videographer then asked if he wouldn’t just allow Garcia to box Baltimore’s Davis (21-0, 20 KOs) without first facing the 23-year-old Romero, who’s 7-0 (6 KOs).
“Absolutely not,” Mayweather said. “He don’t deserve it. He don’t deserve it.”
When reminded Garcia is undefeated, Mayweather responded, “But who have he beat? Tank a two-time world champion and a multimillionaire because he f*** with ‘The Money Team.’ ”
It seems extremely unlikely that Garcia would accept Mayweather’s offer.
His promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mayweather are known enemies who’ve harshly criticized each other publicly. Garcia also has made it clear in recent months that he can no longer make the 130-pound limit.
Davis owns the WBA’s super 130-pound championship. He probably would move up to lightweight to fight the popular Garcia, but Davis is affiliated with Showtime and Garcia’s fights are streamed on DAZN, with which De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions has an exclusive content agreement.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
