Trending News|July 15, 2015 09:24 EDT
Floyd Mayweather Jr. News: Champ's Final Fight Could Air Live on CBS
After beating Manny Pacquiao in a record-setting bout back in May, Floyd Mayweather Jr. said he is looking at a September date for his 49th and final fight. Now CBSSPorts.com reports that an industry source said that s short list of opponents is being pondered for a Sept. 12 event that could be broadcast live on CBS.
According to the report, the source said that an announcement could be possibly made as soon as the end of the week.
Mayweather has delivered on five of his six-fight deal with Showtime Networks, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation. Since signing the deal in February 2013, he has fought Robert Guerrero, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Marcos Maidana (twice) and Pacquiao.
His last fight shattered the previous PPV record of 2.48 million buys (for his own fight against Oscar De La Hoya back in 2007), generating 4.4 million buys and earning him north of $200 million.
Mayweather has hinted that his 49th fight would be his last, but should he win that fight, it would leave him one short of legendary heavyweight Rocky Marciano's undefeated mark of 50-0.
"After five more fights get me to 49-0, guess what? I think we may stay in the sport. We may stay just a little longer," Mayweather was quoted back in 2013.
"Highly unlikely (he retires in September)," veteran matchmaker Rick Glaser told CBSSports.com. "The state of his financial situation"”aka cash on hand"”will dictate his future. More than likely, (it's two) fights and leaving the game."
As noted by CBSSports.com, Mayweather's May 2 fight against Pacquiao led him to retain his top spot on Forbes' 2015 list of the world's highest-paid athletes in the last fiscal year with earnings of $300 million. He also finished on top of that same list in both 2012 and 2014.