Floyd Mayweather's Comeback Prospects Discussed by Top Boxing Experts

He may have only retired a matter of hours ago, but the talk is already whether fight fans will get to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing ring once again. 

Money comprehensively dismantled Andre Berto in his final fight to equal Rocky Marciano's 49-0 record, leaving Mayweather to bow out of the sport with a perfect career, with hardly a mark or cut on his face. 

A host of sports alumni and writers lined up to comment on the prospect of whether the Pretty Boy will take the jump for a 50th contest. 

John Locher/Associated Press

Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe has already been vocal in his belief the boxer will never step foot between the ropes again, per Sky Sports:

"

Here's a guy who's made well over a half-billion dollars, doing it his way, and he can ride off into the sunset after this. That's a fact. This is Floyd's last fight. I'm not trying to sell it that way. This is going to be his last fight. And the fans get a chance to see Floyd in a very, very exciting fight with a guy that we know is coming to fight.

"

However, ESPN's Skip Bayless simply doesn't believe Mayweather can resist the glamour and money of his chosen profession:

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This is a view shared by many, who can't see Mayweather walking away when he is still in phenomenal shape and still the very best in his division. 

Sports writer and basketball analyst Tommy Beer passed judgement on the proposed retirement and agreed with Bayless' sentiments:

Boxing blogger Scott Christ was more in-depth with his reaction to Mayweather's last fight and believes the Money man has no reason to carry on:

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If he's retired, good. Not "good riddance," just good. And I say that not because I dislike Mayweather. As a fighter, he's a genius. The absolute best of his era, no question. A man who beat everyone in front of him and almost always did so convincingly, making some terrific fighters look average along the way.

The reason I'm bored with Floyd Mayweather is not because his fights are boring, per se. It's because the reality is, he's done what he's always boasted about. He's done it all in boxing. And there is no longer anything at all left to prove.

"

Milwaukee Bucks point guard Michael Carter-Williams thinks Mayweather might return with a move up in weight class for a big-money showdown with Gennady Golovkin:

Mayweather's opponent Berto also had his say after his convincing beating at the hands of the Pretty Boy. The fighter said he should be allowed to hang up his gloves if he desires it, per Reuters' Mark Lamport-Stokes:

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It's up to him; I'm not Floyd. He has done tremendous things for the sport, he's accomplished so much, he has broken all those records and made a load of money. If he wants to retire, he can do what he wants to do. This sport is brutal by itself. If he wants to retire, he should be able to. If he wants to come back, that's on him as well.

"

However, Mayweather seems to already have the next phase of his career mapped out, with the boxer saying he intends to bring exciting young fighters through to the big time, as tweeted by ESPN.com's Dan Rafael and Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix:

Boxing writer Tom Craze also thinks this is the end of the road for Mayweather, with no more challenges ahead for the legend:

Mayweather will be remembered as one of the greatest ever, even if he doesn't return for one last big swan song.

There is a chance that a superfight against Amir Khan could tempt Money out of his boxing slumber, with the Brit bringing his army of fans across the Atlantic, but this choice is fraught with danger, as it might be a fight too far.

This is what Mayweather now has to ascertain; if he knows he is the best and his training is comfortable, a 50th fight will be just a matter of months away.

John Locher/Associated Press

Boxers often retire, only to come back for the payday, but Mayweather has nothing to prove.

However, this is a fighter who cannot resist the chance to earn the megabucks the sport brings. 

It suits Mayweather that the world pats him on the back and wishes him well in a final contest, but if the desire and passion are still there in his heart, the Money man will be back in the ring, earning dollars and winning titles.