In part two of my interview with trainer Jeff Mayweather, I talk with him about the recent fan poll that saw Amir Khan get selected as the next opponent for Floyd Mayweather Jr. I also get Jeff?s thoughts on the Pacquiao-Bradley rematch, and which fighter has more pressure on them in the rematch. Additionally I get Mayweather?s views on if there could be another bad decision in the rematch, if Bob Arum is worried about losing his most famous boxer, and what it means to be a Mayweather. Here is what Jeff Mayweather had to say.
Robert Brown: Jeff, was the Floyd Mayweather opponent poll rigged?
Jeff Mayweather: I think in all honesty, no one really gives Amir Khan a chance. Like I said, I don?t think Amir Khan even deserves a shot at Floyd after coming off a knock out and then almost losing and getting dropped by Julio Diaz, and Julio Diaz is way past his prime. I don?t even think he deserves the shot, and he?s not bringing anything to the table. He doesn?t have a world title.
Now, it?s different because when you?re talking about the possibility of fighting Maidana, there?s a story attached to that. You have Adrien Broner who looks up to Floyd but couldn?t get the job done, and he calls himself the carbon copy of Floyd. Now put Maidana in there with Floyd and lets see if he can do the same thing with Floyd. That?s sellable, plus there?s a title at stake.
Robert Brown: Who is under the most pressure in the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley rematch?
Jeff Mayweather: I think more pressure is on Pacquiao than Bradley. I say that because Pacquiao is in a situation in which he can?t afford another loss. Don?t get me wrong, if he wins, of course the fight with him and Floyd is still talked about, it still has value and meaning. If he loses, it?s over with. You can?t even convince no one that you have a chance, nobody even cares.
A Pacquiao fan, they will be that way until they die, but I?m talking about a real boxing fan, they know that he doesn?t have a chance with Floyd, so why is everybody still barking about it and making an issue? Pacquiao has to win, and not only that, he?s in a situation of owing the government that kind of money, you can?t afford to lose because you gotta continue to make money.
Robert Brown: Could lightning strike twice in terms of a controversial decision?
Jeff Mayweather: Of course, boxing is just like anything else, it?s a business, but at the same time you don?t want to point fingers at no one. I think there?s a possibility, because I know at one point in time, Pacquiao was looking forward to taking that fight with Floyd, but all of the sudden this situation happens.
Like I said, I?m not gonna point fingers at anyone because that?s just not me, but a lot of people know what goes on behind closed doors. It is a business at the end of the day. There might be a controversial decision or maybe it?s a situation in which the right guy wins this time.
Robert Brown: Is Bob Arum worried about losing the goose that lays his golden eggs, so to speak?
Jeff Mayweather: I think that?s a possibility because at the end of the day, Pacquiao is the only person that people want to see fight Floyd because he has a fan base and he can make the fight a huge, huge fight, and there?s so much money to be made.
Even if Tim Bradley wins, Tim Bradley doesn?t have a huge following. Unless he knocks Pacquiao out, his following is still not gonna get bigger than what it is. Pacquiao is actually the only guy that can generate the kind of money that makes this beyond a super fight, one of the biggest fights in the history of boxing, ever.
With that being said, of course Bob(Arum) wants to be a part of that, he doesn?t want to be cut out of that if it?s possible. At the end of the day, you just gotta watch the fight and if it?s another bogus decision like it was last time, somebody?s gotta be questioned.
Robert Brown: The Mayweathers have a proud history in the sport, how does it feel to be a part of that history?
Jeff Mayweather: I think it?s great but at the same time, me personally, I would still probably feel the same way even if I wasn?t a Mayweather. I know that it?s great to be able to come from a family that actually has history.
We have some type of history that probably will never be surpassed, and that?s simultaneously, me, Roger and Floyd Sr, all three had world champions at the same time. Three different world champions at the same time, simultaneously, I don?t think that will ever be duplicated,. Also another trivia question is, three fighters from the same family that actually all fought three Olympic gold medalists.
There?s a strong history and it?s something we can be proud of. Like I said, me personally, even if my last name wasn?t Mayweather, I?d still be proud of who I am, but at the same time, it comes with the territory. I am a Mayweather, so it?s like I can?t get away from it even though I?m the least known Mayweather. Still to this day, some people don?t know who I am, I?m the one Mayweather that people don?t know.
It was indeed a pleasure talking to Jeff Mayweather; I thank for his time and wish him well for the future.
