LAS VEGAS, Nevada (November 7, 2005) – by Aurelio Martinez – Hard work, hard sparring and strength of mind is what you will find inside the training camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. “Never Tired” is the best way to describe Mayweather’s condition for his upcoming November 19 fight against Sharmba Mitchell. Mayweather is in the right frame of mind, outstanding condition and ready to fight as training camp enters its final stages.
Mayweather is always prepared to call in new sparring partners as boxers come and go during the duration of training camp. This has not been the case in this camp as Mayweather brought in boxing’s top thoroughbreds, Former champion DeMarcus Corley, Veteran Ray Collins and WBC Continental Americas champion Donald Camarena. There has been no need to call in replacement sparring partners as this high quality team of southpaws have been in camp from the start..
Typical of Mayweather’s training you will see him loosen up for a good 15 minutes and begin his sparring session. He will spar for a good 40 minutes at minimum and if that’s not enough, he then begins with his work out routine which consist of bag work, mitts and exercises. All non-stop… Never Tire!
Mayweather took the time to share some words with us:
Aurelio: How’s training camp going?
Mayweather: This training camp was alright, you’ve always got to have a positive training camp, good sparring good work good southpaws. Chop Chop former world champion, Donald an up and coming champion, he’ll be a champion in the future, Ray Collins an old school vet and they’re all southpaws so I had a good training camp.
Aurelio: You brought in a former champ, a veteran and a young guy, was this done purposely, was that the plan?
Mayweather: However the training camps falls in place is how it falls in place and it happened to fall in place like it did and that’s a great thing.
Aurelio: This fight is happing at 147 pounds; do you ever plan on coming back down to 140 or will you take over the 147 pound division?
Mayweather: We don’t know what the future holds for us. It don’t matter, it’s not about belts for us, it’s about being a legend in the sport and being the best out there, being the best in your time. Right now I’m trying to beat the best guys in my time.
Aurelio: When you first started training camp I heard you say something that stuck in my mind, and that’s when you said when you finish boxing and it’s all over with you’re going to be the greatest boxer that ever boxed. And you meant that.
Mayweather: Absolutely! And so is everybody that’s part of my training camps. Right now a lot of people don’t see it but twenty years from now people are going to say it was great being in the gym with Floyd Mayweather, I was proud being part of his team or even be part of his training camp. I’ve got a good good team behind me, I’m always positive I’m always happy and I’m giving the sport of boxing everything the sport of boxing needs as far as positive hard work and dedication.
Aurelio: Sharmba Mitchell, how do you approach him, does he bring anything different being a southpaw and a heavier fighter?
Mayweather: He’s a guy with 60 fights, He’s got more fights than anyone I’ve fought but I beat more world champions, I’ve been in more world championship fights than Shamba Mitchell has been in and I’ve beat more world champions.
Aurelio: What about the other fights out there?
Mayweather: I’m trying to stay active fighting the fights the network puts in front of me. I tried to get a fight with Winky Wright I could not get, tried with Zab Judah, couldn’t get it, tried with Ricky Hatton, couldn’t get it and the list goes on and on Shane Mosley, couldn’t get it. Sharmba Mitchell was the only one that would step up to the plate so that’s why we are fighting Sharmba Mitchell.
Aurelio: What do you think about Zab Judah and his talk about when he sees you at a press conference he’s going to make you fight?
Mayweather: Zab Judah is a video groupie he’s mad because he’s not a million dollar man. I’m HBO’s pride and joy and he hates that. The guy don’t know who he wants to be, I don’t have anything bad to say about the guy but the guy got all the celebrity status by being in guys rap videos. I got my celebrity status by doing what I’m doing, being the best (boxer) out there. Zab Judah had a chance to step up to the plate this fight but did not make the fight happen, you know this guy didn’t want to fight. A lot of guys talk about it but they don’t be about it. I be about it, I only want to fight the best out there and continue to rack up victories so I can go down as a legend in the sport.
As long as I have my good team, I’ve got Leonard, I’ve got my uncle Roger, I’ve got Rafael and if we keep having positive camps the sky’s the limit.
Aurelio: What’s the situation with Top Rank?
Mayweather: Me, and Bob Arum have ups and downs, that’s how boxing is, you have good days you have bad days but when it’s all said and done, in the end it’s about the bottom line. Bob Arum is a great guy, I have nothing negative to say about him and on the next fight we’ll be working back together.
Aurelio: We know Chop Chop and Ray Collins are top quality work how about a grade on the youngster Donald Camarena.
Mayweather: Donald is a good fighter, he’s got that peek-a-boo style, and in the future he can become a world champion.