Floyd Mayweather Sr. may have punched himself out of working against his own son on May 5. And it was an intentional self-knockout.
Multiple sources tell Boxingconfidential.com that Papa Mayweather, who wrestled with his psyche about training Oscar De La Hoya to beat his son in the Super Fight set for Las Vegas, told Oscar that his trainer’s fee for the bout would be $2 million. This was Pretty Daddy’s reaction to ODLH offering him a fee of $1 million.
“It is so excessive that Oscar was initially stunned,” one source told me. “He was briefly stunned but, being a smart guy, he then realized that was Big Floyd’s way of wriggling out of training Oscar and then manning Oscar’s corner against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Oscar is mulling over who he will have take Big Floyd’s place. In many ways, Oscar and Senior will both be relieved if someone else steps in and ends this weird psychological mess.”
De La Hoya plans on beginning light training in early February near his home in Puerto Rico and he wants to have whoever his chief trainer is on board for sure by that time.
Knowledgeable sources also said that Floyd Jr. and Floyd Sr.’s relationship is not as icy as often portrayed.
“When Little Floyd was getting ready for (Carlos) Baldomir, Big Floyd was seen around his camp,” one source said. “Floyd Jr.’s trainer, Roger Mayweather (Big Floyd’s brother) is in jail and they would have to hustle to get him relicensed in Nevada for May 5. Meanwhile, third brother Jeff Mayweather (now training Ibragimov) continues to work as a peacemaker inside the whole family.”
The source closest to Floyd Sr. that I spoke with even said it is a possibility that, should Roger get relicensed in time, that Roger and Floyd Sr. might bury that family hatchet and both work in Little Floyd’s camp and his corner against Oscar.
“If that doesn’t blow Oscar’s mind, nothing will,” this source said.” But don’t forget that Junior’s ego is bigger than most Wal-mart stores and he wouldn’t want anyone saying he sued his old man as a crutch to beat Oscar. PBF will want all the credit for whipping Oscar’s butt. Junior is not into sharing the spotlight, you know.”
Informed sources told me that Oscar’s short list of possible replacements in his camp and his corner are John David Jackson, Freddie Roach and Don House. Oscar is quite familiar with John David form the time period when the ex-champ trained Sugar Shane Mosley. Oscar has a certain comfort level with Jackson. Jackson was recently hired by WBO heavyweight champ Shannon Briggs who makes a March 10 title defense against Sultan Ibragimov.
With Oscar in New York City for the Shannon Briggs v. Sultan Ibragimov press conference, De La Hoya has half of the Sultan of Swats promotional rights, it is believed John David Jackson will pitch his services today.
Roach has publicly said time constraints, mainly due to Manny Pacquiao’s April 28 bout, would not permit him to work, even if he is asked to, for De La Hoya. House is out of Las Vegas and has been gaining notice as the trainer for unbeaten WBO super featherweight champ Joan Guzman.
Multiple sources also reminded me that Oscar has expressed some discomfort with the Father Vs. Son scenario and indicated he might have nagging doubts about Floyd Sr.’s mental state in such a situation. In other words, how could ODLH know for sure that his trainer and chief strategist’s loyalty was total and undivided.
