Floyd Mayweather Retirement? Boxer Talks Legacy, Reveals Interest In Buying Los Angeles Clippers From Donald Sterling [VIDEO]
Floyd “Money” Mayweather admitted at a Tuesday press conference that he regularly considers retirement from boxing and confirmed his interest in buying the Los Angeles Clippers from Donald Sterling.
Mayweather (45-0, 26 KOs) spoke to the media at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas ahead of his Saturday night bout with Marcos Maidana. During the press conference, a reporter asked Mayweather if he would attempt to attain a perfect 50-0 record before announcing his retirement; he’s halfway through a six-fight contract with Showtime, which ends after his 49th career fight.
In response, the 37-year-old confessed that he considers retiring on a daily basis, perhaps even before the end of his contract. “I’m not really worried about [going 50-0]. I’m being honest—I be contemplating every day talking about getting out of the sport now. I’m very, very comfortable. Very comfortable,” Mayweather said.
However, Mayweather admitted that the state of his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time motivates him to continue fighting. “When you mention boxing, all I want you to mention is one name—that’s Floyd Mayweather,” he said. “And that’s what I’m here to do. When my career is over, I don’t want y’all talking about nobody else.”
When the reporter pointed out to Mayweather that he seemed conflicted about whether or not to continue his career, the boxer didn’t deny it. “I’m only human. I can contradict myself. I’m human, I make mistakes,” he said.
Mayweather may not have decided whether or not he wants to retire, but his post-career plans may already be taking shape. On Tuesday, he confirmed his interest in purchasing the Los Angeles Clippers from Donald Sterling, after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned the 80-year-old owner for life, fined him $2.5 million and announced his intention to force the sale of the franchise.
Mayweather said that he had already talked to his adviser, Al Haymon, about the possibility of joining with Mayweather Promotions chief executive Leonard Ellerbe, Golden Boy Promotions chief executive Richard Schaefer, and others to submit a bid to buy the Clippers, ESPN reports.
"I called Al today about that to see if me, Leonard and Al, and hopefully Richard and a couple of other guys, a couple other of my billionaire guys, we can come together and see what we can come up with," Mayweather said. "Hopefully, we can do it, and it's not just talk.”
"With me, I can't come in talking about Mayweather only gonna get 3 percent, 4 percent. I got to get a solid percentage,” Mayweather added. “Do we want to buy the Clippers? Yes, we do. We are very, very interested in buying the Clippers. We'll keep the Clippers right where they're at. When I'm not boxing, I'm at the games all the time. We do want to buy the Clippers. Me and my team do want to buy the Clippers and we can afford the Clippers."
The boxer also defended Sterling, whose racist comments to a girlfriend in a leaked phone conversation led directly to his lifetime ban and have been a source of endless criticism in the media. In the past, Mayweather and Sterling have been photographed together at Clippers games.
"Donald Sterling, he's been getting a lot of negative press and my thing is this -- I don't have nothing negative to say about this guy," Mayweather said. "He's always treated me with the utmost respect. He has always invited me to games, always. Has always told me, 'Floyd, I want you to sit right next to me and my wife.' I don't know about the [alleged] mistress. But I'm talking about him and the wife."
Mayweather will defend his WBC Welterweight Championship against Maidana (35-3) on Saturday, May 3 at 9 p.m. on Showtime pay-per-view.
[h/t Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports]
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