Former boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. told TMZ Sports he would be willing to work with UFC star Ronda Rousey on her striking if she would have him.
"I'll work with her if she's willing to work with me," Floyd said.
The pair have a contentious history. In July 2014, Mayweather claimed he didn't know who Rousey was, before Rousey returned the favor a year later on the red carpet at the ESPY Awards.
"I wonder how Floyd feels being beat by a woman for once," Rousey said, per ESPN, after winning the 2015 ESPN for Best Fighter. "I'd like to see him pretend to not know who I am now."
That began a public tit-for-tat between the pair.
"I've yet to see any MMA fighter, or other boxer, make over $300 million in 36 minutes," Mayweather said in Aug. 2015, per ESPN. "When she can do that, then call me."
Rousey, of course, had a response.
"I actually did the math and given the numbers of my last fight, I'm actually the highest paid UFC fighter and I'm a woman." she told TMZ Sports. "I think I actually make 2-3 times more than he does per second... So when he learns to read and write, he can text me."
But Mayweather appeared to soften toward Rousey after she lost to Holly Holm at UFC 193 in Nov. 2015, one of the biggest upsets in MMA history, offering to help Rousey with her boxing at that time.
"I want Rousey to hold her head up high and don't let this discourage you," Mayweather said at the time, per ESPN. "If you need help as far as with boxing, I'm here to help you. It's all about timing and inches. Her ground game is unbelievable. She'll be OK."
The offer apparently stands following Rousey's second straight loss, this time to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in Dec. 2016.
Rousey, of course, hasn't made a decision about whether she will even continue fighting. UFC president Dana White said earlier in the week that Rousey has not yet told him her future plans.
Certainly, if anybody can understand the pressures of superstardom, Mayweather can, as he finished his boxing career with an unblemished 49-0 record. Rousey, meanwhile, was arguably the UFC's brightest star before losing back-to-back fights to Holm and Nunes, both by knockout and both in under a minute.
Though Rousey once dominated with her excellent judo and a legendary armbar that became her signature move, she has shown a weakness against elite strikers in her losses. If she does continue to fight and wants to focus on improving her striking, burying the hatchet with Floyd and working with him would make sense from a strategic perspective.
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