Floyd Mayweather working on ‘huge deal’ with UFC boss Dana White and Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara

Retired undefeated boxer invites MMA promoters to his home, fuelling talks of comeback
‘You never know what people can bring you in life. I wonder what will happen from here,’ teases Sakakibara

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

Andrew McNicol

Published: 2:20pm, 11 Apr 2021

Why you can trust SCMP

Retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr said he is working with UFC president Dana White and Rizin CEO Nobuyuki Sakikabara on “a huge deal”, although it is unclear whether it signifies a ring return or a debut in the mixed martial arts cage.

“Money” Mayweather (professional boxing record 50-0) has not fought since humiliating Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa via first-round TKO in an exhibition bout overseen by MMA promotion Rizin on New Year’s Eve in 2018.

The 44-year-old’s last professionally-sanctioned bout was a 10th-round TKO of the UFC’s Conor McGregor in a boxing crossover in 2017. He was also in talks to fight YouTuber Logan Paul, but the bout was postponed.

“TUNE IN! We’re working on a huge deal!” American Mayweather said alongside an Instagram photo with the pair of promoters.

Floyd Mayweather Jnr knocks Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa down in an exhibition boxing match during the RIZIN.14 mixed martial arts event at Saitama Super Arena on December 31, 2018. Photo: EPA

Sakakibara expanded on the meeting in a separate post, writing: “Floyd surprised me by inviting Dana over to his house during a meeting. It’s been 15 years since we have last met. You never know what people can bring you in life. I wonder what will happen from here.”

White also commented “HOOOOOOLY [expletive]!!!!! WTF is goin on here” on the meeting.

Retired boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jnr sits with UFC president Dana White at an NBA game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Boston Celtics in 2019. Photo: Instagram/Floyd Mayweather Jnr

This is not the first time Mayweather has claimed to be working on a boxing or MMA deal with White. The pair were spotted at an NBA game in 2019, with both saying they had shaken hands courtside to get “a deal done”.

It is unclear whether Mayweather will be returning to the fight business and, if so, whether it will be with boxing or MMA gloves. Both he and McGregor reignited their verbal feud in January, with the former calling the Irishman a “con artist”.

There have also been rumours circulating in the MMA community that he is eyeing a boxing crossover bout with former two-weight UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who retired last year.