Mayweather Jr. calls it quits

The world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr., has decided to retire. The “Pretty Boy” was scheduled to square off in the ring against “Golden Boy” Oscar De La Hoya on Sept. 20, in a rematch that would have for sure been the most lucrative fight in boxing history. But that will not happen now as this is the third time Floyd has said he’s done.\nHis first retirement claim came after he easily outpointed and outclassed Carlos Baldomir to win the welterweight championship in November 2006. An emotional Floyd stood at the podium during the post-fight press conference and broke down into tears as he said he had done what he entered the sport to do and he was finished.\nFloyd’s tears were heavy but not heavy enough to convince the majority that he was serious. He was, rather, another fighter overcome by the moment. The majority was right as less than two months later Floyd agreed to fight De La Hoya in their first matchup on May 5, 2007 in Las Vegas. The fight was successfully hyped by HBO’s four-part prelude “De La Hoya-Mayweather 24/7,” which filmed the fighters bad mouthing each other, training and gave numerous inside looks into each fighter’s life. The fight set the record for most Pay-Per-View buys with 2.4 million households, generating around $134 million in revenue. De La Hoya earned $52 million in the fight because his Golden Boy Productions helped put on the fight, while Floyd earned $25 million.\nFloyd then retired a second time before coming out again to defend his welterweight title in a fight against Manchester, England’s beloved Ricky Hatton. Mayweather knocked out Hatton in the 10th round.\nThis retirement comes at a shocking time, especially for a man who has re-nicknamed himself “Money.” Floyd is turning down a guaranteed $20-plus million pay day in a rematch with the Golden Boy. For that reason, this announcement seems much more serious.\n“It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today,” Floyd said in a statement. “I have decided to permanently retire from boxing. This decision was not an easy one for me to make as boxing is all I have done since I was a child. However, these past few years have been extremely difficult for me to find the desire and joy to continue in the sport.”\n“There comes a time when money doesn’t matter. I just can’t do it anymore. I have found a peace with my decision that I have not felt in a long time.”\nFloyd ends his career with an unblemished record of 39-0 with 25 KOs. He is one of the few boxers who have earned crossover fame with his appearance on the fifth season of “Dancing With the Stars” and his performance on WrestleMania XXIV, where he defeated the Big Show this past May. \nAs a huge fan of his, if he is indeed done with boxing, I will miss watching him. But I will never forget the great highlights of his career: his dominant 10th-round TKO of the late Diego “Chico” Corrales, his embarrassment of Arturo Gatti, his defeat of bad boy Zab Judah, and Carlos Baldomir, and then his final fight against Ricky Hatton, to name a few.\nMany boxing enthusiasts, including myself, are hoping Floyd will come out of retirement to fight the winner of the upcoming July 26 bout between top welterweight contenders Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto, which all but promises to be a candidate for fight of the year. \nIf that doesn’t happen I will be content with Floyd’s career. As a five-time champion, he will certainly go down as one of the best fighters of all time. He has been such a joy to watch. For those who haven’t seen him, I feel bad for you. Floyd has done all that he wanted to do in his career with flamboyance, charisma and greatness. And for that I say well done Floyd, well done.