Mayweather breaks retirement for big match-up

BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather said he has no problem coming out of retirement to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in what some are predicting will be one of the richest fights in history.

“McGregor is a tough competitor. People all around the world demanded this fight, so I had to give them what they want to see,” Mayweather told a TV station in an interview that aired Saturday.

“They asked for this fight. I was in retirement, but they wanted me back and I’m back,” Mayweather explained.

Mayweather was making his first public comments since Wednesday’s announcement of the much-discussed fight which will take place on August 26 in the US boxing capital of Las Vegas.

The 40-year-old Mayweather has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015 and improving his career record to 49-0.

The match-up with McGregor gives Mayweather a chance to reach the 50-0 career milestone.

Asked about financial details of the fight, Mayweather said both sides are pleased.

“He’s very happy, I’m very happy and I can’t wait.”

But many boxing experts have slammed the event as an exhibition spectacle, pointing to the fact that the 28-year-old McGregor has never had a professional boxing match and only dabbled teenager.

The pair have yet to get together face to face since the announcement but they are expected to announce a promotional tour soon that will take them to a couple of major US cities. — AFP in the sport as a