Garcia claims deal with Mayweather, WBC approval still pending

WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia (28, United States) has claimed he reached an agreement to fight legendary undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather (49, United States), raising the question of whether a bout pitting Mayweather's 50-0 record against Garcia's world title will actually take place.

Garcia posted a screenshot of a video call with Mayweather on his social media Thursday (Korean Standard Time), announcing the agreement. "I just got off the phone with Mayweather. He wants an official fight at 147 pounds (about 66.7 kilograms). We both agreed. Let's fight!" he said.

He also posted on X, formerly Twitter: "At first I thought it was crazy, but it's real. Floyd and I have agreed to fight. It's a WBC welterweight world title fight at 147 pounds. Fifty and zero versus the current champion."

Garcia had insisted from the moment negotiations with Mayweather's camp became known that the bout must be an official professional fight, not an exhibition. His position is that Mayweather's 50-0 record — intact since his retirement in 2017 — must be on the line.

The WBC has also left the door open. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said in a recent interview with HardRockBet that he could support a title fight if Mayweather passes a medical examination and receives a license from the boxing commission in the jurisdiction where the bout is held.

That, however, is a conditional stance, and the WBC has not officially sanctioned the fight. Mayweather's camp has also not publicly confirmed the agreement Garcia claims to have reached. No date, venue or contract terms have been announced.

Mayweather won a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics before going on to claim world titles in five weight classes as a professional. He retired in August 2017 after stopping MMA star Conor McGregor by TKO in the 10th round, finishing his career at 50-0 (27 knockouts). He has since competed only in exhibition bouts.

If the fight is sanctioned as an official professional contest, it would mark Mayweather's return to competitive boxing for the first time in roughly nine years. He turns 50 in February next year.

Garcia claimed the WBC welterweight title in February this year with a decision victory over Mario Barrios of the United States, then made his first successful defense in September with a knockout of Conor Benn of Britain.

Garcia's promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, had previously said he was willing to pursue a fight with Mayweather, provided it was an official professional bout rather than an exhibition.