Floyd Mayweather Jr. famously defeated Oscar De La Hoya in a split-decision victory that generated $130 million in the most lucrative boxing match of all time back in 2007. De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions has since promoted Mayweather’s fights.

Now, don’t be surprised if the former rivals continue to team up in a sports avenue of a different sort—owning the Los Angeles Clippers. Shortly after NBA commissioner Adam Silver placed a lifetime ban on Clippers' owner Donald Sterling Tuesday for making racist remarks against African-Americans in a recorded phone call, Mayweather expressed interest in leading a group of investors in buying the franchise and De La Hoya followed by saying that he would be willing to come in and invest with Floyd.

Although Silver clearly stated that the three-fourths of the NBA owners’ board of governors must first vote to force Sterling to sell the Clippers, that didn’t stop each boxer from revealing their excitement about the possibility of owning a piece of a basketball franchise, beginning with Mayweather.

The undefeated Mayweather, who will attempt to improve his record to 46-0 with a win over rugged Marcos Maidana this Saturday night, told reporters at the MGM Grand on Tuesday that in order for him to go forward with a potential plan to purchase the Clippers that he’d need a big stake in the team.

"I can't come in here talking about Mayweather only going to get 3 percent or 4 percent," said Mayweather, a regular at both Clippers’ and Los Angeles Lakers’ games. "But do we want to buy the Clippers? Yes we do. We're very, very interested in buying the Clippers."

De La Hoya likes Mayweather's intentions, and would be willing to join him.

"When it comes to business, what better than two minorities?” De La Hoya told USA Today. “The commissioner wanted to see more minority ownership in the NBA. If he wants more minorities involved in the NBA, what better than me and Floyd to be part of a potential ownership group?

"I love Los Angeles and I am the face of Los Angeles, and what's better than to be part of that ownership group of the Los Angeles Clippers?” he added. “Los Angeles is my home. I was born and raised here and it would be an honor to be part of the ownership group."

If Mayweather takes De La Hoya up on bidding for the Clippers, they’ll have some competition from heavyweights outside of boxing. NBA legend Magic Johnson has expressed interest in owning the Clippers, as did music/film mogul David Geffen, hip-hop moguls Diddy and Dr. Dre rapper Rick Ross.

Thus far, there isn't a confirmed date for NBA owners to vote on Sterling's Clippers.

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