Floyd Mayweather pictured at BET Awards ceremony in LA, but is the 'Money Man' set for a ring return?

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Floyd Mayweather officially retired nine months ago but the boxing great's profile remains as high as it was when his glittering career was at its zenith.

The 39-year-old, dressed from head to toe in black, was accompanied by former girlfriend and mother of the American's daughter, Melissia Brim, as he was photographed attending the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

At the same ceremony last year the notoriously garrulous Mayweather had duct tape placed over his mouth by pop star Rhianna.  But the man rated one of the best pound-for-pound prizefighters in history cut a more reserved figure on Sunday night at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theatre.

Floyd Mayweather, with mother of his daughter, Melissia Brim, arrives at Microsoft Theatre for the BET Awards

Mayweather has been retired nine months but he remains of one world sport's most high profile figures

Mayweather continues to play it straight as poses for a picture with R&B music producer Jimmy Jam

Mayweather officially hung up his gloves after a facile victory over Andre Berto last September extended the impregnable 'Money Man's' career record to 49-0.

Four months earlier, in the same Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena where he signed off, Mayweather had come out on top of his long-anticipated - and perhaps overdue - 'fight of the century' with Manny Pacquiao.

But while his appearance at the BET Awards - in their 16th year after being established by Black Entertainment Television to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, sport and other entertainment fields -  kept Mayweather in the public eye, rumours persist that he might not be entirely finished with the fight game.

Mayweather remains faithful to his cool demeanour as comedian Michael Blackson includes him in a selfie

The former king of the ring cracks a smile, while the sparkling watch on his wrist is a reminder of his wealth

Fabulously rich and with not a scintilla of damage to his body, owing to his unparalleled ring craft, the man who first fought professionally 20 years ago, nevertheless admits the lure of a return to his former profession and its attendant financial rewards could prove difficult to resist. 

Certainly, today's welterweights would approve of any Mayweather comeback, given both the cash and legacy potential that comes as part of any fight with the undisputed former king of the division.

For now, though, one of world sport's most divisive and exceptional performers, is content to let others take centre stage.