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Floyd Mayweather, Sr. Loses on May 5, 2007
By: Ralph Rimpell
-Rluvsboxing@aol.com
(APR 22) In boxing how often are fans treated to a “superfight”? It’s
not every month or year like other events such as baseball (World
Series) or football (super bowl). In recent years we have seen
Lewis-Tyson (2002), Trinidad-Vargas (2000), and Trinidad-De La Hoya
(1999). Before that, when? We had Chavez-Whitaker (1993), Hagler-Hearns
(1985), Holmes-Cooney (1982), and Leonard-Hearns (1981). Sometimes we
may get lucky and have two fights one year after the other like
Tyson-Spinks (1988) and Leonard-Hagler (1987).
Most fighters will never be involved in a
“superfight”, but most fighters that have been involved in a
“superfight” took the people that were instrumental in their success to
the biggest show of their career. Leonard brought Dundee, Hearns brought
Steward, Trinidad brought Trinidad Sr., Hagler brought the Petronelli
brothers, etc. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (37-0, 24 KO’s) will fight Oscar De
La Hoya in a “superfight.” Why is Floyd Mayweather, Sr. not involved to
the extent that some say he should be with his son’s “superfight” this
coming May 5, 2007? At best it seems Floyd, Sr. is in the way. The one
thing about the Mayweather clan that appears to be clear, they like any
other family have problems. But unlike all families, they feud publicly.
Floyd, Sr. and Roger Mayweather, a former two time world champion, are
brothers that don’t get along. Roger, during an interview on HBO for his
nephew’s upcoming fight, said that Floyd Sr. is too critical. Floyd, Jr.
and Floyd Sr didn’t get along, but have taken steps toward
reconciliation. We’ll see or likely hear what happens. Jeff Mayweather
once called his nephew an “egomaniac’ and is also estranged from Floyd
Jr. Floyd Mayweather Sr. had the best assignment, for a trainer, in
boxing. He formerly trained Oscar De La Hoya (38-4, 30 KO’s) for his
past 9 fights since 2000.
What merited this most prized assignment? What was so impressive about
Mayweather Sr.’s boxing resume? As a boxer, he fought Sugar Ray Leonard
in a non-title bout and lost. As a professional fighter his record was
29-6-1 (19 KO’s) and he never won a world title. He boasts that he
taught his son the skills that made him the fighter that he is today
(and was in Floyd Jr.’s corner when he won his first world title in
1998) the only noteworthy information on his resume.
He currently trains WBC Light heavyweight
champion Chad Dawson, and women’s WBC supermiddleweight champion Laila
Ali. He also boasts that he is the best trainer in the world. What about
Emmanuel Steward, George Benton, Bill “Pop” Miller, Freddie Roach, and
Joe Goosen? Floyd Sr. will reply, “I forgot more than these trainers
know!” For these reasons, Floyd Sr. requested a non-negotiable two
million dollar training fee to prepare De La Hoya against Floyd Jr. on
May 5, 2007.
De La Hoya countered offered with a
guaranteed purse of $500,000 and a $500,000 bonus should he be
victorious against his trainer’s son. Floyd Sr. stubbornly refused to
accept De La Hoya’s kind and generous offer. Floyd Sr. would then defect
to his son’s side and appear at press conferences with Floyd Jr.
claiming that the two have reconciled after years of feuding and not
speaking to one another.
Those of you readers who follow the
Mayweather family can see Floyd Sr.’s stubbornness was no different to
Floyd Jr.’s stubbornness years ago when HBO offered the younger
Mayweather a multi-fight, multimillion dollar contract which he
reportedly called “a slave contract.” Regarding his son’s behavior at
the time, Floyd Sr. stated he should apologize and accept the contract.
When Floyd Sr. once again began training Floyd Jr. for this upcoming
fight, His current trainer, Roger Mayweather was temporarily
incarcerated, so for the first two weeks that Floyd Jr. went into
training camp, Floyd Sr. was the head trainer. Reports came out of the
camp that the relationship between father and son was harmonious, but
when Roger Mayweather was released from prison, Floyd Sr. was fired for
the second time by his son (officially demoted to a lesser role).
What did Floyd Sr. do? Apparently nothing except for Floyd Jr. chose to
remain loyal to his uncle and current trainer, Roger Mayweather, than to
his own father. For the two weeks of preparation for the biggest fight
of his son’s life how much money was “the best trainer in the world”
paid by his millionaire son? According to Floyd Sr. he was not paid
anything. In reference to him being replaced by his brother Roger by his
son; Floyd Sr., responded, “people say things and people do things”.
For whatever role Floyd Sr. is playing in his son’s camp does anyone
believe he will be paid $500,000 and if Floyd Jr. defeats De La Hoya on
May 5, 2007 he will receive a $500,000 bonus for his services?
Floyd Sr. should have taken his own
advice which he gave to his son years ago, which was to “apologize” for
saying Oscar’s offer was an insult and accept the money from De La Hoya
before he cemented the deal with his new trainer, Freddie Roach, for a
reported 1.3 million dollar guaranteed fee no matter who wins the fight.
But really, by the time Floyd Sr. defected to his son’s camp, what good
was Mayweather Sr. to either fighter? The saying “everyman has his
price” rings true in the case of Mayweather Sr. He professes to love his
son, but will train another fighter to defeat him for 2 million dollars.
When he was denied the 2 million dollar asking fee for his services he
jumps sides to his son’s camp. The man’s integrity should be questioned.
Many insiders in De La Hoya’s camp,
including De La Hoya were very apprehensive regarding Floyd Sr. training
Oscar for this fight. Mayweather now being in Floyd Jr.’s camp confirm
their suspicions. As for Floyd Sr. being in his son camp in the past and
then not really being in his son camp now or whatever role he is
currently playing, Floyd Jr. went on to capture four more world titles
in three other weight divisions after firing Floyd Sr. the first time
around.
Does he really need his dad in his
corner? He believed his dad would be training De la Hoya against him and
still signed the contracts for the fight. Looking at Floyd Jr. boxing
record since his estrangement from his dad is impressive. He has
demonstrated that he is capable of doing great without his father in his
corner. Roger Mayweather must also be given credit for the work he has
done with his nephew. For Floyd Sr. to say, “Roger don’t know nothing,
that’s why Roger got knocked out so much”, is absurd. Roger has two
world championship belts to demonstrate what he knows. Where are Floyd
Sr.’s belts?
However, Floyd Sr. has contributed so
much to his son’s development and helped Oscar De la Hoya capture three
world titles in two weight divisions, there will likely be no big pay
day for his efforts in this fights. No matter who wins the boxing match
between Oscar and Floyd Jr. they both win financially. Floyd Sr. is the
one who really loses big on May 5, 2007.
Contact Ralph Rimpell at
RLuvsboxing@aol.com |
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