Floyd Mayweather 'considering a 51st fight' but emphatically rules out Amir Khan as a potential opponent

Reports in America suggest that 40-year-old Mayweather is contemplating a comeback, something which Showtime Sports general manager Stephen Espinoza has refused to rule out

Floyd Mayweather is considering stepping back into the boxing ring for a 51^st career fight, according to reports in the United States.

The former five-weight world champion announced his retirement from professional boxing at the end of August, immediately after extending his perfect career record to 50 fights unbeaten by stopping Conor McGregor in the 10^th round of the richest bout in boxing history.

In the ring after his victory, Mayweather, 40, pledged that his second retirement from the sport would be a permanent one. However Mayweather has kept himself in good shape following the win and has repeatedly discussed potential opponents since hanging up his gloves.

And now a story published by the American website TMZ Sports claims that “people close to Mayweather” are confident he will return to the sport at some point in 2018.

“Floyd has been telling people close to him that he is considering a 51^st fight – and he has been training like a maniac in the gym,” the story reads.

“He is still in fighting shape and ready to go and we have been told he is kicking around the idea of another comeback.”

Is Floyd Mayweather considering yet another comeback? (Getty)

To add fuel to the fire, Stephen Espinoza, the executive vice president and general manager of Showtime Sports, recently refused to rule out yet another Mayweather comeback at some point in the future.

“Look, its Floyd’s call to make at some point,” he said. “And it is hard [to turn down $300m].

“I haven’t yet seen anything from him that suggests he’s thinking about McGregor II or anything else. He seems pretty happy retired so I don’t think we’ll see him in the ring again.

“But If there’s a demand for it and people want to see it, then sure, we will get behind the business.”

Espinoza has refused to rule out a Mayweather comeback (Getty)

Mayweather himself hasn’t exactly been quiet on the topic of a potential comeback, although he recently laughed off discussion of a potential bout with British welterweight Amir Khan, insisting that he remains the “best pound-for-pound fighter in the world”.

“For the last five years all I have been hearing is Amir Khan running his mouth off that he deserves a shot against me,” he told the Sunday Star.

“It’s nothing new for me. Every fighter out there wants a chance against me because they know, win or lose, it’s going to be a big pay day for them. But I have always maintained I am nobody’s meal ticket.

“He wants to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and now I hear is running away from a few snakes and spiders. I only set up fights with fighters that deserve it and who are going to be part of a great fight for fans.

“Please! He needs to get real and stick with TV.”