STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Showtime Sports, remains doubtful that Floyd Mayweather will make a comeback, despite the network’s best efforts to tempt him back.
Mayweather, 39, offically closed out his glittering career last September when he soundly outpointed an overmatched Andre Berto in Las Vegas.
However at the weekend, the former pound-for-pound king opened the door to a potential return to the sport. Espinoza, who organised a multi-fight deal with Floyd which ended with the Berto fight, is in regular contact with Mayweather and feels he will stick to his decision.
“Whether we see him in the ring [again], it’s still an open question. It’s certainly something we ask him about and express our desire about. Right now, he’s been very clear he’s happily retired,” he told Boxing News.
“Personally, if I were a betting man, I’d bet against him coming back. He’s satisfied and fulfilled, who couldn’t enjoy the travelling he’s been doing? He’s spending more time with his family.”
1 year ago today…MayPac, one of the biggest sporting events ever. A year later and we still have more plans. pic.twitter.com/svQ3eOw4fn
— Stephen Espinoza (@StephenEspinoza) May 3, 2016
Mayweather retired with a perfect 49-0 ledger, which included a 12-round decision victory over Manny Pacquiao in their blockbuster meeting last year.
Since hanging up his gloves, Floyd has travelled the world, documenting his lavish holidays on social media while frequently lamenting on how much he is enjoying retirement.
That hasn’t stopped most observors believing that the formerly highest-paid athlete on the planet will find himself back in the ring at some point in the near future.
Rumours have swirled that he is even eyeing a fight with WBC welterweight boss Danny Garcia, and Espinoza can see why many are convinced he will return, but – having spent plenty of time with the star – doesn’t agree with them.
“I understand the scepticism about the retirement, particularly as he was performing at such a high level when he retired,” he continued.
Cairo, Egypt #Pyramids#Sphinx#Africapic.twitter.com/0lfd8tIkAi
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) April 24, 2016
“But when you consider he spent 19 years as a professional, that’s a long time in any career but in boxing it’s two lifetimes. So I believe that having contributed 19 years, a lot of his personal time, blood, sweat and tears, I think he’s had his fill.
“That could change any minute and whenever there’s a call and I see his number come up, your heart skips a beat and you think ‘maybe this is the call.’ But he’s been really clear so far that he’s happily retired.”
Floyd started his own promotional banner, Mayweather Promotions, in 2007 to claim autonomy of his career and now helps guide the careers of fighters like WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack in the Mayweather stable.
Espinoza continues to work with Mayweather in his role as promoter, and said: “Floyd’s got a lot of plans. As many people have noticed, he’s been very, very active promoting. I think he has surprised most people in terms of his presence and his involvement at that level.
“He still has very grand plans with everyone from Badou Jack to some of his younger fighters.”
