Top trainer Robert Garcia has predicted a potential clash between Ryan Garcia and Floyd Mayweather, basing his thoughts on a conversation he shared with the latter around 10 years ago.
Back then, Mayweather was approaching his money-spinning showdown with Conor McGregor, who he defeated with an uncomplicated 10th-round finish in his last professional boxing match.
But while he was able to outclass the UFC star, the American admitted at the time that his body, quite naturally, could no longer function at the level it was once accustomed to.
While sharing this publicly, he also did so via a private conversation with Garcia – whose brother, Mikey, was exploring the possibility of fighting under the Mayweather Promotions banner.
Speaking with FightHype, the esteemed coach highlighted the fact that, if Mayweather was experiencing signs of deterioration all those years ago, then things could hardly have improved for the 49-year-old ahead of a possible clash with WBC world welterweight champion Garcia.
“I don’t know how many years it’s been, but when Mikey [Garcia] became a free agent after everything that went on with Top Rank, Floyd came to my gym to try to work something out with Mikey.
“We told him: Look, we could do something where [you] give us a couple of fights, and then our last fight with Mayweather Promotions is against you.
“He said: ‘I can’t fight anymore; my body’s tired, my body’s hurting already. My back hurts; my leg [hurts].’ That was, what, seven years ago? Seven years ago I was 44, and I don’t feel the same [now].
“Mayweather’s one of the greatest of all time but, if his body can’t do it, I wouldn’t recommend him to [fight Ryan Garcia]. Ryan’s fast as f***. [Mayweather] could get hurt.”
In reality, it might be closer to a decade ago that Mayweather expressed such concerns, as Mikey Garcia officially became a free agent in 2016.
