Floyd Mayweather Won't Return To Boxing, Showtime's Stephen Espinoza Says

Rumors swirling around boxing champion Floyd Mayweather making a possible return to the ring were seemingly dispelled by Showtime Sports executive Stephen Espinoza Monday.

Mayweather, 40, ignited speculation of a return to the boxing ring when he posted videos of himself training on social media this month. Meanwhile, when TMZ asked Espinoza if Mayweather would hit the ring again, he scoffed.

"I don't think so," Espinoza said. "You know, Floyd seems pretty happy retired. I don't think we'll see him in the ring again. And it seems like the UFC really wants McGregor back in the cage. Floyd, it's Floyd's call at some point, but I haven't heard anything from him that makes it seem like he's thinking about McGregor or anything else."

Espinoza is the vice president of Showtime Sports and has worked with the television company since he gained the position Nov. 14, 2011. The following year, Espinoza signed Mayweather to six-fight, multi-year deal with Showtime. Despite rumors of a subsequent bout against Conor McGregor, who Mayweather beat in August, there have been no serious talks of a rematch.

Meanwhile, boxer Amir Khan floated the idea of a match against Mayweather for some time. Mayweather may have shot down that possibility. Khan is currently on ITV's "I'm a Celebrity" and hasn't boxed professionally since he lost to Saul "Canelo" Álvarez May 2016 at the T- Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"For the last five years all I have been hearing is Amir Khan running his mouth off that he deserves a shot against me," Mayweather told the Daily Star Sunday. "It’s nothing new for me. Every fighter out there wants a chance against me because they know, win or lose, it’s going to be a big payday for them. But I have always maintained I am nobody’s meal ticket. He needs to get real and stick with TV."