Floyd Mayweather Jr. told reporters Tuesday he would retire in 2015, after his six-fight deal with Showtime ends. Mayweather, who fights Marcos Maidana on Saturday, indicated his last two fights would be exciting - is the long-awaited Manny Pacquiao bout in the works?
Mayweather apparently is three fights away from riding off into the sunset as an undefeated champion and cementing his status as one of the greatest ever pound-for-pound fighters.
"I only got two more fights left (after Saturday) and after the next two fights I just want to build the Mayweather Promotions brand," Mayweather said Tuesday, via ESPN. "... My next fight is in May and my last fight is September, so a year from now will be my last fight."
Mayweather boasts a 46-0 to go along with 26 knockouts, and - arguably for the first time in deal with Showtime - faces an opponent, Maidana, whom people believe has a legitimate shot at handing Mayweather his first professional loss.
"As of right now, my focus is on Maidana," said Mayweather. "I can't focus on the other two fights after that. I have to focus on Maidana. After that we can't say who's the next two are going to be but I'm pretty sure the next two will be exciting fights."
If Mayweather's career is coming to its conclusion, the most exciting fight fans could see is one against Pacquiao. More importantly for Mayweather, defeating Pacquiao would let the undefeated champion go out as the undisputed greatest fighter of his time. It'd also put an end to the criticism of Mayweather that he is only undefeated because he chooses less talented opponents.
Mayweather and Pacquiao's camps have never been able to agree on the terms of a fight, but there's a growing feeling Mayweather, who has a knack for showmanship, will finish his career by fighting Pacquiao twice: first in May, and then a rematch in September.
Bob Abrum, who promotes Pacquiao, indicated last the month the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao would happen in 2015. Mayweather, however, called the report "untrue."
