SOURCES SUGGEST MAYWEATHER CLOSE TO RING RETURN

If sources are correct, boxing’s former ‘pound for pound’ king Floyd Mayweather, Jr’s current ‘retirement’ will have officially lasted less than a year.  Mayweather hasn’t fought since his December 2007 destruction of Ricky Hatton, but has reportedly told his advisors that they’re free to listen to offers for fights.  Some suggestions indicate that Mayweather could be back inside a ring as soon as early July.

A confident of Mayweather has provided the following information to a number of major sports news outlets:

"He is coming back. I've been around him. He's ready to dance again very soon. He's itching to go. The way he sounded, he is willing to take on whoever they throw in his face. He would do the Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton winner, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez. The only one he doesn't have an interest in is a rematch with Oscar De La Hoya. But in Floyd's mind, he knows there is one Godzilla, and that's a fight with Pacquiao."

Earlier this month, Floyd Mayweather, Sr. told the media that his son’s return to action was imminent:

"Of course, there is no question about it. He's trying to get a fight right now, as we speak. He's gonna fight again."

Mayweather has always been known for his phenomenal conditioning, and has reportedly begun working out seriously and sparring in his Las Vegas gym.  According to the Mayweather camp, the working plan is for their fighter to take a ‘tune up’ bout in July before meeting a more formidable challenger later this year. 

Not surprisingly, HBO President Ross Greenberg gave an emphatic ‘no comment’ when asked of Mayweather’s return to the ring either on his network or on a PPV event produced by his network:

"Not only do I have no comment, it's premature to discuss. There are no real substantive talks. I'm not confirming or denying that. I'm not going to comment. Call me back in a few weeks."

All of which sounds like ‘boxing speak’ that translates to Greenberg putting together a deal even as we speak.   It’s worth noting that since his retirement there’s been as many “Floyd is returning” rumors as there are summertime UFO sightings in a trailer park, and they’ve been equally based in fact as their extraterrestrial counterparts.  This time the ‘chatter’ seems much more intense and serious, however. 

Floyd hasn’t been out of public eye since his last fight—he appeared on last year’s WWE ‘Wrestlemania’ event and laid down some tracks with Atlanta rapper Ludacris on a song called “Undisputed”.   It appears that boredom along with a desire to not leave tens of millions of dollars on the table has “Pretty Boy” aka “Money” Mayweather thinking seriously about returning to his ‘day job’.