By Sean Crose
People no longer have to ask why Floyd Mayweather is still the WBC welterweight and junior middleweight champion of the world now that he’s officially retired. For the WBC convention in China has declared that Mayweather will now hold the title of Champion Emeritus. That pretty much means that Floyd is an honorary champion rather than an active one.
Mayweather, one of the most controversial figures in all of sports, never mind just boxing, nonetheless dominated the sweet science since at least 2007 when he defeated Oscar De La Hoya in a much hyped superbout. He went on to defeat the likes of Ricky Hatton, Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Shane Mosely, Canelo Alvarez, and, perhaps most famously, Manny Pacquiao.
Undoubtedly these and other victories led the convention to decide on emeritus status for Floyd. The vast amount of money the man has brought in has also undoubtedly made him popular with that particular sanctioning body. More than any other fighter in recent memory, Mayweather has proved that skills, do in fact, pay the bills.
What’s good to keep in mind here is the fact that Mayweather’s position allows him to fight for his former WBC belts whenever he sees fit, proving that legendary status indeed has its benefits. There have been deep and steady rumors that Floyd will in fact come back and fight at least one more time, likely in 2016, to break Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record (which he’s already tied) and to christen a brand new MGM facility in Las Vegas.
With that in mind, however, it’s not certain Floyd would want to fight whoever might be the active WBC titlists if or when he returns. On the other hand, there has been speculation that the man might have a rematch with arch rival Pacquiao, a fight which would undoubtedly accompany a whole lot of groans – on top of a whole lot more money.
For his own part, however, Floyd hasn’t indicated he’s making a comeback…at least not publicly. It’s not like the guy needs the money, after all.
