Floyd Mayweather’s boxing comeback chances increase with latest development

Pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be set to end a nine-year hiatus from the ring and return to the professional scene next year, after collapsed talks for a world title contest have opened the door for a lucrative opportunity.

Mayweather hung up the gloves following a stoppage win against Conor McGregor in the famous ‘Money Fight’ between the respective superstars of boxing and mixed martial arts back in 2017.

Since then, ‘TBE” has fought solely in exhibitions and raked in further cash, but a return to professional fighting has been mentioned continuously, especially after the comeback of perennial rival Manny Pacquiao in the summer.

Pacquiao could only muster a draw upon his return, coming extremely close to dethroning Mario Barrios and claiming the WBC welterweight title despite an extended period of inactivity.

Still, the Filipino icon had been linked to another world title bout, with strong suggestions that an announcement for a meeting with WBA champion Rolando Romero was imminent.

However, it is now understood that talks for that scrap have collapsed and that ‘Rolly’ will instead be made to fulfil his mandatory and attempt to defend his belt against Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giysaov.

Speaking with The Ring, Giyasov’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, explained that he and his fighter would have been willing to wait for their shot, if the fight between Pacquiao and Romero was going ahead.

“I don’t think an exception works when there’s no fight and it’s not announced,”

“If [the Romero-Pacquiao fight] was happening, that’s one thing; we have a lot respect for a fight like that and for Pacquiao especially.

“But when there is no fight, I believe that rules have to be followed and Rolly has to fight Giyasov. I never understand why some fighters get exceptions and don’t have to fight their mandatories.”

As a result, Mayweather can now be considered as the frontrunner for Pacquiao’s next outing, after months of whispers that the pair will meet again over a decade on from their initial encounter.