The Hindu : Sport / Boxing : Mayweather Jr. would relish rematch

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Saturday, May 12, 2007
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Mayweather Jr. would relish rematch

New York: Retirement by definition is final. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is taking a vacation.

The unofficial kilo-for-kilo king said before his 12-round, split-decision victory over Oscar de la Hoya on Saturday that he would quit for good afterward. But he hedged at a post-fight press conference and said during a whirlwind media blitz in New York on Thursday that he's waiting for de la Hoya to call for a rematch.

"We had a good fight," Mayweather said, chomping on a sandwich. "I think that number two would be even better, because we can fight toe-to-toe. And I really have nothing else to prove in this sport."

That's not entirely true. Pretty Boy is trying to get his young promotional company off the ground, and another windfall wouldn't hurt. Mayweather said he made $25 million to $30 million (euro18.5 million-22.2 million) on the fight.

De la Hoya would be well-served by a rematch, too, for his Golden Boy Promotions and his own legacy. The 34-year-old boxer has lost three of his last five fights, and Mayweather doesn't think de la Hoya is willing to go out on a loss.

"He wants to talk about part two, he can call me," Mayweather said. "I say there's pride involved. If he tells all you guys he won't come back and fight again, he'll come back and fight me again. That's it."

If de la Hoya doesn't want a rematch, several other fighters might want a shot at Mayweather: aging Shane Mosley, WBO champ Antonio Margarito, undefeated Miguel Cotto, who will defend his WBA welterweight title against Zab Judah on June 9, and Felix Trinidad.

Trinidad could be the most intriguing. De la Hoya has said before he would like a rematch with Tito, who handed de la Hoya his first loss with a controversial split decision in 1999. — AP

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