Boxing legend Flyod Mayweather is facing mounting legal and financial troubles, and longtime friend Dana White says he may be willing to help if the situation calls for it.
Mayweather was scheduled to return to the ring this past weekend for an exhibition bout against kickboxing star Mike Zambidis in Greece. However, those plans were derailed after CSI Sports successfully filed an injunction that prevented the event from moving forward.
According to reports, CSI Sports claims it already had agreements in place for Flyod Mayweather to face former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and had allegedly paid the boxing icon millions of dollars in advances. The company also reportedly objected to Mayweather agreeing to a separate fight with Manny Pacquiao that was expected to stream on Netflix before being postponed.
The legal issues come at a difficult time for Mayweather, who is also involved in a $175 million lawsuit against former associate Jona Rechnitz. The undefeated boxing great alleges that Rechnitz defrauded him, adding another layer of complexity to his ongoing financial battles.
Speaking during the post-fight press conference for Zuffa Boxing 08, UFC CEO Dana White addressed the situation and revealed that he has spoken privately with Flyod Mayweather about his current challenges.
“I’ve talked to him about it, but I don’t know enough about it,” White said.“You hear all these different stories, and I think you have to wait to see how this thing is going to play out in court for him.”
White admitted that seeing successful athletes lose fortunes they spent years building is never easy, regardless of how it happens.
“But when somebody works as hard as he did and amasses the type of wealth that he had and then they lose it, or it gets stolen or whatever the deal is, it’s horrible and it happens a lot in professional sports. So who knows? Anything is possible and maybe we could do something to figure it out for him.”
White and Flyod Mayweather have maintained a close relationship for years. The pair famously worked together to promote the blockbuster boxing match between Mayweather and Conor McGregor in 2017, one of the biggest combat sports events in history.
Their friendship has continued long after that event, with White revealing that they have discussed some of Mayweather’s current issues privately.
The situation has generated significant attention across the boxing world, particularly because Flyod Mayweather built much of his public image around financial success. Throughout his career, the former world champion embraced the “Money” nickname and frequently showcased his wealth as part of his brand.
Now, questions continue to surround the extent of his financial difficulties.
In addition to the legal battle involving CSI Sports and the lawsuit against Rechnitz, reports indicate that Mayweather has also been hit with a $7.3 million tax lien from the IRS. Those developments have fueled speculation about the state of his finances and the future of several planned comeback bouts.
Before the injunction halted his latest exhibition appearance, Flyod Mayweather was reportedly planning a three-fight return that would have included matchups with Mike Zambidis, Mike Tyson, and Manny Pacquiao. For now, those plans remain uncertain as the legal disputes play out in court.
While White stopped short of discussing specific details, his comments suggest he remains supportive of his longtime friend during a challenging period.
“You have to wait to see how this thing is going to play out in court,” White said. “But when something like this happens to an athlete who worked that hard, it’s tough to see.”
As the legal battles continue, the combat sports world will be watching closely to see what comes next for Flyod Mayweather and whether he can resolve the issues that have placed his future both inside and outside the ring in doubt.
