Money Problems for Mayweather

Posted by Joe Roche on 07.03.2009

The IRS would like a word with "Money."

After an abrupt retirement, it appears that Floyd "Money" Mayweather may have returned to boxing for reasons other then staking his claim to the title of "best fighter of all time." According to the Associated Press, the IRS hit the former pound-for-pound king with a lien in October for $6.17 million in unpaid taxes. There is an additional $193,000 in state taxes in New Jersey owed by the former "Pretty Boy."

It seems that the high spending ways of the man who dubbed himself "Money" may have come back to haunt him, as besides the incredible tax lien, county records in Las Vegas show the former five-division champion has unresolved debts of $9,400 to three home owners associations, $3,900 to a contractor who programmed electronics in Mayweather's home, and $320.10 to a trash collector.

This is not the first time that Mayweather has run into money issues as the IRS has filed liens totaling $6.3 million for unpaid taxes in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2006, as well as three claims filed by homeowners associations that were later resolved.

However, Mayweather's manager Leonard Ellerbe says, "Floyd Mayweather does not have a problem with the IRS," Ellerbe told the AP on Thursday. "He doesn't owe the IRS $6.1 million ... I don't (care) what a lien says."

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KO's) made $50 million in the 18 months leading up to his abrupt retirement from boxing. He also allegedly made $20 million during his time working with the WWE leading up to Wrestlemania 24, as well as earning $8 million without fighting during the time he was appearing on ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

It appears though that Mayweather's return bout with Juan Manuel Marquez that has been rescheduled for September 19th can not come soon enough for "Money."