Floyd Mayweather’s Return: Not About the Money, Says Shawn Porter

Published March 9, 2026, 12:30 AM PDT

Floyd Mayweather’s decision to arrive out of retirement has sparked debate, with some suggesting financial motivations. But, former professional boxer Shawn Porter believes “Money” Mayweather isn’t driven by demand, but by a deep-seated love for the sport. Porter shared his insights with TMZ Sports following Mayweather’s announcement of a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, alongside exhibition bouts against Mike Tyson and Mike Zambidis.

A Lifelong Pursuit

Porter, who retired from boxing in 2021, explained that for Mayweather, boxing isn’t simply a financial endeavor. “This just happens to be the hurt business. In the hurt business, once you’re done with the hurting or getting hurt, you really don’t want to go back into that kind of fire, but at the end of the day, this is his livelihood,” Porter stated. “This is what he’s done his entire life.”

He emphasized that Mayweather’s return transcends fame or fortune. “At some point, you gotta receive away from this being a financial thing, this being a ‘I wanna be popular’ thing and all that kind of stuff, and you just gotta say hey, this is what this man has done his whole life to provide, and this is what he loves to do. So, he’s gonna do it.”

Training Regimen and Upcoming Bouts

Mayweather, 49, is reportedly taking his preparation seriously, training daily for his upcoming fights. This includes a specific focus on his exhibition match against Mike Tyson, scheduled for May in the Congo. Tyson himself confirmed the bout, telling TMZ’s Michael Babcock, “Yeah, it’s happening! You believe I’d supply that up?! I was minding my business! He challenged me!”

Mayweather’s schedule includes a fight against Mike Zambidis in June, and the highly anticipated rematch against Manny Pacquiao on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, which will be streamed live on Netflix [Boxing News Online].

Porter Predicts Mayweather Victory in Pacquiao Rematch

Looking ahead to the Pacquiao rematch, Porter believes Mayweather is poised to win. He referenced Pacquiao’s recent draw against Mario Barrios, stating, “Floyd can’t lose and it’s like, Manny, I think he should have handled business against Mario Barrios. I thought that he beat Mario, but he should have handled business. What does that mean? Make this so one-sided that nobody can doubt who won this fight.” Porter added that Mayweather requires a certain level of energy to defeat, and he’s unsure if Pacquiao can summon that now. [Boxing News Online]