Mayweather and Don King Amidst Negotiations
Tim Smith of the New York Daily News reported Monday that Floyd Mayweather Jr. Has been “hanging out” with famous boxing promoter Don King, and that King believes there is a possibility the two could work together in the future.
King said recently: "We've been talking about his future and where he wants to go and what he wants to do. Right now he's not sure what he wants to do. ... For him it's all a matter of the disrespect that he's feeling and them not listening to him.”
Mayweather has been criticized by many for failing to take up public offers by Bob Arum and Top Rank Promotions to fight Manny Pacquiao. The two fighters are considered the best in the world. Leonard Ellerbe, a spokesperson for Mayweather, finally responded in a statement that Mayweather’s camp had not heard or negotiated with Arum at all about terms for the fight. Many decried the statement and accused Mayweather of avoiding the potentially biggest fight in the history of boxing.
King added that for Mayweather it’s “all about pride and dignity. I understand him completely because we share a common background as rising from the ghetto. He wants his dignity, his respect and his pride to remain intact and he wants to get paid. That's where I come in. I'm the mix master."
Mayweather is a bit of a rogue card in boxing’s promotion game, as he is under employ to no one, and therefore has no contractual obligations to take bouts. For his last four fights he has worked along Golden Boy Promotions with Oscar de la Hoya, but he has no manager or official promoter. Instead his business moniker is headed by “Mayweather Promotions,” which has not capitalized on adding other fighters to its one-person roster.
At the same time, many are speculating as to whether Don King can pick up where Golden Boy Promotions failed in a potential signing with Pacquiao. While in the past Mayweather has only flirted with King, a sagging reputation may force him to hire the mass-promoter should he want to cement his legacy and not just be considered a great fighter.
Tags: