Arum reminisces on young, “naive” Mayweather
Top Rank chief Bob Arum has offered his thoughts and wished Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. well following his recent arrest for grand larceny and domestic battery.
Arum chose not to criticize the superstar for a video released last week in which Mayweather blasted his top fighter Manny Pacquiao with racist slurs. Instead Arum spoke of his fond memories of Mayweather,
whom he managed for a decade.
"He was very sweet but very naive about a lot of things back then. Since such a young age, all he did was train to box and box,” Arum said to boxingscene.com's Michael Marley.
He added: “really, I wish Floyd all the best. I have some fond memories of Floyd. I remember when he came to our offices one day, wearing some crazy outfit that had all the colours of the rainbow in
it. [...] Floyd was really a sweet kid back then, one of two fighters who got invited to Todd's wedding,” referring Todd duBoef, Top Rank president, who is Arum’s stepson.
Last week it was confirmed that Arum’s son, John Arum, died after being reported missing during a retreat to North Cascades National Park in Washington State. Arum, an environmental lawyer, was an avid
climber who was attempting to climb the 2,600m Storm King mountain.
When Arum received word that his son was missing he immediately took leave from a press tour promoting the upcoming 13 November junior-middleweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito. Both
fighters are promoted by Top Rank.
Arum’s reminiscences continued: "On another day, he was at our office and was clearly exhausted. Todd asked Floyd why he was so exhausted and Floyd said he had been running all over town to pay his phone
bill and his light bill and this bill and that bill. We told him he could pay all those bills with personal checks but he didn't know that. All his life was boxing, boxing, boxing and nothing else. So I'm not going to kick him now, I feel bad for him."
Mayweather released an apology video last week following his initially controversial one in which he expressed his thoughts and condolences for Arum’s recent loss.
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