Even in retirement, Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to be boxing?s main attraction.
At least that certainly was the vibe on Monday afternoon when the undefeated pound-for-pound king arrived on the rooftop of a posh hotel in Northwest for a news conference to help promote a fight between 140-pound title holder Adrien Broner and Ashley Theophane.
Resplendent in a brown flat cap, burgundy sweater with brown shoulder patches, cream-colored pants and what appeared to be red riding boots, Mayweather found his chair on the stage and sat patiently during formal introductions for the April 1 bout at the D.C. Armory.
When he finally introduced himself, Mayweather spoke at length about Theophane, the British challenger in the stable of Mayweather Promotions, and told the packed room he?s not coming back to fight, saying ?absolutely not? when asked if he still longed for the spotlight.
These days, his calling is as the director of his eponymous promotion company, and even inflammatory language from Broner (31-2, 23 knockouts) directed at the former five-division world champion didn?t appear to raise Mayweather?s ire.
?I admire him in his work and what he did for the sport,? Broner said of Mayweather, ?and I was going to come up here and just keep it like that, but then that wouldn?t be me. I respect Floyd. I even respect Ashley, but at the end of the day, they?re not on my side. Right now, they?re coming to dethrone me. They?re my enemy right now. That?s what it is.?
Mayweather smiled as Broner, joined on stage by hip-hop mogul Rick Ross, among others in his entourage, continued into a profanity-laced diatribe that included a mention of torturing Theophane (39-6-1, 11 KOs). Broner had said recently the fight would be over by round 4, but the World Boxing Association super lightweight champion shaved at least one round off of that prediction.
Broner, 26, didn?t stick around for additional interviews though, telling the assembled media instead to come to the gym for more discussion. He?s training for this fight at the Bald Eagle boxing annex in Southwest, the home base of former 140-pound champion Lamont Peterson and his brother Anthony, who is fighting on the undercard.
?Today Adrien Broner got up here and [insulted] TMT, a company that?s making millions,? said Mayweather, referencing his The Money Team brand, ?but remember, when Adrien Broner lost to [Marcos] Maidana, I was the first one there that was having his back, and I was a shoulder for him to cry on when everyone else went against him, but you live and you learn.
?Am I going to bash Adrien Broner and say something bad about him? I?m not going to do that.?
At that point, close ally Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Floyd Mayweather Promotions, put his arm on Mayweather?s shoulder and interjected:
?This is the different side of Floyd because he?s not in fight mode. This is the humble promoter side. Let?s not be mistaken. Floyd Mayweather is the main reason, him and Adrien Broner, why this particular fight is happening. Floyd took it upon himself to make this fight happen.? Hip-hop artist Rick Ross joins Mayweather at the news conference. (Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images)
Mayweather last fought Sept. 12, 2015, beating Andre Berto by unanimous decision. In his previous fight five months earlier, Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. Billed as the fight of the century between the two most accomplished fighters of their generation, the proceedings left virtually all boxing fans disappointed.
Pacquiao later claimed he fought with a shoulder injury and was denied a painkilling injection beforehand in the locker room. Mayweather subsequently declined to grant a rematch after basically dismissing Pacquiao?s admission of a torn rotator cuff as an sore-loser?s excuse for an underwhelming performance.
Mayweather retired with a 49-0 record, fueling debate as to whether his is the greatest of all-time, but indicated he has many other interests outside of the sport. Among those perhaps is purchasing part of an NBA franchise.
Mayweather attended Sunday afternoon?s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards at Verizon Center and said he was going back on Monday night to catch the Wizards against the Philadelphia 76ers. He also revealed he was planning to meet with Ted Leonsis, majority owner of the Wizards and Washington Capitals, but wouldn?t disclose specifics.
?D.C. is a great city,? Mayweather said. ?You guys know I like to bet on sports, but I?m looking forward to stepping back from betting on sports now, because I?m looking forward probably to getting some ownership of an NBA team.?
