Showtime VP: Mayweather more likely to fight in MMA than the boxing ring

Is Floyd Mayweather Jr. actually serious about competing in MMA? No one’s really sure, but Showtime general manager and vice president Stephen Espinoza thinks it’s more likely we see Floyd in the Octagon than the boxing ring.

Espinoza, who was influential in booking last year’s boxing megafight between Mayweather andConor McGregor, told Steven Muehlhausen of Sporting News that ‘The Best Ever’ loves a challenge and has already proven himself in the boxing ring.

“I would say probably better odds on the Octagon because we know Floyd loves a challenge and he loves doing the unexpected,” Espinoza said. “After 22 years in the boxing business, he’s really proven virtually all he has to prove. This MMA thing is a whole new challenge. I think that’s the kind of thing that gets him out of bed every day, that gets his juices flowing.

”Can he do another mega-event? Can he prove everyone wrong, yet again by switching to an entirely different sport? He always looks for a challenge. He always looks to up the ante. What bigger challenge is it than taking up a new sport at the age of 41?”

After his 10th round TKO of ‘The Notorious’, Mayweather told the media that he would be hanging up the boxing gloves for good. But the boxing superstar didn’t close the door on a potential move to the UFC.

In fact, in the lead-up to MayMac, Floyd offered McGregor a rematch under MMA rules in the Octagon, but the Irishman thought he was bluffing.

According to reigning UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, however, ‘Money’ is expected to train MMA under his wing and is hoping to have the former boxing world champ Octagon ready in six to eight months time.

Espinoza, a longtime boxing promoter, thinks fans shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss Mayweather’s claims, citing the fact that, despite all odds, McGregor did end up fighting Floyd in the boxing ring.

“(If) we go back a couple years, there was a lot of skepticism and I was one of the skeptics about whether a Mayweather-McGregor fight could ever happen,” Espinoza said. “And I would have said that was probably Floyd talking crazy. It will never happen. But he kept at it and persisted. Everytime he talked about it, it sounded more and more real and realistic, and he sort of willed it into happening. It sort of feels like a very similar situation right now with Floyd and MMA…

”He’s certainly not letting go of this thing. It’s going to be an interesting situation to follow. If he’s serious — and it certainly sounds like it is — then we should all start looking at our calendars and reserving some hotel rooms in Vegas.”

Mayweather, who retired from boxing with multiple world titles to his name and an undefeated record of 50-0, rates his wrestling a ‘seven’ out of 10 and his kicking a ‘four’ out of 10. Woodley believes the 41-year-old would be able to hold his own in the Octagon if he’s able to keep the fight standing and stop the takedown – but that’s easier said than done.