The Mayweather family has been one of the most talented boxing families in the sport, as besides boxing?s number 1 fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr, the family has also created a two time world champion in his uncle Roger Mayweather, and also had some success with Mayweather Sr, and former IBO champion Jeff Mayweather. Mayweather Jr. currently has both his father and uncle in his corner as he prepares for his upcoming May 3rd unification fight with Marcos Maidana.
In part 1 of my interview with trainer Roger Mayweather, I discuss the upcoming challenge the family has ahead of them and if he thinks Maidana poses more of a risk than Floyd?s other options would have. Roger also talks about Floyd Jr. being more active and how he thinks his nephew is doing now at age 37. Additionally Mayweather gave his thoughts on a potential middleweight title challenge and also a Manny Pacquiao fight. Here is what Roger Mayweather had to say.
Jenna J: Roger, your nephew has an upcoming fight with Marcos Maidana, how did you feel about changing from Khan to Maidana for Floyd?s next fight?
Roger Mayweather: It don?t matter, both of them were going to get the same thing, a good ass whopping! I mean shit, Amir Khan or Maidana, it don?t matter to me cause my nephew knows what to do, that?s why he is the longest reigning champion in history of boxing.
Jenna: How is Floyd looking so far in the the gym?
Mayweather: Oh Floyd?s fine, he?s fine, he has been looking like Floyd, and the more he fight, and the more active he be, the less training he have to do. So the best thing to do is that they keep him active, and I guess with this contract here it?s going to keep him active, keep him a little more active.
Jenna: Roger, since your nephew has been more active of late do you think that is causing his to preform even better?
Mayweather: Oh yeah, anytime you perform actively, you get better actively. The reason why you get better is because, the thing with the crowd it doesn?t bother you cause you are used to fighting in front of a crowd, and so when my nephew comes back to fight again he?s gonna be much sharper than he was the last time.
The crowd has become a member of your fan base, and when you fight in front of a crowd all the time, it?s the easiest thing to do. It?s the easiest thing to do if you fight in front of a crowd all the time.
Jenna: Your nephew just turned 37 years old, do you think he is right now as good as he has ever been?
Mayweather: Well obviously he was better when he was younger, but shit he is still better than 99% of the guys that are out there today. He is better and he?s smarter than 99% of the guys out there today, that?s what he is in terms of boxing. Period.
Jenna: You said 99%, who is that 1% out there that can beat him?
Mayweather: The only guys that could actually beat my nephew is a guy that out weighs my nephew, if he out weighs my nephew and he can box, those are the only kind of guys that can beat him. But guys in his weight class, nah, guys in his weight class ain?t going to beat him.
Jenna: Roger, as one of Floyd?s trainers, would you be interested in seeing Miguel Cotto fighting Floyd again if he can somehow beat Sergio Martinez in June?
Mayweather: He already beat Miguel Cotto?s ass already! I hope he wins it so my nephew can come get that middleweight title too! Cause he been champion from 130, 135, 140, 147, 154, and then 160lbs. That?s it.
You know the only guy to come from that weight division to win titles in that weight class? Who was the only guy to win titles from 126, and fought for a draw for the middleweight title?
Jenna: I can name him, Henry Armstrong.
Mayweather: Alright then, you know boxing. For a guy to come from that weight class to fight for the middleweight title, hey that?s historic right there. So I hope Cotto wins.
Jenna: People are saying that Floyd is starting to run out of opponents to fight. Do you think he will have to look outside his weight class for a big fight after Maidana?
Mayweather: We?ve been looking outside his weight class since he was 130 lbs. He?s fought at 154 already, so he?s already been to the outside of his weight class.
Jenna: It seems like Manny Pacquiao is one of the last opponents left for your nephew. Do you think if Pacquiao gets past Bradley that we?ll see him fight Floyd before the end of the year?
Mayweather: He ain?t gonna fight Floyd to save his motherfucking life. He ain?t gonna fight Floyd, period. I don?t give a damn if he does get past Bradley, he ain?t gonna fight Floyd anyways.
