TRAINER FLOYD MAYWEATHER INTERVIEW
Posted on | January 21, 2008 | No Comments
FLOYD SR. LOOKING FOR RESPECT
John Martinez
Boxingrealm.com
(19Jan08) Moments ago, I spoke with none other than trainer extraordinaire, Floyd “ Joy” Mayweather Sr. The ever confident pugilist coach shared his thoughts on his much anticipated return to the corner of the Golden Goose in boxing, Oscar De La Hoya. Here is what the self-anointed “ best trainer in the world” had to say about his new high profiled assignment.
JM: Floyd, will you conform the rumors of your return to the De La Hoya camp and that you’ll be in his corner for his next fight May 3rd on HBO?
FM: Yes. That is correct.
JM: Do you have any insight on who’ll oppose Oscar on May 3rd?
FM: No I don’t. But Oscar called me the other day and I told him that I thought Carlos Baldomir would be a good opponent for him because he’s tough and durable. I told him that I thought Baldomir would be a good test for him coming back.
JM: What was Oscar’s response to your suggestion of Baldomir?
FM: He didn’t say one way or the other to be honest with you. I think he’s looking more towards someone that’ll stand out a bit more, you know?
JM: Is this agreement between the two of you going to cover the rematch bout with your son and pound for pound king, WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
FM: We haven’t gotten that far yet. He took a trial with Freddie the Joke coach Roach and he saw what happened. Everyone saw what happened. I know that I’ll be with him on May 3rd and after that anything can happen, but I already told him you seen what happens when you go with Freddie the Joke Coach Roach?
JM: What did he say to that question?
FM: Nothing. He just smiled.
JM: In the past, Oscar has mentioned some almost disparaging remarks about how you train with pads as compared to his then trainer, Freddie Roach. Why do you think Oscar would come calling again if Roach’s training regiment was far superior to yours?
FM: Well I think when Oscar went with Freddie; he got to finally see what Freddie really knew. You know there are a lot more things that Oscar could do that he didn’t do with Freddie. You know Freddie just held the pads; he didn’t throw any hooks, uppercuts, over counters, no nothing. Freddie doesn’t know anything. He’s a good man. I’m not trying to say anything bad about Freddie; I’m just trying to be honest with you.
And also think of this, if my training was all pitty pat, then think of this, you saw who in the hell he called right? If I were all pitty pat then why would he call? I mean, it’s so plain that even Ray Charles would see that.
It is during this time that Floyd Sr. puts a young man on the phone to further his position. The gentleman’s name is Adrian Gonzalez. He is a 5’ 10’’ flyweight amateur fighter from Manchester England that is currently being trained by Floyd Sr.
His inside information that he is about to share comes from the fact that is father is the trainer of Matthew Hatton, Ricky Hatton’s brother. Gonzalez begins to recount a discussion that he had with the Golden Boy regarding the differences between Roach and Floyd Sr.
AG: I was in Ricky Hatton’s last camp and stayed in the house with Ricky during his training camp and I talked with Oscar. He said that Floyd is a technician and an all around coach where as Freddie is more about fitness.
JM: Would you like to speak on the inevitable angle that some in the media will use regarding the Floyd Sr versus Roger, or Floyd Sr versus his son storyline in order to hype the upcoming bout between your son and Oscar?
FM: Yes. It isn’t me against my family. I don’t see it like that. I have nothing against them. If this fight does go off, then it’s just business. I am not fighting my blood.
JM: What will it take for you to be in the corner of Oscar in his rematch with Floyd Jr.?
FM: I just want to be treated with respect. I’m a man that goes on his principle. If it isn’t going to be right for me, then I won’t go with it. All I want is to be treated like a man and be treated fairly. That’s all. I’m not going to be looking for the usual ten percent from him either. I don’t need the ten percent as long as I’m treated fairly. That’s all.
Floyd informed me that training camp for Oscar’s May 3rd HBO fight will begin in early March in Big Bear, CA. He promised with him at the helm, that the world would see a better, stronger, and much improved Oscar De La Hoya.
john@boxingrealm.com