Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may have been posturing when he made the announcement via Twitter that he was close to an agreement to fight IBF welterweight champion Devon Alexander in his next fight.
If he was, much—or all—of any leverage he hoped to gain may have been eliminated on Wednesday.
The IBF released a statement, per Boxing Scene, that says they will not approve Alexander defending his title against Mayweather.
We have not received any requests or information on this from either camp.
Because Alexander is under contract to fight Brook he would not be granted an exception to fight Mayweather.
The mandatory challenger for Alexander is Kell Brook, a 26-year-old undefeated contender from the United Kingdom. Alexander was scheduled to meet Brook on a Feb. 23 Showtime card from the Masonic Temple Theater in Detroit.
However, the fight was postponed due to what Alexander's trainer, Kevin Cunningham, described as a "severe strained right bicep," per ESPN.
Once word spread that Mayweather was targeting Alexander for his return to the ring, speculation began that Alexander may be trying to wiggle out of his commitment to face Brook (Black Sports Online).
Taking on Mayweather is obviously a more attractive option for the IBF champion. He'll never get a bigger payday in his career than the one he'd be in line to receive by facing Money May.
Unless there are new developments, and/or the IBF softens its stance on the potential Alexander-Mayweather bout, it won't be happening anytime soon.
This has to be music to the ears of Canelo Alvarez and Robert Guerrero. Both men had hoped to get the first shot at Mayweather.
It seems nothing is for certain in Mayweather's boxing future. We'll have to wait and see who finally gets the nod as Money's first opponent after nearly a year out of the ring.
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