Las Vegas Weekly

September 17, 2008 · 12:51 PM

After De La Hoya-Pacquiao, Mayweather might un-retire

By Robin Leach

When Vegas’ own boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. told me he was retiring from the ring he said he would never fight again -- unless it was for something extraordinary and an all-time giant payday that he could donate to his foundation charity.

Now it appears that might just happen, thanks to Vegas moguls Bob Arum and George Maloof -- both of whom are neighbors and live near me.

Bob is the promoter of December’s huge fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao. George played matchmaker when coincidentally he was seated between Floyd and Oscar at his N9NE steak restaurant in his Palms resort casino! “I told them to work out a deal right at the table over dinner,” said George.

So here’s how it might happen: Oscar has said the December fight against the Philippine hero would be his last – unless he won. If he beats Manny, then the fight with Floyd is on four to five months later -- maybe May or June of next year. Of course if Oscar loses it might take some sweet maneuvering to get Floyd to fight Manny -- the man who beat the unbeatable Oscar. Floyd has limited time if he decides to battle Pacquiao, who says when he retires within two years it will be to run as president of his country - which with his gigantic popularity there, he’d likely win!

Arum told me that the De La Hoya and Pacquiao fight will be a $100-million payday for the two fighters. I asked him if a Floyd vs. Manny dual would be a similar payday, and he told me that if De La Hoya fought Mayweather, there would never again be such a financial bonanza in history!!

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