Mayweather hangs his gloves again

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-8  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

FLOYD Mayweather Jr., widely regarded as the world's best fighter pound-for-pound, announced his retirement from the sport on Friday for the second time in 13 months.

In May last year, Mayweather said he would quit boxing after beating fellow American Oscar De La Hoya on a split decision in Las Vegas to claim the World Boxing Council super welterweight title.

He subsequently changed his mind and had been scheduled to meet De La Hoya in an eagerly-anticipated re-match this September after beating Britain's Ricky Hatton in a WBC welterweight title bout in December.

"It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today," Mayweather, 31, said in a letter to the boxing media. "I have decided to permanently retire from boxing.

"This decision was not an easy one for me to make as boxing is all I have done since I was a child. However, these past few years have been extremely difficult for me to find the desire and joy to continue."

Mayweather had not fought since retaining his WBC welterweight title with a 10th round stoppage of Hatton, the American setting up the win with two knockdowns.

It was the biggest match-up of undefeated welterweights since De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad clashed in 1999. The unbeaten American improved his career record to 39-0 with 25 knockouts.

Though he reportedly earned more than US$50 million combined for his wins over De La Hoya and Hatton, Mayweather has seemed much more interested in being a celebrity than a fighter over the past 18 months.

He has appeared on "Dancing With the Stars," worked on his record label, served as the honorary starter at the Indianapolis 500 and entered the wrestling ring for a choreographed tussle with the 200-kilogram "Big Show" at WrestleMania in Orlando, Florida, winning that bout with a set of brass knuckles.