This weekend Jarrett Hurd unified the 154-pound division with a 12-round split-decision victory over Erislandy Lara in an all-action fight Saturday on SHOWTIME before a sold-out crowd of 2,579 at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
During the Mayweather Promotions event, the TMT boss sat with Jim Gray and discussed everything from his retirement to a debut in MMA and more.
Floyd Mayweather Talks Potential MMA Fight | SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING
Floyd Mayweather on possibly coming out of retirement and stepping into the octagon.
Retirement has been great but as you know and everyone knows, I go in retirement and I come back,: said Mayweather to reporter Jim Gray. “It is possible I do come back, but if I do come back, it has to be in the Octagon,” said Mayweather. I spoke with my team, I spoke with Al Haymon. Al Haymon says no. I spoke with SHOWTIME, I spoke with CBS. If I do come back, SHOWTIME and CBS has to be involved.
When I do go to the Octagon I look forward to going to 145 (pounds). You got to talk to SHOWTIME, CBS. The money is going to be crazy. I can do whatever I want to do. Im Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather confirmed he would not box again.
Showtime is helmed by former Golden Boy Promotions lawyer, Stephen Espinoza who has transformed the boxing playing field via his alignment with Al Haymon and Eddie Hearn. Having poached Mayweather from HBO, delivered an American audience to British heavyweight sensation, Anthony Joshua, and executive producer of “The Money Fight”, Espinoza is a golden boy in his own right.
However, this weekend at UFC 223 at the Barclays Center, UFC President Dana White had some choice words for his former promotional partner when informed of Mayweathers request during the UFC 223 post-event press conference in Brooklyn, N.Y.
That aint happening. That aint happening, White said, before adding facetiously, Well do it on HBO.
The candid remark stems from Espinozas remarks on Twitter in the wake of McGregors melee at UFC 223 media day and the falling apart of the pay-per-view card that followed.
Stephen Espinoza on Twitter
So apparently there are people with invisible faces? https://t.co/dFeCTjifFx
And they claim boxing is lawless, he said in a series of posts. Never heard a boxing match declared a title fight for both fighters even though one fighter failed to make weight. Congrats, UFC. Youve far outdone boxing in terms of shadiness. But why bother adhering to rules when you dont feel like it?
Stephen Espinoza on Twitter
From the melee at Barclays he went straight to the Teterboro airport to attempt to flee the country….yet he’s not a flight risk? OK, bruh. Love it when people explain to me – a lawyer, BTw – how the legal system works. https://t.co/7BDBn3NoDQ
I have no issue with the fighters. None at all, he said. My issue is with the organization declaring that almost is good enough on a weigh-in. Hand grenades, horseshoes and UFC title fightswhen almost is good enough.
Mayweather chimed in on his 50th dance partner’s rampage in Brooklyn.
I feel that when you have reached such high status you have to carry yourself in a classy way. Outside the ring, you have to carry yourself as a gentleman.
Amid the “McThugger” Barclays weekend, the world is closer to realizing how difficult it will be to make an MMA match between Mayweather and McGregor.
Stephen Espinoza on Twitter
From the melee at Barclays he went straight to the Teterboro airport to attempt to flee the country….yet he’s not a flight risk? OK, bruh. Love it when people explain to me – a lawyer, BTw – how the legal system works. https://t.co/7BDBn3NoDQ
