Time, as all professional athletes learn fast and hard, is an undefeated opponent. Floyd Mayweather, of course, has a similar unblemished record. Following his 10th-round technical knockout of MMA star Conor McGregor last August in Las Vegas, the 40-year-old Mayweather improved his record to a perfect 50-0 and retired (again) as a 12-time champion in five weight divisions.
On February 12, Mayweather—who became just the sixth athlete in history to reach $1 billion in career earnings following his fight with McGregor—will add Time to The Money Team when he announces a partnership with Hublot, the luxury Swiss watch company, to produce new limited edition timepieces.
“Hublot is a winning brand,” Mayweather says in an interview at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Las Vegas in advance of the announcement. “It’s connected to so many athletes and entertainers who are winners in life. And the TMT brand—all we did was win, win, win.”
The Big Bang Unico TMT will come in two models: a 45mm, yellow gold-encrusted carbon fiber chronograph with a sapphire case as well as a yellow gold version. At 12 o’clock, the dial displays the The Money Team logo ”TMT” in appliqué while the case back features Mayweather’s other monogram mantra: TBE, “The Best Ever.” (Mayweather offers the same high praise for the brand: “In the watch world, Hublot is TBE.”)
The Mayweather watch is also fitted with a black calf leather strap featuring python and gold studs, similar to the Hublot-emblazoned boxing trunks he wore during the “Money Fight” with McGregor. “The trunks were really the inspiration for the watch design,” says Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot. “We have been trying to make this happen for many years.”
The Big Bang Unico TMT Carbon Fiber will be released in a limited edition of 100 watches, priced at $28,300. Hublot will also produce 10 numbered editions of the Mayweather timepiece set entirely in yellow gold and adorned with 48 baguette-cut diamonds and 378 brilliant-cut diamonds for a total weight of 4.85 carats. The numbered edition costs $93,700 and both watches come with a boxing glove signed by Mayweather.
While the watches obviously come with a high price tag, Mayweather is philosophical about the word that has come to be synonymous with his name—money. “When we get to talking about money, rich is something you become,” he explains. “Wealth is something that’s established—meaning wealth is for generations. It’s all about coming up with a game plan. You can give a person $100 million right now. But if they don’t have a game plan, they’re only rich for a short period of time.”
And he clearly takes the long view. Lately, Mayweather has been flirting with another astronomical payday, but the champ, who turns 41 later this month, shrewdly ducks where (and if) we might see him fight next. “I don’t know,” he says with a huge grin. “We don’t know if it’s a boxing ring—or maybe an octagon. We just don’t know. But there’s been talks.”
Recent reports estimate that a Mayweather-McGregor rematch could be a $500 million fight. Until then, Mayweather is focusing on his business ventures, always looking for the next win. He’s building his TMT brand, looking to open restaurants, and expanding his real estate portfolio. “We all know that a boxer only makes money when he’s boxing,” Mayweather says, “but New York real estate you make money when you sleep.” He also teases that a major purchase is in his future: “I’m thinking about buying an NBA team,” he says, though declines to say which one he has in mind.
As for that ultimate showdown with Father Time, Money Mayweather laughs it off like any other opponent. “I’ve been at the top of my game for 21 years,” he says proudly. And, who knows, perhaps the invincible fighter would even settle for a draw. After all, Time is Money.
