TIL Desk Sports/ Two years after retiring from boxing, Floyd Mayweather climbs back into the ring on Saturday chasing history and one last mammoth payday. The 40-year-old former welterweight champion will become the first boxer in history to post a perfect record of 50-0, if as expected, he proves too strong for Conor McGregor, the mixed martial arts star fighting in his first ever boxing contest.
The 50th bout of Mayweather’s 21-year professional career has been disparaged variously as a freakshow, publicity stunt or simply “bad for boxing.” Mayweather, who has spent years crafting an image as the fighter that fans love to hate, is not even remotely fazed by the catcalls.
Because not for the first time, the boxer who delights in displaying the trappings of his wealth across social media, will be laughing all the way to the bank. Mayweather, whose career earnings reportedly topped USD 700 million following his last bout in 2015, could, according to some estimates, pocket another 200 million this weekend.
It is the latest money-spinning stop on a career that has seen Mayweather go from 1996 Olympics bronze medallist to be regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 4, 1977, Mayweather was destined for the ring.