“Although I love boxing, the terminology is different and it’s a different style. I can go out there and spar, but MMA, it’s a whole different world. In MMA, we throw punches longer. We may shorten them up when we’re closer, but for the most part, we throw them longer to set up other things. In boxing, it’s about being short and snappy…Physically, I was tired because he wore me out on the mitts (laughing). Mentally, I was frustrated because I felt like I couldn’t get it. I knew that I could get it, but I was just excited just to be there with him and I think I was trying too hard to look good for him,” stated former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion King Mo, who for the next week is chronicling his experience training with world-class boxing trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. Check out what it’s like for an elite mixed martial artist to work with one of the best boxing trainers in the world.
PC: How was your first day with Floyd Mayweather Sr.?
KM: I struggled out of the gate, I ain’t gonna lie to you, mayne.
PC: Do you think it’s because you just came from Holland and the striking instructions were different? Why do you think you had difficulties?
KM: I think it was a combination of things. I’m not a boxer. Although I love boxing, the terminology is different and it’s a different style. I can go out there and spar, but MMA, it’s a whole different world. In MMA, we throw punches longer. We may shorten them up when we’re closer, but for the most part, we throw them longer to set up other things. In boxing, it’s about being short and snappy.
PC: What were some of the things that you guys worked on during day one?
KM: A little bit of everything: defense, rolling and combos. We worked on more combos than anything, and placing punches in the right spots.
PC: You are a huge fan of the Mayweather family in general. What was it like walking into a gym to train with Floyd Sr. for the first time?
KM: He cool, mayne. He’s down to earth, and all of the people who want to talk bad about him are ignorant, you know what I’m saying? That’s how America is. We got a lot of ignorant motherfuckers out here. They ain’t never met him before and want to talk like they have. Meeting him was surreal because when he walked in, the first thing he did was smile and shook my hand. Then he shook my boy’s hand and cracked jokes and did a little poetry (laughing). He missed his calling; he should be a rapper. He should be rapping, dropping an album or something because he spit that fire. He’s good, mayne. He’s good!
PC: When you called me immediately afterwards, you were kind of down in the dumps on yourself because you didn’t feel that you put forward your best efforts. How did you feel physically and mentally afterwards?
KM: Physically, I was tired because he wore me out on the mitts (laughing). Mentally, I was frustrated because I felt like I couldn’t get it. I knew that I could get it, but I was just excited just to be there with him and I think I was trying too hard to look good for him.
PC: You had an incident where you accidentally punched him in the face. What happened (laughing)?
KM: Oh Lord! He was like, “I’m going to throw a jab to your body, block with your elbow and come over the top with a right hand.” He threw the jab to my body and I blocked it with my elbow and when I came over the top with the right hand, I hit him in his jaw (laughing). The whole gym got dead quiet. I was so embarrassed, man. I didn’t know what to do.
