Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Photo by Medios y Media/Getty Images)
Later this month, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will turn 48 years old—almost a year on Earth for every victory he recorded as one of the greatest professional boxers in history.
While he amassed a 50-0 pro record, won world titles in five different divisions, and earned a measure of wealth no other fighter in history has enjoyed, Mayweather has still learned his share of lessons along the way.
I spoke with Mayweather during an exclusive interview.
While the legend was hyper-focused on discussing his business ventures—including a new supplement line called 101 (One of One) and the Mayweather Boxing and Fitness Gyms—there was some valuable introspection and refreshing maturity on display.
Few have accomplished and seen the things that Mayweather has in their careers. Hearing him discuss his business ventures and approach was interesting.
“Continue to believe in yourself if no one believes in you, and continue to hustle,” Mayweather preached as we discussed his mantra and laser focus on goals. Whether it be business or boxing, Mayweather always has an objective, and fitness is usually a key piece.
We talked about his strong fitness level throughout his career and even the shape he’s been in for his exhibition fights, which he began on New Year’s Eve 2018 against Japanese Muay Thai fighter Tenshin Nasukawa.
US boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R) fights with US boxer John Gotti III during an exhibition fight at … [+]
“In exhibitions, my body doesn’t look like it did when I was competing at the highest level, but I never have a pot belly,” Mayweather said. “Just to be able to compete for so many years; every once in a while, I do an exhibition, but if we’re talking about exhibitions as well as real fights, we’re talking about 29 years as a professional.”
Mayweather said that he has maintained his fitness level through consistent exercise—which he urged others to emulate, plugging his fitness gyms as a great spot to get in shape.
According to Mayweather, he has been taking the supplements he’s selling and has partnered with “the right team, invested millions of dollars” to launch the company.
I asked, aside from the wealth and professional success, what was he most proud of.
“My defense,” Mayweather said. “Being able to retire on my own terms. A lot of fighters can barely walk or talk now. You got fighters that are competing right now that are a lot younger than I am that can barely walk and talk, so defense was very important.”
I’m not sure if even Mayweather realized how layered his answer was.
He’s right. Mayweather is one of the greatest defensive fighters in combat sports history. From a pure boxing standpoint, the late Pernell Whitaker is the only world-class fighter close to Mayweather’s level when it comes to defensive instincts and reflexes.
The same self-preservation is apparent in almost everything he does—it appears. Mayweather says, “your health is your wealth,” and he seems to truly believe this concept. It’s why he protected it during his career and why he gets behind it to this day.
He’s had millions of critics over the years, but it is tough to argue with the results. He has earned millions, looks to be in excellent condition, and doesn’t appear compromised like other fighters who have had 50 pro fights and a handful of exhibitions.
We did get to discuss some specifics from his career. I asked him what wins meant the most to him, and Mayweather gave pretty detailed answers (Diego Corrales, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Conor McGregor) explaining why each fight was special.
“When I had to face Diego Corrales at that particular time, he was undefeated,” Mayweather said. “He was a killer. He was a monster in the sport of boxing.”
Corrales came into the fight with Mayweather 33-0 with 27 KOs. He looked unbeatable, but Mayweather put on a masterclass, dropping Corrales three times before his corner threw in the towel in the 10th round.
LAS VEGAS, : WBC Super Featherweight Champion Floyd Mayweather (L), of Grand Rapids, MI, hits Diego … [+]
“What hurt me—why that fight meant so much to me—was because I had to deal with HBO. They wanted me to sign a six-fight deal. Just as a human, I wanted to voice my opinion about the deal. They weren’t happy that I voiced my opinion, so they decided they were going to take the deal off the table. Now, whoever wins the fight between me and Diego Corrales would get the deal with HBO. So, we end up fighting. He was a hell of a fighter. He was a monster at 130. Six feet, 130, he was a great fighter. He was a hard puncher. He had a bunch of knockouts. At that particular time, we both had a bunch of knockouts. We matched up, and that night I was the better man.”
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – JUNE 25: Arturo Gatti (L) is hit by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (R) during their WBC … [+]
Mayweather also pointed out his sixth-round TKO win over Arturo Gatti in June 2005. According to Mayweather, he was insulted that HBO made Gatti the A-side, and that’s what made the win special.
He did pay homage to both Corrales and Gatti, who have since passed away.
Las Vegas, UNITED STATES: Floyd Mayweather lands a punch on Oscar De La Hoya (R) during their WBC … [+]
Breaking the PPV record against Oscar De La Hoya in May 2007 and the win over Ricky Hatton in December 2007 also made Mayweather’s list. Interestingly, Mayweather mentioned the fight with Conor McGregor, referencing how it opened the doors for crossover fights.
LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 26: (R-L) Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch at Conor McGregor during their … [+]
Despite the popularity and money he earned from the fight with Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather nearly forgot to mention the May 2015 mega scrap that earned him north of $150 million.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Manny Pacquiao during their … [+]
We touched a bit on a fight that never happened—a battle with once-feared welterweight Antonio Margarito. The disgraced welterweight chased a fight with Mayweather, but it never happened, and Mayweather believes it was God’s plan.
Margarito was suspended from boxing for a year in 2009 for the reprehensible act of illegally wrapping his hands with a plaster-like substance under his gloves to harden his punches.
“God didn’t want that to happen to me, so it didn’t,” Mayweather said.
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 13: Antonio Margarito (black trunks) of Mexico looks on from his corner as … [+]
Miguel Cotto may wish he hadn’t been subjected to Margarito’s plastered hand wraps, though we don’t know for sure if that illegal tactic was used in their 2008 meeting. The issue was discovered in Margarito’s next fight, a TKO loss to Shane Mosley.
While Mayweather discussed his wins in and out of the ring, he did take some time to reflect on some regrets. I asked him his opinion on the trash talk that transpired between Terence Crawford and Gervonta Davis.
The two world champions engaged in some pretty personal trash talk that delved into a usually forbidden subject–family.
Mayweather didn’t get into specifics, but he did call Crawford the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in the sport. He complimented his family and wife and said he would love to see fighters be a little nicer to each other outside the ring.
“In the sport of boxing, we need to start sticking together, pushing each other to be great rather than arguing on social media,” Mayweather said.
“I found myself in the past—the younger Floyd Mayweather—going back and forth on the internet with different people. But I’m in a better place in my life right now. I couldn’t ask to be in a better place. So, the old Floyd Mayweather—when I used to go back and forth with people on social media—I don’t do that anymore because I’m truly, truly blessed way beyond belief. What’s important to me right now is my real estate, my family, and the different things I’m involved with. It’s all about helping kids, the new generation, surpass Floyd Mayweather and be a better Floyd Mayweather. So, everything that I did in the past—if it was something negative—I apologize. And Terence Crawford, continue to be great, continue to do you, continue to love your family. And to all fighters, I want to see all fighters do well in the sport of boxing.”
Mayweather doubled down on the more mature approach moments later.
“As you get older, you have to look at things in a different way,” he said.
“My son this year is 26 years old, so in four years, my son will be 30. Then my daughter will be 29 in four years. I have grandchildren. So, the same things I was doing ten years ago, I can’t be doing now. Even five years ago, I can’t be doing now. It’s all about growth, and I’m growing every day.”
There was a time when we would have never heard Mayweather speaking this way, but things change.
Speaking of change, many boxing video game fans have been hoping to see Mayweather return to the space. With Undisputed out and making waves, I had to ask if there was a chance he’d be added to the game.
“It’s possible,” Mayweather said. “It’s possible. I just need everybody to sit back, buckle your seatbelt, because I may be on the next game [update]. Everything takes time.”
Yes, it does.
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