01.02.07 – By James Slater: Most readers, when they first clap eyes on the above headline, will no doubt think I am yet another boxing writer having a go at the self proclaimed “Pretty Boy” of pugilism, Floyd Mayweather junior. Wrong. The man who I feel is nothing short of being the single most arrogant man in all of world boxing right now is in fact Floyd’s father, Floyd senior – the self proclaimed greatest trainer in the sport. Mr. Mayweather has always been vocal ( for vocal also read arrogant) yet his latest outburst, in which he has attacked the likable and modest Freddie Roach, crosses the line for me. No doubt jealous that he has been elbowed from any participation in what looks set to be the biggest fight of all-time, Mayweather launched into a tirade of insults aimed at Roach – who, of course, will now work Oscar’s corner on May 5th..
Asking point blank, who has Freddie Roach trained, is a bit much. One could very well ask the same question of Mr. May weather – De La Hoya aside, obviously. To belittle the work Roach has done with the likes of James Toney, Virgil Hill, Johnny Tapia, Michael Moorer and, of course, the brilliant Manny Pacquiao, is just plain silly. Roach is a great trainer, period. Yet Mayweather, in a tasteless and seemingly hate filled manner, has simply swept his many achievements under the carpet. Saying Roach “Don’t know Sh*t” is about how one would expect a man with such a limited vocabulary as the one Floyd possesses to express his ignorant feelings. Clearly Mayweather, however good or bad, or somewhere in between, he is as a trainer in his own right, is sorely lacking in another attribute – class. Whining and whingeing at the expense of the man who wound up getting what could have been his assignment were he not so greedy is not the way to go about things when you are a high profile figure in the sports world. Instead, any one with any class whatsoever would have either kept quiet altogether or wished the man who will be in his fighter’s corner good luck.
This is not the first time Mayweather has insulted other boxing trainers, either. Not too long ago he absurdly questioned the ability of the great Emanuel Steward, saying Manny deserved to be in the hall of shame, as apposed to The Hall of Fame. Cleary Mr. Mayweather is insecure when it comes to what he obviously perceives as rival trainers. The ironic thing though, is the fact that Mayweather himself has many critics. Critics who are turned off by the incoherent sounding ramblings that are heard in the corner whenever he works a fight. Critics who prefer by far the quiet, patient and capable way a trainer like Freddie Roach conducts business during the vital minute a fighter has to listen to his coach. Yet these same critics carry themselves like professionals and have not lowered themselves to the extent that they would attack another person, who earns his living from the sport on which they write or commentate on, the same way Mayweather has done with regards to Freddie Roach. Perhaps now, however, after Floyd’s latest unpalatable outburst, they may not be so willing to hold their tongue.
As far as Oscar himself goes, I think he has added a major plus towards his chances of emerging victorious on May 5th. Just think how pi**ed off Mayweather senior will be if De La Hoya does pull it off!