EXCLUSIVE: Floyd Mayweather confirms he will fight for the first time ever in the UK if ‘the price is right’… but warns it will cost ‘millions a MINUTE’ after boasting about $20m for the exhibition collect in Japan
- Mayweather could compete in an exhibition bout in the UK
- The 45-year-old boxer has said he would fight in the UK if “the price is right”.
- Mayweather has warned that his usual rate for an exhibition is “millions a minute”.
- The American is set to earn $20m from his fight in Japan this weekend
Floyd Mayweather has said he would be ready to fight in Britain if the “price is right” but warned his usual rate for an exhibition fight is “millions a minute”.
Mayweather retired from professional boxing after extending his unbeaten record to 50 fights against MMA star Conor McGregor in 2017.
However, Mayweather refrained from giving up his gloves for good and has been competing in lucrative exhibitions ever since.
Floyd Mayweather has confirmed he would be ready to fight right on fight time in the UK
Mayweather has competed in each of his professional fights in the United States but has traveled the world for his exhibition bouts.
Mayweather fought Deji Olatunji in Dubai, Don Moore in Abu Dhabi and Mikuru Asakura in Japan. He will also face Tenshin Nasukawa this weekend in Tokyo.
Because of this, sports mail decided to ask if Mayweather would be willing to fight in the UK – to which he said yes if the price was right.
Only speak to sports mailMayweather said, “We don’t know [where the rest of my bouts will take place] but of course if the price is right then I’m on my way [to the UK].
PPV sales of Mayweather’s fight with Conor McGregor show UK interest in him
However, Mayweather – who is known to have a lavish lifestyle – said it depended on the money
When asked how lucrative his exhibition fights are, Mayweather said, “It’s always a few million a minute.
“From this exhibition [against Mikuru Asakura] On my own, I’ll make somewhere between $15 million and $20 million. This is only from this exhibition. So it’s cool. Nine minutes, 20 million, not bad.’
Mayweather ended his career with a perfect 50-0 record – beating the likes of Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor to become a household name in boxing.
Mayweather fought 100 percent of his professional fights in the United States, but that didn’t stop British fans from falling in love with him.
Mayweather – who has fought every one of his pro fights in the US – has also said that he does shows to “travel”.
The regional pay-per-view sales stats following Mayweather’s fight with McGregor are a clear indication of the American’s presence in the UK.
The highly anticipated fight generated over a million pay-per-view purchases in the UK and grossed over £20m.
That surpassed the record set in April 2017 when Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley.
As such, boxing fans in the UK will be thrilled to hear that Mayweather is ready to fight on her home soil.
Money will be a major stumbling block, however, with Mayweather asking for at least “a few million” a minute.
When asked if money was the sole motivation for these exhibition fights, Mayweather said that “travel” was a deciding factor.
He said: “The exhibitions give me the opportunity to travel more. I’ve always traveled a lot, but I get to travel and entertain people from all over the world.
“I didn’t really get to fight in Japan, but they love it when I do shows. They love it when I come over and perform.
The 45-year-old (above) boxing star is set to take on Tenshin Nasukawa in Tokyo this weekend
Mayweather said he will walk out of the 9-minute exhibition fight with $20 million
“I haven’t been able to put in a real fight in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, but they’re happy to come when I come over and give them a chance to see old Mayweather. It is a good feeling.”
When asked who the number one opponent he would like to face in an exhibition, Mayweather said, “They call me different names and I’m just like ‘yo, let it happen.’
“However, I’m not going to fight anyone because I’m not going to put myself in a position where it’s tough and tough.
“It’s about working smarter, not harder, and I’m getting smarter in life. I’ve had a great career because the less you get hit, the longer you last.
He concluded, “As long as I don’t get hit, I’ll keep showing and having fun.”
You can catch Floyd Mayweather live on FITE TV this Saturday, September 24th in the fight against Mikuru Asakura.
