Rafael: Mayweather Considering Promotional Deal with King

Link: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4088688&name=rafael_dan

We all know Floyd Mayweather's comeback is imminent. The about-to-unretire superstar, who vacated the welterweight championship and his unofficial status as the pound-for-pound best in the world when he announced his retirement last summer, has authorized adviser Al Haymon to field fight offers, and Haymon has done just that.


It's no secret that Haymon and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer are discussing a July HBO PPV fight that woud pit Mayweather against lightweight champ Juan Manuel Marquez. There have also been conversations between the Mayweather camp and HBO about a network fight against a lesser opponent, but those talks apparently have not gone very far because Mayweather's asking price is a bit more than HBO wants to spend.


Whenever and whomever Mayweather fights, he is coming back. That isn't going to surprise anyone. But here's something that probably would surprise many: Mayweather may makes his comeback with promoter Don King at his side.


It sure would spice things up a bit, I know that. And if you listen to King crow about the prospect, it's a distinct possibility. Nobody knows better how to entice a fighter to sign with him than King. He's the master, and the master and Mayweather have spent a lot of time together in the past few days, much to the chagrin of Haymon and Golden Boy, who don't want Mayweather anywhere near King, according to one of King's confidants.


So when I talked to His Hairness on Tuesday afternoon, King sounded like the cat that was in the process of swallowing the canary.


"Floyd is here in Florida. He came to see me," King said. "I love Floyd. I think Floyd is the only marquee name out here now. We'll see what happens."


King was smiling from ear to ear during our talk, but he wasn't spilling any beans on the particulars of his conversations with Mayweather. However, he made it clear that he was interested and had big plans for Mayweather if something can be worked out.


I almost got the sense that Mayweather was at his side while we were talking, and that King was putting on a show for him.


"I put him in a hotel, but he's come over to my house for a barbecue and a chat and some fun," said King, barely containing his glee. "Floyd's a great fighter. He beat Oscar De La Hoya, he beat Ricky Hatton. He beat them all."


Um, so, Don … how did Mayweather just happen to wind up in your office and at your house?


"He just popped in," King said smoothly. "We're having fun and we'll get down to serious business in a few days. He's been here for a few days, and every day we talk. We had this great barbecue over at the house. We were eating some pork ribs and some lamb chops. Mmmmm, it was good. Floyd's having fun right now and I'm so very glad he's spending some time with me."


For the past few years, King hasn't exactly set the world on fire with the sort of big events he had become so closely associated with. He has promoted fewer and fewer cards, thinned his once massive stable of fighters and dramatically reduced the number of employees at his Deerfield Beach, Fla., compound.


In fact, lately there has been a distinct feeling throughout the boxing business that, at 77, The High-Haired One isn't even in the game in a serious way anymore. Instead, it seemed like he was playing out the string of an epic career.


But one thing I have learned in nearly a decade of knowing the man and covering him and his fights: You never -- and I mean never -- count out Don King.


He once wooed Hasim Rahman with a duffel bag of cash. He has won over many a fighter with his money and magnetism, and what better way for King to get back into serious business than by signing Mayweather?


"He's really talented, not a fly-by-night," King said. "The man is a scientific boxer and a great talent. He's a tremendous star, and I would take him to new heights if I were to promote him. I love any talented guy. I promoted Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes. Those guys had talent. So now Floyd comes to see me. What a dynamic team we would be if this should come to pass. I don't have him yet, but when he gets around to committing himself, we'll shock the world. If it comes to pass, great. Right now, we just checkin' out the landscape."


Oh my, what a landscape it would be if King and the man they call "Money" teamed up.

 

If for nothing else, imagine what having King around would do for whatever promotional device, e.g., 24/7, that is produced for Mayweather's fight.