Verbal sparring between Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr and Ronda Rousey continued on Thursday as the unbeaten welterweight champ laughed off the mixed martial arts star’s dig at his earning power.
“Big bank take little bank,” Mayweather said in a statement that was posted on TMZ Sports. “Let’s play and see how much money you got.”
“Last time I checked, I was No. 1 on Forbes,” Mayweather added, a reference to the financial publication’s ranking of the world’s highest-paid sports figures.
Photo: AP
Rousey, a former Olympic judoka who is the biggest global star on the UFC circuit after a series of explosive victories, had taunted Mayweather on Wednesday in comments to TMZ — reckoning she earns more per second than he does.
“When he learns to read and write, he can text me,” Rousey told the gossip Web site.
Mayweather’s US$300 million in earnings over 12 months as calculated by Forbes in June includes his take from his May mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao — the highest-grossing bout in boxing history.
“She will never be at my status,” he told TMZ. “Keep trying to get publicity.”
However, Forbes weighed in on Thursday, saying that Rousey’s calculations were correct, and that after defeating Alexis Davis and Cat Zingano in a combined 30 seconds of fighting she was, in fact, making more per second than Mayweather even before she beat Bethe Correia in 34 seconds in her most recent fight in Rio de Janeiro this month.
It was another dominant performance for 12-0 Rousey in defense of her UFC female bantamweight title.
Mayweather, 48-0, is scheduled to defend his welterweight world title against Andre Berto on Sept. 12 in Las Vegas, where the unbeaten US boxer is to try to match the 49-0 record of Rocky Marciano.
Mayweather insists his showdown with Andre Berto is to be his last bout.
“Nobody knows what the future holds, but right now, I’m cool and comfortable and having no second thoughts at all about retirement,” Mayweather said at an open workout in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
“I had a good career, I won every world title, but boxing is wear and tear on the body,” Mayweather said.
“It’s time to hang ’em up. I’m looking forward to working with some up-and-coming kids, going on walks and taking vacations,” Mayweather said.
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