The Internal Revenue Service has notified Floyd Mayweather Jr. that it intends to revoke his U.S. passport over a “seriously delinquent tax debt” exceeding $7.25 million, a step that could prevent the undefeated boxing champion from traveling abroad for upcoming exhibition bouts.
Mayweather, 49, received the notice in late March, according to a report by The Ring magazine. The IRS plans to alert the State Department about unpaid federal taxes from 2018 and 2023. A federal tax lien was filed against the former champion in Las Vegas that same month.
To avoid revocation, Mayweather must pay the full amount, enter an installment agreement or settlement with the government, prove the debt cannot be collected because of financial hardship, claim identity theft or file for bankruptcy.
The potential loss of his passport threatens Mayweather’s scheduled June 27 exhibition against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Athens. He would need valid travel documents to leave the country for the fight.
Mayweather, a Michigan native who lives in Las Vegas, has earned more than $1 billion over his career but has a documented history of tax issues. He previously settled multimillion-dollar IRS liens, including one reported at $22 million after his 2015 megafight with Manny Pacquiao.
In recent months the fighter has also faced lawsuits alleging he owes $330,000 in unpaid rent on a New York City condominium and more than $105,000 for a private jet charter flight to Turks and Caicos.
Mayweather’s attorney, Bobby Samini, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday.
Mayweather retired from professional boxing with a 50-0 record and five world titles in five weight classes. He has remained active with exhibition matches and has discussed potential bouts against Mike Tyson and a rematch with Pacquiao.
The IRS can seek passport revocation for taxpayers who owe more than $59,000 in seriously delinquent tax debt under a federal law aimed at collecting overdue payments from high-profile individuals.
