Mayweather KO’s reports of $10 million losing bet on Broncos

By Las Vegas Sun Staff (contact)

Monday, Feb. 3, 2014 | 1:22 p.m.

Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather took to social media this weekend to put to rest a rumor that he bet — and lost — $10 million on the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl XLVIII.

In a post on the Las Vegas boxer’s Instagram account, Mayweather congratulated the Seattle Seahawks for their crushing 43-8 Super Bowl victory and said, “For the record, I did NOT bet $10 million on the Broncos. As a matter of fact, I didn’t bet at all...The only thing I would bet $10 million on is MYSELF. From the looks of my record, I’m a guaranteed WIN!!!”

Vox Media’s SB Nation website — citing numerous gambling websites — reported last week that Mayweather placed a $10.4 million bet on the Broncos to win and cover a two-point spread. Additionally he was said to have bet $3 million on the Broncos to cover a half-point halftime spread.

“It's important to note that these reports are coming from gambling information networks, not from Floyd himself, so maybe take them with a grain of salt,” the SB Nation report cautioned.

The caution note didn't stop the rumor, though. Whether the bet was made was a topic on the ESPN show "Pardon the Interruption." Sun entertainment writer John Katsilometes addressed the unlikelihood such a bet was made in Las Vegas in a column last week.

Mayweather has been known to bet large sums on sporting events. In September, on his Twitter account he bragged about winning $200,000 on a $220,000 bet on a Texas A&M football game. The tweet, which has since been deleted, included a photo of the winning ticket.

Mayweather’s next bout is scheduled tentatively for May in Las Vegas. In true form, Mayweather, 45-0 as a professional, took to social media Sunday night regarding the as-yet-unnamed opponent.

“I'm going to let the fans vote. Tell me who I should fight next. (Amir) Khan or (Marcos) Maidana?” he tweeted.