Floyd Mayweather Jr. opens door to chasing 50-0 record

Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Thursday hedged on ending his boxing career at the close of his six-fight Showtime contract that is scheduled to expire after a planned bout in September 2015.

Now that he’s only 14 months away from that time, with the opportunity to surpass late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 career by achieving a 50th victory without a loss, Mayweather said he’s not married to a retirement date he’s mentioned in the recent past.

“Everyone knows we have a deal, but if Stephen [Espinoza] wants to make a new deal...,” Mayweather said of the Showtime executive whose recruitment of Mayweather has given the fighter a string of guaranteed purses exceeding $30 million.

Another awaits Sept. 13, when Mayweather (46-0) meets Marcos Maidana for a welterweight world title at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Though Mayweather, 37, slowed somewhat in a majority-decision win over Maidana in May and has appeared tired of promoting his work, some think the idea of chasing 50-0 is tempting to the fighter.

Could that fight, or the final bout on this Showtime deal, be Manny Pacquiao?

For now, the rival remains a subject to be dismissed.

Mayweather on Thursday referred to Pacquiao as “that dude” when mentioning the Filipino’s December 2012 knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, whom Mayweather defeated by a unanimous decision.

“I can say ‘that dude’ because he really don’t have any name to me, because I’m up here … I don’t see nobody,” Mayweather said.

Mayweather also spoke of his aim to continue to build his company, Mayweather Promotions.

The September bout with Maidana is being co-promoted with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, but Mayweather welcomed former Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer and his assistant Bruce Binkow at Thursday’s news conference in Los Angeles.

Schaefer’s split with De La Hoya is currently in mediation. Schaefer said he’s in the midst of an extended vacation, biding his time before making his next career move.

“I’m just a fan today,” Schaefer said. “I’m not involved in the promotion in any capacity. I’m here as Floyd’s friend to support him.

“I’m happy with what Golden Boy and Oscar are doing. I take it day to day. When I’m ready to return, I’ll be ready.”

There is rampant speculation that Schaefer could ultimately land as head of Mayweather Promotions, bringing in several high-profile fighters connected to Mayweather’s manager, Al Haymon. That stable includes Maidana, Leo Santa Cruz, Danny Garcia and Adonis Stevenson.

Mayweather embraced Schaefer during a roundtable meeting with reporters, calling him “the man who built Golden Boy,” then introduced Schaefer on stage.

“What I am going to do is go out there Sept. 13 and be as sharp as a razor,” Mayweather said. “If the price is right for No. 50, it’s possible. We can’t say what the future is.”