Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban

[$chmo]

Floyd Mayweather Jr., the world's No. 1 boxer, is strongly considering a revolutionary jump to mixed martial arts under a deal being discussed with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser and best friend, told ESPN.com Friday night that the five-division world champion, who generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys and more than $200 million in revenue in two mega fights in 2007, came away from a Thursday meeting with Cuban giving serious thought to taking his game and considerable drawing power to MMA.

"It's definitely something he is interested in, and when Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event," Ellerbe said. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting involved in, and he's ready to do that. But it's something he's definitely interested in doing.

"Mark Cuban is a very successful business man and has some very, very successful business ventures that we've discussed. We're looking to do a lot of business with Mark. He's a great guy, and we had a great meeting. Doing an MMA event with him is most definitely something we are looking at, among many things we are looking at doing with Mark Cuban."

Mayweather's interest in participating in an MMA event was sparked after he struck up a friendship with Cuban during their participation this season as contestants on the ABC reality series "Dancing with the Stars."

Cuban was Mayweather's guest at the fight and even carried two of his championship belts into the ring before he knocked out England's Ricky Hatton to retain the welterweight world championship Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.

Mayweather and Cuban were together again Thursday in Las Vegas, where they met to discuss various business ventures, including Mayweather participating in an MMA event.

A few boxers, such as former heavyweight contenders Ray Mercer and Frans Botha, have attempted to compete in mixed martial arts with little success. Mayweather's entrance would bring it to another level, especially at a time when the sports have been pitted against each other by fans and media -- MMA as the hotshot newcomer trying to overtake the century-old, more traditional sweet science.

One of Cuban's many business interests is ownership of HDNet Fights, a fledgling mixed martial arts promotional company whose bouts are aired on Cuban's HDNet. Cuban promoted his second event Dec. 15 in Dallas.

"Floyd is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com. "We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one way or another. He is pumped about it. He wants to go on to the next big thing. Floyd is a brilliant marketer. He follows the money."

Indeed, Mayweather, like Cuban, knows how to make money. Mayweather, 30, won the year's two biggest fights, a decision against Oscar De La Hoya in May in a fight that shattered all boxing revenue records and a 10th-round knockout of Hatton that did 850,000 buys and $47 million in television revenue on HBO PPV.

Mayweather-De La Hoya, with 2.4 million buys, set the all-time PPV record. Mayweather-Hatton was the biggest PPV fight in history not involving De La Hoya or heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

Mayweather earned about $50 million for the two fights.

"If I said there's a guaranteed $30 million payday, Floyd would be lacing them up," Cuban said, optimistic that Mayweather would eventually participate in an MMA match. "If not, I could see him working to train and develop and invest in MMA fighters, knowing the upside. He can teach them how to be a better boxer and add to their other skills."

After each of his last three fights, Mayweather has talked about retirement or, at least, an extended break. Ellerbe said Mayweather is on vacation now but that when he returns, they'll discuss the prospect of an MMA bout in more detail.

"Floyd is about taking on challenges," Ellerbe said. "This ain't some kind of prank. That is one of many things we've talked about with Mark. Floyd would have to take time to really understand it, but it is most definitely something he is interested in."




ESPN - Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban - Boxing

[FeddyMAC]

:laugh_up:

mayweather's mma record would easily be the opposite of his boxing record.

[Varcity]

i dont know what the hell MMA is,but i think mayweather is smart enuff to know whats he's doing...w/e that shit is,he needs to stick to boxing,cuz i know there's guy's that done been in MMA all their life,cuz thats what they grew up on,u cant wake up one day and just be like,I WANNA BE IN THE MMA,cuz there's people that know what they doing and made it a lifestyle and by him being ther opponent,he's considered a newbie so it wont b easy at all

[FeddyMAC]

Originally Posted by Varcity

i dont know what the hell MMA is,but i think mayweather is smart enuff to know whats he's doing...w/e that shit is,he needs to stick to boxing,cuz i know there's guy's that done been in MMA all their life,cuz thats what they grew up on,u cant wake up one day and just be like,I WANNA BE IN THE MMA,cuz there's people that know what they doing and made it a lifestyle and by him being ther opponent,he's considered a newbie so it wont b easy at all

mma = REAL fighting

boxing = punches and hugs


for decades boxers been getting their asses kicked by mma challenge fights and when ufc 1st started boxing proved to be the least effective fighting style. most boxers are scared to fight in mma and refuse challenges one of the goat boxers joe louis refused to fight helio gracie.

[LDOT]

That would the dumbest career move since Jordan went to play Double A Baseball.

[XIII]

floyd shud just retire hes made his money and he wud go dwn as a great boxer. if he does this and gets his ass beaten hes gna look like a mug for the rest of his life

[Grimy]

Floyd won't survive mma, it's too diverse and if he does it without training in any special martial arts he's gonna get murked. He should just stick to boxing.

[Grimy]

Originally Posted by eazy89

floyd shud just retire hes made his money and he wud go dwn as a great boxer. if he does this and gets his ass beaten hes gna look like a mug for the rest of his life

couldn't have put that shit better myself

[$chmo]

proped all who posted. yeah this could be interesting but i have to agree...i think his mma record will be the opposite of his boxing

[G_J]

Originally Posted by eazy89

floyd shud just retire hes made his money and he wud go dwn as a great boxer. if he does this and gets his ass beaten hes gna look like a mug for the rest of his life

^^c/s

but you know they gonna start him off with sorry fighters and make a big deal about it and then a UFC fighter is gonna come nd beat his ass