Floyd Mayweather announces return to boxing ring

Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring in 2021 [COURTESY]

Floyd Mayweather will return to the ring next year.

The former pound-for-pound No.1 will take part in the 'Mega 2021' event in Tokyo on February 28.

He will be among "champion-class" fighters taking part, but a press release did not mention who he would be fighting or under what rules.

Mayweather said last week in a social media post: "Tokyo, Japan, I'm coming back, in 2021.

"I know the Olympics is in Japan in 2021, but me, myself, Floyd 'Money' Mayweather and my team will be doing something big in Tokyo Dome... Japan, I'm on my way."

The announcement has echoes of Mayweather's exhibition bout against Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.

Mayweather stopped the young kickboxer in the first round and earned $9million for his two minutes of work.

Mayweather Jr. lands a hit against Conor McGregor during the tenth round at T-Mobile Arena. [Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY]

At 43, Mayweather is unlikely to return in a competitive fight having last fought professionally in 2018 when he stopped Conor McGregor in the 10th round.

He hung up his gloves following his 50th victory but has repeatedly been linked with another comeback.

Mayweather has also consistently denied he needs to fight for money.

Earlier this year he told Fight Hype: "People keep saying, 'Floyd ain't got nobody, he don’t got this and he don’t got that' but I’m going to break certain things down.

"I don’t monitor nobody else’s pockets. Am I comfortable? – Absolutely. Do I make seven figures every month? – Absolutely. From smart investments? – Absolutely.

"But if I see an opportunity where I can entertain and have a little fun and make six hundred million, why not?

"If I am going to do something, it’s got to be worth it. But there’s no number that's worth me getting back in that ring and fighting these young fighters to get any type of wear and tear on my body."