So I catch Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr. in a reflective mood. We’re talking, or really he is talking and I am listening and scribbling like a mad monk, and “Pretty Daddy” informs me that he will unveil a selection of outstanding, new poems for Super Fight Week, the De La Hoya-Mayweather runup in Las Vegas.
I’m sure the poetry world “World Awaits” Papa Mayweather’s latest literary offerings. Somehow, while we chatted, the name of Filpino ring idol Manny Pacquaio came up. I braced myself for an insulting onslaught of Pacman’s boxing deficiencies, etc., seeing as how it’s no secretb that Floyd Joy is always throwing daggers at Manny’s trainer, Freddie Roach. Or, as FJM Sr. calls him, Joke Coach Roach.
So here comes a blast, a tirade, a rant, a screed against Manny and Mannymania, I figured.
I figured wrong.
Mayweather had good things to say about Pacquaio. This all came about I when inquired about Maweather’s new prize pupil, unbeaten WBO 130-pound champ Joan Guzman who is moving up to 135 to face WBO champ Michael Kastidis on HBO “Boxing After Dark” (Sycuan Ringside Promotions and Golden Boy co-promoting) in Anaheim May 26.
Mayweather said he will improve Guzman’s strong foundation and make him an even better fighter than he is now.
“You will see a little bit on ay 26 even though it’s a short time,” Mayweather said. “Joan will look better than he’s ever looked. I think that Guzman can beat the Pacman down the line. But nobody should take the Pacman lightly. You can’t drop your hands when you fight a guy like the Pacman.
“Pacman is a real puncher, a guy who can take you out with just one shot. That is why they call him the Pacman because he packs a punch. Now that’s the only thing he can do well but he does it very well. Pacman can’t box. Pacman got terrible defense. And he won’t get better with Joke Coach Roach because the Joke Coach can’t show him nothing. But Pacman got the punch.
“I’m not a joke coach,” Mayweather said. “I am teacher above and beyond being a trainer. Pacman won’t learn and hasn’t learned nothing with Roach.”
According to Floyd Joy, Manny’s decimation of Erik Morales last November was meaningless.
“Erik Morales? Come on, man, they threw a dead man in there with Pacman in that fight. Erik had so many tough fights, so many wars, so much mileage on him…he was a dead man walking against Pacman.”
So what flourishes will Mayweather add to Guzman’s considerable skills?
“Look, I change fighters, they don’t change me. I did it with Bad Chad Dawson and I will do it with Guzman. He’s got a lot of natural ability but so do a lot of other fighters. Look at my son, Little Floyd, he has natural ability but I’m the one who refined his skills. Guzman has faded in later rounds in some recent fights but that won’t happen no more with me. Guzman is a diamond, yes, but I am the diamond polisher.
Since his Spanish is muy malo, Mayweather uses an in the gym translator to get his fine points across to the Dominican Dandy. And Mayweather also started training unbeaten puncher Argenis “La Tormenta” Mendez, also managed by Jose Nunez and a part of the Top Rank promotional team.
“Oh, the Dominican kid,” Mayweather said. “I use the translator for him, too. He is very tall and looks like a good puncher. But he’s rangy and he don’t need to fight in close. He needs to use his height and reach and power together. He’s my newest project.”
Fired by Oscar? He quit Oscar? Does it really matter now? Dawson defends his world title against someone June 9 and Guzman battles on May 26.
FJM Sr.s training plate is full , not empty.
