By Nick Powers – Since it was announced that Floyd Mayweather, Jr. would be coming out of his short-lived retirement to challenge lineal Lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, media speculation and rumors surrounding the fight have been nothing short of abundant.
– How will Floyd perform after a year and a half away from the ring?
– At what weight will the contest take place?
– How will Marquez adjust to Floyd’s natural size advantage and defensive style?
– Has the fight been postponed due to lack of sufficient ticket sales?
Recently, however, Floyd’s uncle and head trainer Roger Mayweather has made headlines of a different sort. After a female fighter of Roger’s ended their professional relationship in favor of another trainer, Roger supposedly began harassing the young woman repeatedly, culminating when he attacked the woman at her apartment and reportedly punched her several times in the ribs before attempting to choke her. Roger was later arrested on charges of coercion with force and battery-strangulation, seemingly sidelining him from his freedom and the gym for the time being. That being said, it is now apparent that the former Pound for Pound and Welterweight champion is left without a chief second for his comeback fight, prompting the boxing world with the biggest question of all: What now?
After being dealt a year-long suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission following a near riot during the April 2006 Floyd Mayweather-Zab Judah bout, Roger was jailed for battery on his son’s grandmother, serving a six month term. In turn, Floyd Jr. was left without Roger in his corner for his Welterweight title bout with Carlos Baldomir that November, turning to his advisor Leonard Ellerbe and Rafael Garcia to man his corner for the fight. Floyd would go on to win a 12 round unanimous decision.
A similar dilemma has once again arisen in the Mayweather camp, and the Grand Rapids, Michcan native, who now resides and trains in Las Vegas, is without his uncle and head trainer for what many consider one of the biggest fights of his career. Though the fighter’s relationship with his father and world class trainer Floyd Mayweather, Sr. has left the pair on strained terms in the past, the self-proclaimed “best trainer of all time” has been advising his son closely since he began training camp for the Marquez bout. One of the biggest questions in the wake of Roger’s arrest will undoubtedly be, can father and son reunite for the first time since 2000, combine their immense boxing knowledge and lead Mayweather, Jr. to victory?
The often deemed “royal family” of boxing have engaged in much covered drama with each other numerous times, but have recently shown unity and love in setting aside past differences. However, if we’ve learned anything from the Mayweathers in the past, it’s that anything is possible.
Stay tuned, boxing fans.
For more from Nick Powers tune into the “On The Ropes” radio show every Monday 6PM ET as he discusses the current happenings from the world of boxing and also the upcoming fights every week.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/On-The-Ropes