Let me emphasize it was and it remains a rumor, a persistent one which hung over last weekend’s fight cards in Las Vegas (Miguel Cotto TKO 12 Ricardo Mayorga and a decent heavyweight KO by persistent Michael Grant over Glass Jaw Joe, I mean Tye Fields), but I kept on hearing that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is about to make a strategic career move.
No, Mayweather has not evdiently zeroed in on the “tuneup bout” foe he will pick on before hopefully targeting Manny Pacquiao in 2012. But, word on The Strip had it, that Mayweather could be exiting the great state of Nevada in favor of domicile in sunny South Florida.
I will resist starting to sing “Goon Over Miami” or making any “Miami Vice” wisecracks (Leonard Ellerbe turns into Tubbs?).
But relocating himself and the contents of the Las Vegas Big Boy Mansion makes sense for 34 year old Mayweather on many levels and I don’t mean split levels.
Here’s why a Miami move works for L’il Floyd:
1. He can sit courtside at more Heat games, cheering on LeBron James and those other two so called super superstars who have won nothing (Messrs. Wade and Bosh if you must know.)
2. Tax wise, it’s a wash as Florida like Nevada has no state income tax. Nevada, it is said, has more millionaires per capita than nay of our 50 states, but there is a reason besides balmy weather tha Tiger Woods and so many uber jocks make their legal residence in Fla.
3. Mayweather has become a thorn in the side of the Las Vegas Metro Police, including some top brass who are sick and tired of being sick and tired of his antics, including the “Baby Mama Drama,” the parking lot attendance finger in face case and the infamous shooting into the automobile truck of a wisenheimer who sent a “I hope you lose your next fight” text message to Mayweather. (You remember, the bang-bang play outside the roller skating rink).
4. Love beckons as they say his soulmate, Ms. Jackson, prefers Miami over Southern Nevada. Maybe her fiance has gotten that message.
5. He can cadge free meals from Don King at any given time, what with DK’s unrequited affection for the boxer’s company. In fact, I can’t think of a reason why Mayweather would not move to Miami, where he doesn’t seem to find trouble and vice versa.
Maybe Mayweather will be calling it “Miami Nice,” who knows?
But the sunshine and Ms. Jackson’s radiance seems to keep him out of his Vegas peccadilloes.
And that is a plus for a guy who seems to be on the docket at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas twice a month.
