Could Mayweather’s next fight be free to watch?
Leslie Moonves did Floyd Mayweather Jr. a good turn in making the May 2 megafight with Manny Pacquiao, a fight that made Mayweather more than $230 million.
Now Mayweather is considering paying the chairman of CBS back by appearing on Moonves’ flagship network rather than on pay per view for his next fight, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden.
CBSSports.com reported that Mayweather (48-0, 26 knockouts) is seriously considering not fighting on Showtime Pay Per View and instead having his next fight on free television. His May 2 fight with Pacquiao was the most expensive PPV in boxing history — $99.95 — and did 4.4 million buys and $440 million in revenue.
But the outcome — a 12-round unanimous decision for Mayweather and the revelation afterward that Pacquiao came into the fight with a rotator cuff injury to his right shoulder — left a lot of buyers bitterly disappointed.
Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president of Showtime Sports, said everything is on the table as far as Mayweather is concerned.
“It’s wide open,” he said Thursday. “The one thing Floyd has made clear to all of us is he wants his last fight to be very special and unique.”
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said all options are being evaluated.
“Me, Floyd and Al (Haymon) have discussed a number of scenarios for Sept. 12,” Ellerbe said. “We’re still looking at everything, and Floyd hasn’t made any decisions yet.”
If Mayweather decides to fight on CBS, it would satisfy the conditions for what would be the final bout of the six-fight deal he signed with Showtime in February 2013. It’s also something CBS could easily promote on its NFL telecasts as well as its Southeastern Conference college football telecasts.
Mayweather has not selected his opponent for Sept. 12. Welterweight Amir Khan’s name has come up in several discussions, as has welterweight Andre Berto.
“One thing we’ve learned from Floyd is we know he usually does the opposite of what everyone says he’s doing,” Espinoza said. “I can tell you nothing has been decided to this point. But we’re getting close to where you need to make a decision.
“I don’t believe it’s imminent, but that can change with one or two phone calls.”
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
