Rematch makes sense
NEW YORK – Retirement by definition is final. Let’s be honest and say Floyd Mayweather Jr. is taking a vacation.
The unofficial pound-for-pound king said before his 12-round, split-decision victory over Oscar De La Hoya last Saturday that he would hang it up for good afterward. But he hedged at a postfight press conference and said during a whirlwind media blitz in New York on Thursday that he’s waiting for De La Hoya to call for a rematch.
“We had a good fight,” Mayweather said, chomping on a sandwich at HBO headquarters. “I think that No. 2 would be even better, because we can fight toe-to-toe. And I really have nothing else to prove in this sport.”
That’s not entirely true. Pretty Boy is trying to get his young promotional company off the ground, and another big payday wouldn’t hurt. Mayweather said he made $25 million to $30 million on the fight, which drew a record 2.15 million pay-per-view buys helped in part by the “24-7” reality show lead-in that attracted many casual fans.
De La Hoya would be well served by a rematch, too, for his Golden Boy Promotions and his legacy. The 34-year-old boxer has lost three of his last five fights, and Mayweather doesn’t think De La Hoya is willing to go out on a loss.
“He wants to talk about part two, he can call me,” Mayweather said. “I say there’s pride involved. If he tells all you guys he won’t come back and fight again, he’ll come back and fight me again. That’s it.”
HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg certainly isn’t buying into the Mayweather retirement talk. Not after a sellout crowd of 16,200 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena resulted in a $19 million live gate, also a record.
“It’s just starting for him. I think he’s teasing all of us,” Greenburg said, a day after revealing the De La Hoya-Mayweather fight was the richest in boxing history with $120 million in pay-per-view revenue. “You’re not in the prime like he is, in life and in the ring, and go on vacation for five years. He’ll get itchy.”
If De La Hoya doesn’t want a rematch, Greenburg ticked off a list of other fighters who might want a shot at Mayweather: aging Shane Mosely, WBO champ Antonio Margarito, undefeated Miguel Cotto, who will defend his WBA welterweight title against Zab Judah on June 9, and Felix Trinidad.
“He has a flood of opponents,” Greenburg said. “I mean, line ‘em up.”
Trinidad could be the most intriguing.
De La Hoya has said before he would like a rematch with Tito, who handed De La Hoya his first loss with a controversial split decision in 1999. But Mayweather also perked up when told that Trinidad has said he could fight at 160 pounds.
Trinidad, who has held the world welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight belts, announced his retirement after losing a lopsided 12-round decision to Ronald “Winky” Wright in 2005. But Trinidad has the name recognition that could generate another big payday for Mayweather.
“You’ve got to be business-minded,” Mayweather said. “Nobody knows Margarito. He’s not a draw, so I can’t fight anybody like that. Two fighters have to be on a certain plateau to meet up for a fight like this.”
Whoever faces Mayweather next – assuming all this retirement talk is just talk – Greenburg said another “24-7” reality show is almost certain.
The three-week show, which aired in an enviable Sunday night time slot, gave the public a glimpse at the two fighters away from the ring. While the popular De La Hoya already has his legions, the show allowed Mayweather’s magnetic personality to seep into the public consciousness.
It also showcased his dysfunctional family, which drummed up more interest.
“When you saw the show, it made you want to go out and buy the fight,” Mayweather said. “Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather was the biggest fight in boxing history.”