Floyd Mayweather Jr. mulling switch to mixed martial arts with Mark Cuban
December 22, 2007
DALLAS (AP) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. met with Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban this week to discuss competing in mixed martial arts.
"We're definitely going to work together," Cuban told The Associated Press after the Mavericks' game Friday night. "It's just a question of in what capacity. You just don't jump from being a boxer to an MMA fighter overnight. He's got to test the waters."
The story was first reported by ESPN.com.
The 30-year-old Mayweather is considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and boxing's No. 1 drawing card. His fights this year with Ricky Hatton and Oscar De La Hoya generated 3.25 million pay-per-view buys, more than $200 million in revenue and earned him about $50 million.
Cuban owns a fledgling mixed martial arts promotional company called HDNet Fights. He's put on two events so far, the latest in Dallas on Dec. 15. The bouts are shown on Cuban's HDNet.
"It would be huge," Cuban said. "He's an icon in boxing. He's conquered that world. He is the champ and he wants to be the biggest grossing all-time champ as well. ... Having him work with MMA and HDNet Fights would be huge. It would take it to a whole other level."
Mayweather and Cuban became friends when they were both contestants this year on "Dancing with the Stars." Cuban was Mayweather's guest at the Hatton fight in Las Vegas on Dec. 8. Mayweather knocked out Hatton to retain his title.
Mayweather and Cuban met again Thursday in Las Vegas and discussed the Mayweather's possible role with HDNet Fights.
"We discussed him coming out to some of the gyms and one hand helping some of the fighters we're working with on their boxing skills," Cuban said. "And on the flip side, he can get a sense of what it's going to take to make the conversion."
Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather's adviser and best friend, told ESPN.com the welterweight champion and was seriously considering a move 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.
A few boxers, such as former heavyweight contenders Ray Mercer and Frans Botha, have attempted to compete in mixed martial arts with little success.
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