Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather will go down in history as one of the greatest boxers to have ever stepped into the ring as he retired in 2015 with an immaculate 49-0 record.
However, Mayweather did not stay retired for long, with a one off match against Connor McGregor in 2017 to make it 50-0. Mayweather has once again declared he is coming out of retirement once again to fight Manny Pacquiao for the second time this December in announcement over the weekend.
This isn’t the first time that Mayweather has retired and unretired himself.
ESPN
We take a look at the reasons why Money Mayweather keeps doing this.
Marketing: Mayweather is definitely a great boxer but what many forget is that Mayweather is a master promoter and an astute businessman. His company Mayweather Promotions plays a huge role in promoting his fights and one thing Mayweather has learnt is that when he takes himself off the market, it creates demand. Boxing fans take the decision to buy expensive pay-per-views because they believe it is the last time they will see him fight.
Money: When Mayweather and Pacquiao fought for the first time in 2015, it was promoted as the boxing match of the century and generated as many as 4.6 million pay-per-views.
I’m coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year. Another 9 figure pay day on the way @mayweatherpromotions pic.twitter.com/LxyNX7mWrw
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) September 17, 2018
Mayweather knows that he is the A side and a re-match between the two is likely to generate significant interest and pay-per-view sales yet again. The 41 year old is so confident that he wrote on Instagram that he will receive another 9 figure payday after he fights Pacquiao.
Fame: What Mayweather earns per fight dwarfs the paychecks of other boxers including GGG, Canelo, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. This is because Mayweather has built an amazing global brand and reputation over the years that has made him arguably the most famous boxer worldwide. Mayweather loves the spotlight and he cannot stay out of it very long.
Competition: Mayweather has been training just about all his life and even when he has retired, he never quits his training. He always follows a strict diet, takes no alcohol and looks in great shape because at the back of his mind, he knows he isn’t done with boxing. There are many Mayweather critics like ‘50 Cent‘ who believe that Mayweather is coming back because he is low on money. While that may or may not be true, the competitor in Mayweather will want to push that record to 51-0 and beat Pacquiao in convincing the second time.