31.05.07 – By John Martinez – boxingrealm.com – Lately, the self proclaimed “ World’s greatest trainer” Floyd “ Joy” Mayweather Sr. has been a very busy man. He has been tasked with preparing current WBC light heavyweight king “ Bad” Chad Dawson (23,0,15 KO’s) for Dawson’s first defense of his title against Jesus “Chuy” Ruiz (19,4,17KO’s) on June 9 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT. The fight will air on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING beginning at 10 PM ET/PT.
In addition to training Dawson, Floyd has been tapped to coach Anthony “The Tyger” Hanshaw (21,0,1, 14 KO’s) for his big fight PPV against Roy Jones Jr. on July 14 in Biloxi, MS. This afternoon, I got a chance to talk with the colorful trainer about his fighter’s upcoming battles and… oh yeah, I guy named Oscar.
JM: Floyd, how has training Hanshaw been?
FS: Well, today is only the second day that I’ve been training him. I can tell you that he’s gonna be a much better fighter than he was. See the whole key in beating Roy is to make him go backwards. He can’t fight going forwards anymore. He can’t throw combinations and he only throws one punch at a time. So what are you gonna do? He don’t jab anymore either. The only thing he does is throw a wide hook. It’s so wide that you can see it coming from a mile away. He goes around the world when he gets ready to throw it. I’ll tell you this; if Glen Johnson knocked out Roy then I know that Hanshaw can.
JM: You think that Hanshaw has the skills and power to stop Roy?
FS: Yes I do. When I’m done with Hanshaw he will most definitely have all the skills and power he needs to beat Roy. You know, Roy to me was never an exceptional fighter. He was never like my son. A one-time fighter is rare. Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, and my son. These guys are exceptional.
JM: What are you improving on the most in Hanshaw’s style?
FS: Well I’m helping him with his whole game. I know for a fact that I’ve got the know how and I’m gonna teach it to him. Really, what the f*ck do I have to even tell him in order to beat Roy? All you got to do to Roy is back his ass up in a corner and beat the sh*t out him. All you need is to jab Roy, back him up, and beat his ass in the corner. That’s it. Listen, Roy has a glass chin and a glass jaw. Man, you could look right through it. Roy was always more athletic than skilled.
JM: What’s the latest with Chad’s preparations?
FS: Man, “ Bad” Chad is gonna kick that a*s. Chad is ready. I got Chad just perfecting a lot of the stuff that we started doing in our first camp. My understanding right now is, if him and Tarver win on June 9, then they’re set up to go next. You know the way he (Chad) is right now, I believe he’s gonna be more explosive. He’s come around a lot and this is only our second camp together.
JM: I’d like to ask you to give your thoughts on your son’s fight with Oscar. In post fight comments; you seemed to believe that the fight could’ve gone either way. What are your thoughts now, and do you believe there should be a rematch?
FS: Well I’ll be honest with you. If Oscar would’ve been with me, then he would’ve won. Since that fight, I’ve gotten a chance to look at it again and I believe my son rightfully won the fight. Little Floyd was blocking most of those punches from Oscar. Oscar was getting his shots off, but they weren’t landing. Now I’m man enough to say when I’m wrong and I’m telling you that I was wrong at first.
As far as the rematch goes, I think the only way the fight materializes is if they bring the advertising like they did for the first one and if Floyd “ Joy” Mayweather Sr. is in the equation. Otherwise, the fight won’t happen. It has to be great and better than the first one. The only way this could be great is if I’m the trainer for Oscar. If that don’t happen, then it won’t go anywhere because honestly, a lot of people thought that that fight wasn’t nothing and this is the only way to make it great.
To be honest with you, I thought Oscar fought good. He just looked like he got tired around the fifth round. I know what happened. He was over trained. It’s the same sh*t. Let me ask you, why in the hell did he look like he got tired around the fifth round if he wasn’t over trained? Now I just wanna say, I ain’t talking bad about Freddie or his sickness, I’m just saying that I think Oscar looked over trained and I feel that I could forget more about boxing than he (Freddie) could ever learn about it. So, if the fight is to really happen, I need to be in the equation. Oscar would’ve won if he had me that night.
JM: Floyd, thank you for your time. I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me today.
FS: Thank you.
john@boxingrealm.com