While blood is supposedly thicker than water, money talks loudest for Floyd Mayweather Sr as he waits to hear if he will be pitted against his own son by training Oscar De La Hoya for the blockbuster showdown in Las Vegas.
Ever since the biggest fight of 2007 was scheduled for May 5, the prospect of the estranged father and son standing in opposite corners has dominated talk of the tantalising match-up.
Mayweather Sr has been in De La Hoya’s corner since 2001, overseeing his rise to the middleweight division and back, culminating in an excellent win over foul-mouthed Nicaraguan brawler Ricardo Mayorga to claim the WBC light-middleweight title last year.
Adding further spice to the prospect of the family feud reaching the ring, Mayweather Jr’s trainer – uncle Roger, brother of Floyd Sr (also estranged) is expected to be in the corner following a ban and a prison term for assault.
The idea of three members of the Mayweather clan being involved in the same fight on divided sides does not sit easily with many commentators and the feeling is that despite the bravado, it does not sit well with those involved either.
Rather than do the ‘honourable thing’ and walk away from the record-breaking pay-per-view fight, however, Mayweather Sr has chosen to price himself out by demanding US dollars two million from De La Hoya to guide him through the lucrative contest rather than the usual 10%.
The trainer previously insisted he had no problem helping De La Hoya attempt to beat up his son but made sure the onus was on the fighter to come to him.
De La Hoya is expected to announce this week he will team up with another trainer. Richard Schaefer, chief executive of De La Hoya’s promotional vehicle Golden Boy Promotions, told USA Today: “We felt US dollars two million was excessive, and maybe it was Floyd Sr’s way of saying he really didn’t want to do it.
“Oscar had his own doubts about whether Floyd Sr should be doing it because at the end of the day, as even Floyd Sr has said, Floyd Jr will always be his son.
“Oscar has always been very fair in what he pays to a trainer. But two million is way beyond what any trainer is ever paid.”
It is a tough decision for De La Hoya. The argument for keeping Mayweather Sr centres around the fact that, aside from the obvious benefit of having his usual trainer, he would benefit from the knowledge and expertise the cornerman has of his own son.
As for the argument against using Mayweather Sr – the furore surrounding father and son going head to head would obscure De La Hoya’s psychological preparation, plus the US dollars two million is a big price to pay for his trainer’s expertise.
While using Mayweather Sr would complicate preparations, switching trainer three months before the fight would also be far from ideal.
It is a difficult decision and only De La Hoya can make it, with the stubborn Mayweathers insisting they are happy to go ahead with the fight on principle. But it would be easier for everyone if the Golden Boy spared them the awkwardness by opting to employ Freddie Roach or another top trainer to tune him up for the biggest fight of his career.
