May 04, 2007 @ 12:42 pm

Mayweather Mayhem

by: Mark Lelinwalla

Boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will throw verbal jabs at you.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr., now 30, has no problem telling you what's on his mind. In fact, when we talked to him over the phone back in February for our May issue ("Beats By The Pound," pages 96-97), the Las Vegas-bred boxer told us too much. As he prepares to fight Oscar De La Hoya on Saturday night in the biggest boxing match in recent history, we present everything that didn't make the cut back then. Enjoy the fight. What's up, Floyd? Let's start off talking about your opponent on Saturday night - Oscar De La Hoya. What made you accept a fight with him?
Well, it's not about why I wanted to take the fight. It's a fight the world wanted to see. Two extraordinary fighters, two great athletes, two great businessmen. The world demanded this fight. I don't see a better time for it. Where do you rank Oscar all-time?
I take my hat off to him. He's done a lot of things in this sport. He's beat whoever they've put in front of him. I can't place him #1. Because, well. . . I'm #1! Would I say he's one of the top 20 boxers of all-time? Absolutely. But I'm the best fighter because I broke everybody's records. I'm the only fighter you know that went from 130 pounds to 154 pounds and won a WBC belt. He's won a bunch of belts, too, though.
He's won numerous titles in numerous weight classes, but I've done the same thing and done it in quicker fashion. I've done mine on the downlow and he's had more hand-picked opponents. If he were to knock me off, then he would have knocked the best off. I'm the best fighter ever. We know you're not on speaking terms with him, but are you glad to see that your father Floyd Mayweather, Sr., who used to train Oscar De La Hoya, won't be a part of this fight?
My dad is a great trainer. I think Oscar had a better chance with my dad in his corner. Really?
I thought that two of the best trainers - Floyd Mayweather, Sr. and Roger Mayweather [Mayweather, Jr.'s uncle and trainer] - were going to be involved in this fight. Oscar's best chance in this fight, which we know he's not going to win, would have been keeping my father in his corner. Did he not train him because of you?
It's more like this. Oscar was talking about giving my dad $1 million [to train him]. Shit, my advisors make that, make over $1 million. Oscar needs to stop being tight and cheap. He's being cheap. The money we're getting is unreal. Give it up! Share! The Bible tells you not to be stingy. Why do you think my team is eating good? You've said you're retiring after this match [on Saturday]. Will you disappear from boxing completely?
I'm still going to be involved. I have Mayweather Promotions. You know Bernard Hopkins became business partners with De La Hoya after he beat him. Any chance. . .
Nah! I ain't trying to become no partner of Oscar's after I beat him. I'm not a follower. Me and Oscar are going to be rivals. Not like [promoters] Bob Arum and Don King, though. We're going to be able to shake hands, have dinner, and not say negative things about each other. People are saying boxing is dead, though. Like, 'After this match, boxing is over.' It seems like the UFC is. . .
Fuck the UFC! UFC is a fad, not a sport. Anyone can get tatted up, cut their hair bald and come to the ring, scream loud and street fight for 12 minutes. Could you do it?
I'm willing to do this. Take [UFC champion] Chuck Lidell. That's his name, right? Yessir.
I don't even know these boys' names. [laughs] I'll let Lidell fight [heavyweight boxer] Chris Byrd. This is my word: If he can beat Chris Byrd in 10 rounds, I'll give him $1 million out of my own pocket. You only mess with millions, huh?
Boxing is a million-dollar sport! That's a $100,000 sport he's in. UFC doesn't get sold out in three hours with $20 million out the gate. UFC is a fad, man. Boxing is the shit and will always be the shit. It has legends like Muhammad Ali. You don't hear no one talking about Horace Gracie. He ain't no legend. We're talking legends. We're talking a beautiful piece of artwork, a gym where you could see guys actually train. We're not talking about a bunch of alley punks with dog collars and piercings in their lips. [laughs] Switching gears, you have 50 Cent coming out with you on Saturday night and performing his new single "Straight To The Bank." Are you guys close friends?
He's a hell of a businessman. I got love for 50 Cent and G-Unit. Has 50 helped you get your music label Philthy Rich Records off the ground at all?
Me and 50 haven't been talking much lately. [Ed. Note: This interview was conducted in early February. Since the interview, 50 Cent has appeared on 24/7, HBO's reality television show, as a guest in the home of Mayweather.] He's busy with his company. I've told 50 on numerous occasions that I need help and to get with my company but we didn't put it together. He's still a good guy. I got respect and love for him. He just has too much on his plate right now. You know 50 used to box a little bit, too.
Yeah, I know. [laughs] Do you think he could. . .
I'm not going to talk about us boxing. He's a rapper and that's his field. I'm the boxer. But you just said you're about to dabble in music. I mean, you remember what happened with Roy Jones, Jr., right?
Whoa! Roy Jones was trying to be a rapper. I'm not. I can't say what's in a rap artist's heart and mind. I only know what's in my heart and in my mind. And that's why I'm at where I'm at. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas this weekend. He knuckles up with Oscar De La Hoya for his Junior Middleweight belt at 9 p.m. on Saturday night on HBO Pay-Per-View. See Chris Yuscavage's blog, "Where's My Ball?," for more pre-fight and post-fight commentary.

Article tags: Mayweather, Mayhem 

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