Say it isn’t so.
In a span of 72 hours, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has gone from telling the world that he’s permanently retired to putting up an Instagram post teasing at a possible ring return in 2020.
And now, according to TMZ, Mayweather is currently mulling two fights for 2020, “one against a pro boxer and another against a UFC star.”
Mayweather made a fortune for facing UFC’s Conor McGregor under boxing rules, which obviously is an incentive to pursue another crossover fight with an MMA fighter.
On Thursday, Mayweather was spotted courtside at Staples Center next to Dana White at a L.A. Clippers-Boston Celtics game. Shortly thereafter, Mayweather posted a picture of the two sitting next to each other on Instagram, with the caption, “@danawhite and I working together to bring the world another spectacular event in 2020.
According to TMZ, Mayweather prefers to face a UFC fighter who has standout striking skills, which may rule out a fight with current UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, whose strength is grappling.
As for facing a boxer, one natural option is Manny Pacquiao, who has been actively campaigning for a rematch against Mayweather since their 2015 box office extravaganza. Pacquiao is coming off a vintage win over Keith Thurman in July. Recently, Pacquiao appeared in an Instagram skit with Chinese billionaire Jack Ma in an attempt to lure Mayweather into a fight
Lance Pugmire of The Athletic informed Pacquiao of Mayweather’s comments. Pacquiao’s response: “Hahahaha really? I don’t know of his plan. But I’m just here still active and willing to fight anybody in the welterweight division.”
TMZ’s source claims that Mayweather is looking to fight in May and September,