Floyd Mayweather has claimed he would need $200 million to return to the ring in a sanctioned professional bout.
The boxing legend has not fought as a professional since defeating Conor McGregor in his 50th outing in 2017. He held a remarkable 50-0 record sharing the ring with the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya.
Mayweather has recently been fighting on the exhibition circuit earning mega-money for facing the likes of Tenshin Nasukawa, Logan Paul and Don Moore. He previously claimed he would not return to the ring as a professional fighter after achieving all of his goals in the sport. However he has now suggested he will have a three-fight year with one event potentially sanctioned.
“I’m still the most talked about motherf***** in boxing and I don’t even fight any more," Mayweather told Fight Hype. "All I do is rob the bank and they’re going to continue to pay me. I got three more exhibitions this year, could be one fight and fighting in two exhibitions. But guess what, you better know it’s at least and this is the lowest I’m talking about $200 million."
Mayweather's next exhibition has already been announced when he will take on Japanese MMA star Mikuru Asakura. It will be his second lucrative visit to Japan having beaten Nasukawa in 2018 following his retirement from professional boxing. Mayweather has been earning huge money to fight on the exhibition circuit having earned £52 million for sharing the ring with YouTube star Paul last June.
The American star later claimed he earned up to $100 million for his recent exhibition with former sparring partner Moore, which was staged in the Middle East. He even alleged he was paid £1 million to attend the press conference to promote his recent fight with Asakura, which will no doubt set him on his way to another financially rewarding year.
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Several opponents have stepped forward for further potential fights including Amir Khan and Manny Pacquiao who are both interested in touching gloves with Mayweather. It was even claimed the boxing legend was in talks to rekindle his rivalry with McGregor, but UFC president Dana White has since poured cold water on the idea.
Mayweather remains one of the sport's biggest pay-per-view draws despite not having fought since 2017, and has featured in the two top selling events of all-time. With his career continuing to thrive outside of the professional ranks, Mayweather claimed he earns an astronomical $300 million every month.
“I will continue to give back to the sport of boxing in my time, and I will also give back financially because I got it,” Mayweather said at his first ballot induction after being named in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. To my team, my guys in New York, and my other real estate team that’s here today, we can’t be stopped. In 32 months, I put myself in a position with a smart business team to make $300m a month."
