'Money May' or Pretty Broke? The real drama behind Floyd Mayw… — and more

The seeds for Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return to a professional ring were arguably sown when Manny Pacquiao was first linked with a WBC welterweight world title fight against then-champion Mario Barrios in 2025.

Pacquiao produced a performance for the ages. At the age of 46, he rolled back the years and attacked Barrios with such aplomb that the 30-year-old world champ seemed shell-shocked, and was only able to split a controversial draw after rallying late. 

An insider involved in the making of Barrios vs. Pacquiao was under no illusions what a strong performance from Pacquiao might mean — for Premier Boxing Champions, who organized the show, and for the Hall of Famer's possibilities thereafter.

The source said Mayweather would be one interested party. “It would probably trigger something in his head for a rematch,” they told Uncrowned at the time. “[It] would do big business.”

Though Pacquiao insisted he was focused only on Barrios, he nonetheless pushed for the Mayweather rematch when speaking to Uncrowned that week in July ahead of his Las Vegas comeback.

Anadolu via Getty Images

And so it is no surprise to learn on Monday that Pacquiao and Mayweather will box once again.

“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history,” Pacquiao, now 47, said upon Monday's announcement of a Sept. 19 rematch on Netflix. “The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch.

He finished: “I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.”

Mayweather, 49, boxed his whole career without ever tasting defeat, beating a who’s who of elite fighters and box-office names like Oscar De La Hoya, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti and Conor McGregor.

He beat Pacquiao by a lopsided decision when they threw hands in 2015.

"I already fought and beat Manny once,” said Mayweather on Monday. “This time will be the same result.”

Considering the ability Pacquiao showed he still has against Barrios, it's clear to see why he is still in the game. But the timing of Mayweather’s return is intriguing.

Earlier this month, Mayweather sued his now-defunct broadcast partner, Showtime, and its ex-president Stephen Espinoza, claiming that they, with the help of Mayweather's former advisor Al Haymon, concealed and diverted revenue from his earnings through boxing. In the suit, Mayweather alleges breach of contract, fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, seeking $340 million in damages.

In his first statement since the suit went public, Espinoza denied the accusations to Compas on the Beat: 

"I spent my entire career representing fighters, making sure they were getting paid appropriately," said Espinoza. "I did that for Oscar [De La Hoya]. I did that for Mike [Tyson]. I did it for every fighter who was developed under Showtime.

“I'm proud of my reputation — it's one of integrity. And I've done everything to make sure a fighter got every penny they deserved."

The suit follows an explosive investigation from Business Insider that suggests Mayweather’s supposedly vast wealth may be overstated, noting liens, debt, foreclosures and leveraged assets like property and a private jet. The December story painted a messy financial picture, alleging Mayweather took out millions in new mortgages in 2025, while two commercial properties were foreclosed, and his Las Vegas strip club building faces tax delinquency.

Creditors reportedly chased Mayweather over unpaid jet fuel and a disputed $1.2 million Maybach vehicle, Business Insider reported. He sold his Gulfstream plane as well as major homes. He’s settled more than $28 million in IRS back taxes, amid lawsuits alleging unpaid luxury debts, though his lawyer rejects these claims.

Said a former Mayweather Promotions fighter, Ishe Smith, when commenting on Mayweather's comeback:

“Read in between the lines. People don’t come out of retirement for the love of the game at damn near 50. That’s not how boxing works.”

Forbes long proclaimed Mayweather as a billion-dollar boxer — the sport’s first fighter to surpass that financial threshold, largely through money-spinning matches against De La Hoya, Pacquiao and McGregor. And he has long protected a lavish image, posting photographs to his Instagram alongside wads of cash, fast cars and watches worth millions of dollars. Uncrowned has also seen Mayweather in and around casinos, betting in a high-roller blackjack room in New York state, and dumping cash from a holdall bag to bet on a big boxing bout at the Mandalay Bay’s sportsbook in Las Vegas.

“Man’s tricked all that money off and needs to come back,” Smith said.

Claressa Shields, one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters and the current undisputed women's heavyweight champion, commented on Smith’s post.

“I hate to agree with you,” she said.

Boxing is one of the most beautiful sports in the world, but it's also arguably the most ruthless. The game is littered with unsuccessful comeback tales, with fighters returning to the ring for one last throw of the dice only to find they can no longer defy Father Time as they watch their gamble spectacularly backfire.

Mayweather’s final retirement in 2017 was the antithesis of this. He called the curtain down on a flawless 50-0 career, having accumulated generational wealth, ahead of a guaranteed induction into the International Hall of Fame.

When it came to combat sports, he’d completed it.

Well-worn tropes of penniless fighters exist in the sport because of the frequency in which boxing’s legends have had to come back against their better judgement. Mike Tyson, an all-time great ticket-seller, filed for bankruptcy in 2003 but still returned to get stopped by Danny Williams in 2004 and Kevin McBride in 2005 — fighters he would have annihilated in his prime. Nearly two decades later, he did it again at the age of 58 to fight a 27-year-old Jake Paul.

Evander Holyfield, another icon, faced foreclosures and heavy debts only to repeatedly return to the ring in his late 40s and 50s — the saddest of which saw him get beat down in less than two minutes by an MMA legend, Vitor Belfort, in a 2021 Triller fight.

If even a fraction of the financial allegations swirling around him prove true, Mayweather risks drifting toward this uncomfortable boxing tradition as an all-time great earner who mastered the business inside the ring, only to be drawn back by the economics outside of it.

And, against an in-form, more active and merciless Pacquiao, "Money May" could become the game’s next great cautionary tale.

The Kings, who had the NBA's worst record, hadn't won since beating Washington on Jan. 16. DeMar DeRozan and Daeqwon Plowden added 20 points each, with Plowden scoring 10 in the fourth quarter to help secure the victory. Memphis was hampered by injuries, with eight players on the injured list, and Javon Smalls led the Grizzlies with 21 points.

The Kings led 63-61 at halftime and built a double-digit lead midway through the third quarter with an 18-6 rally. They took control with a 15-4 run in the fourth quarter, capped by a Westbrook 3-pointer with 8:45 remaining. Sacramento's height advantage was apparent as Achiuwa dominated the paint with 14 points and 11 rebounds before halftime.

California's CIF high school boys basketball playoff updated results and schedules for the state's top teams originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

California's CIF playoffs are under way from Northern California to Southern California, and most of the state's top-ranked teams will be in action again this week.

In the north, the Top 50 Archbishop Riordan [San Francisco, CA] Crusaders take on the King's Academy [Sunnyvale, CA] Knights on Monday evneing in the Central Coast Section's Open Division. They'll wrap up pool play on Wednesday, February 25, against the Bellarmine College Prep [San Jose, CA] Bells. The Central Coast's semifinals and finals will then take place later this week with the winner advancing to the Open Division state championships.

Also on Wednesday in Northern California, the Top 50 Salesian College Prep [Richmond, CA] Pride will return to action after a long layoff to take on the De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans in the North Coast Open Division semifinals.

Down in Southern California, it's still the Southern Section's Open Division in the spotlight. The four remaining teams are paired for Tuesday night's semifinals which will feature the highest-ranked team in the Golden State – the No. 9 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers – against the Top 50 Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights while the fellow Top 50 Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines will meet the La Mirada [CA] Matadores.

Finally, the Top 50 St. Joseph [Santa Maria, CA] Knights will face off against the Buchanan [Clovis, CA] Bears for the Central Section Division I championship on Saturday evening.

• Check out the official CIF Central Coast Section Open Division bracket
• Check out the official CIF Central Section Division I bracket
• Check out the official CIF North Coast Open Division bracket
• Check out the official CIF Southern Section Open Division bracket

California's CIF national Top 50 schedule

Monday, February 23, 2026

CIF CENTRAL COAST SECTION OPEN DIVISION POOL PLAY

• Top 50 Archbishop Riordan [San Francisco, CA] Crusaders vs. King's Academy [Sunnyvale, CA] Knights

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

• No. 9 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers vs. Top 50 Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights
• Top 50 Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines vs. La Mirada [CA] Matadores

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

CIF CENTRAL COAST SECTION OPEN DIVISION POOL PLAY

• Top 50 Archbishop Riordan [San Francisco, CA] Crusaders vs. Bellarmine College Prep [San Jose, CA] Bells

CIF NORTH COAST SECTION OPEN DIVISION SEMIFINALS

• Top 50 Salesian College Prep [Richmond, CA] Pride vs. De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans

Saturday, February 28, 2026

CIF CENTRAL SECTION DIVISION I FINALS

• Top 50 St. Joseph [Santa Maria, CA] Knights vs. Buchanan [Clovis, CA] Bears

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

• Sierra Canyon/Notre Dame SO winner vs. Harvard-Westlake/La Mirada winner

CIF national Top 50 playoff results

CIF CENTRAL SECTION DIVISION I SEMIFINALS

Thursday, February 19, 2026

• Top 50 St. Joseph [Santa Maria, CA] Knights 67, Bakersfield [CA] Christian Eagles 57

CIF CENTRAL COAST SECTION OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday, February 20, 2026

• Top 50 Archbishop Riordan [San Francisco, CA] Crusaders 80, Junipero Serra [San Mateo, CA] Padres 61

CIF SOUTHERN SECTION OPEN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS

Quarterfinals

Friday, February 20, 2026

• No. 9 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers 70, Top 50 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 47
• Top 50 Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines 49, Crespi [Encino, CA] Celts 46
• La Mirada [CA] Matadores 73, Top 50 Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks 70
• Top 50 Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights 59, Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 56

Wednesday, February 11-17, 2026

Pool Play

Pool A

Sierra Canyon wins Pool A, Crespi finishes second

• Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers 71, Crespi [Encino, CA] Celts 54
• Crespi [Encino, CA] Celts 82, Corona del Mar [Newport Beach, CA] Sea Kings 70
• Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers 95, Corona del Mar [Newport Beach, CA] Sea Kings 65

Pool B

Harvard-Westlake wins Pool B, Santa Margarita finishes second

• Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles 81, Damien [La Verne, CA] Spartans 71
• Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines 67, Damien [La Verne, CA] Spartans 62
• Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines 83, Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles vs. 62

Pool C

Redondo Union wins Pool C, Centennial finishes second

Results

• Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks 74, Etiwanda [CA] Eagles 31
• Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 74, Etiwanda [CA] Eagles 48
• Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks 69, Centennial [Corona, CA] Huskies 57

Pool D

Notre Dame SO wins Pool D, La Mirada finishes second

Results

• Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights 76, La Mirada [CA] Matadores 60
• La Mirada [CA] Matadores 56, St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves 53
• Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights 69, St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves 60

STREAM: Watch California's CIF boys basketball playoffs on the NFHS Network

Key dates and information for California's CIF Top 50 boys basketball teams

No. 9 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers

• 2025-26 record: 25-1
• Next game: Tuesday, February 24 vs. Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights

Top 50 Archbishop Riordan [San Francisco, CA] Crusaders

• 2025-26 record: 23-1
• Next game: Monday, February 23 vs. King's Academy [Sunnyvale, CA] Knights

Top 50 Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines

• 2025-26 record: 25-5
• Next game: Tuesday, February 24 vs. La Mirada [CA] Matadores

Top 50 Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights

• 2025-26 record: 22-6
• Next game: Tuesday, February 24 vs. Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers

Top 50 Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks

• 2025-26 record: 27-4
• Next game: TBD

Top 50 Salesian College Prep [Richmond, CA] Pride

• 2025-26 record: 25-3
• Next game: Wednesday, February 25 vs. De La Salle [Concord, CA] Spartans

Top 50 Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles

• 2025-26 record: 27-5
• Next game: TBD

Top 50 St. Joseph [Santa Maria, CA] Knights

• 2025-26 record: 29-2
• Next game: Saturday, February 28 vs. Buchanan [Clovis, CA] Bears

MORE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

• The latest SN High School Girls Basketball Top 25
• Alabama's AHSAA playoff update
• Florida's FHSAA playoff update
• Hawaii's HHSAA playoff update
• Maine's MPA playoff update
• Top 25 High School Boys Basketball results for the week ending February 16