By James Slater: It seems we can forget all about Floyd “Money” Mayweather, the biggest, the most controversial and the most exciting fighter in the sport (in and out of the ring), fighting again any time too soon. Though the fans want to see more of the 34-year-old master who frustratingly opts to take extended “vacations” after his big fights, Floyd has and always will do what he wants to do.
Judging by the things the nattily-attired megastar had to say late on Saturday night whilst being bombarded with questions from selected members of the media, as well as with autograph requests from countless fans (all of which he granted) (as filmed by Fighthype.com), another long layoff looks a strong possibility.
“This camp was long, it was long,” Floyd said. “If I do have another long layoff, I might not come back again.”
Mayweather, now sporting a 42-0(26) pro record (as well as a nasty lump on the back of the left side of his head, put there he says by the number of illegal rabbit punches Victor Ortiz landed on him), spoke of the massive number of un-ring related interests he has going; the ones that keep him out of action so often. It sure sounded as though Floyd wants to take a rest and, as he put it, “spend time with his babies and bet on the NFL football.”
Peppered with questions asking him who he will fight next nonetheless, the new WBC welterweight king was asked about three names mostly: Manny Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez and Amir Khan. It’s fair to say, Mayweather was evasive on all counts.
“I don’t wanna talk about Pacquiao,” he said. “I’m tired of all that. They’re (Team-Pacquiao) lying to you. Bob Arum is lying to y’all. They say they wanna take the test, then they say they need telling when they’re [the testing officials who would carry out the random blood and urine tests] gonna come! Come on. We’ve tried [to make the fight], but this s**t drives me crazy.”
As for Martinez, Floyd said “no way would he be able to hit me with all those wild shots,” when giving his take on the Argentine world middleweight ruler. Mayweather also reiterated how he has “no problems” with southpaws, “even if they say I do,” – they being certain members of the media.
Floyd seemed almost 100-percent dismissive of Amir Khan and the British star’s chances of landing the mega-fight he craves.
“He’s gotta build up his fan base, “ Floyd said when asked if he’d like to come to Wembley, London to fight Khan. “I don’t really know who Amir Khan is. I’m more popular in the U.K than he is! He’s gotta beat Jessie Vargas, then I MIGHT, give him the shot. The only way Wembley gets filled is if Floyd Mayweather fights there. I could fight a cab driver!”
Khan, of course, has gone as far as to accuse “Money” of avoiding him, claiming “he has his number” and that is the reason Mayweather wants nothing to do with him. Not too many fans choose to believe Khan, and Floyd certainly doesn’t come across as anything like a fighter concerned with the abilities Khan has.
But will Floyd fight again, and if not against Khan, Pacquiao or Martinez, then who against?
Leading us in an opposite direction from the one that suggested he might be done with boxing, Floyd finished off by stating that “I will fight again. Let me see what me and my team comes up with.”
Mayweather was smiling as he said this, and he also stated how, after “kicking back for a while,” he’d be ready to “rock and roll.”
It’s frustrating following the career of this particular all-time great, but it’s never dull. As Floyd himself said with another smile, “there’s always controversy with Floyd Mayweather.”