If it’s Saturday, it must be Belgium for troubled American boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mayweather, saddled with a slew of legal issues back home in Las Vegas, seems to be enjoying his European business/holiday trip according to one veteran boxing man.
From all reports, the controversial character who has lately shown no interest in fighting Manny Pacquiao or anyone else was no “Ugly American” and has been, in fact, on his best behavior.
Mayweather, unlike me, has carefully referained from making any Belgian waffle puns or joking about how he suddenly “sprouted up in Brussels” en route to Antwerp. (Come on, slowpokes, get it Brussels and sprouts?)
Neither can anyone say that the mercurial Mayweather’s been acting like a twerp in Antwerp.
New York boxing agent and globetrotter Donald Majeski said Saturday that “Money May” and his eight person entourage, including a bookend set of two massive bodyguards, were given front row ringside seats Friday night at the Lotto Arena. Mayweather was in the arena to watch his boxer, Moroccan native Said Ouali, fight Amercian puncher Randall Bailey.
SEE WILD VIDEO AS OUALI FLIES OUT OF RING, BOUT ENDS IN NO CONTEST. LINGERING QUESTION, DID BAILEY HURL FOE FROM RING OR WAS IT FREAK ACCIDENT?
Ouali and Bailey were competing an IBF junior welterweight elimination bout which is likely to be set down for a rematch. There was also a limited dispute over a possible first round “long count” when Bailey floored Ouali. Ouali was also down in round two.
“Mayweather flew in, I guess, the morning of the official weigh in,” Majeski said.
“He and his group came to the weigh in. At the arena, Mayweather was signing autographs and chatting with the fans. He also did some TV interviews.
“I don’t know if he’s trying to show another side to himself or what,” Majeski said. “I just briefly said ‘hi’ to him. But he was very gracious to people from what I saw. It would be great if Floyd came to Europe to fight somebody but I don’t know if he would do that.”
Majeski said Ouali-Bailey was brief but compelling.
“The knockdowns by Bailey were devastating and then came the backflip during which Ouali goes flying out of the ring. I guess the question would be how that was caused. We’ll have to see what the IBF says now.”
Mayweather, age 33, did not perform any backflips or even enter the ring but his Euro business vacation appears to be going well.
Any chance he will jet from Brussels or Paris to Manila and be a surprise gatecrasher at the Shnagri La Hotel in Makati, Manila, for Pacman’s 32nd birthday bash?
It’s just my imagination, running away with me..
