Floyd Mayweather has Broken Boxing’s Code of Honor and His Own Fighter is Not Happy…
When you’re the world’s most successful ever boxer you might be forgiven for thinking you are above the rules. That’s the situation Floyd Mayweather has found himself in. He has enraged one of his own fighters after uploading a video of him schooling Josue Vargas, an exciting young prodigy.
Mayweather is supposedly retired, but you never really know what he is going to do. He might be a 41-year-old billionaire, but his nickname isn’t ‘Money’ for nothing. He’s being consistently linked to a multi-million dollar one-off UFC fight, against Conor McGregor.
In the meantime, he is spending his days being active on social media, managing his strip club, and keeping sharp in the gym. He uploaded a video showing how sharp he is, and it has not gone down well with a number of professional fighters nor his victim, Vargas.
Disrespectful
Mayweather has an unbelievable 50-0 unbeaten record. He broke Rocky Marciano’s previous record last August when he outclassed Conor McGregor in Las Vegas. He’s beaten all the greats of the modern era including Oscar de la Hoya, Manny Pacquiao and ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
However, this hasn’t stopped one of his own prospects from calling him out for disrespect. Mayweather posted a video of him sparring Vargas in his gym in Las Vegas. ‘Money’ can be seen landing some vicious counterstrikes on the young upstart. A small crowd can be heard cheering the veteran on. He’s still got it.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh48os9AllG/?utm_source=ig_embed
Not Impressed
One of the big no-nos in combat sports is embarrassing your training partners online. For example, Paulie Malignaggi is still furious with Conor McGregor for releasing footage of him being knocked down. it’s just not good etiquette. What happens in the gym stays in the gym. Vargas has reacted on his own Instagram. He said:
“The best fighter in the world, the pound-for-pound number one that I looked up to growing up as a fighter, I still looked up to. Not anymore though. My own promoter, Floyd Mayweather, who signed me at 17 years old, hating on me.”
To be fair to Mayweather, there’s very likely any malicious intent behind releasing the footage. It’s more about showing that he’s still as dangerous as ever than humiliating a young fighter who is making him money. Being deliberately disrespectful would just be bad business.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh5DO4DHPm-/?hl=en&taken-by=realjosuevargass
Mayweather Mutiny
Mayweather Promotions is in danger of getting a reputation though. It’s not the first time that a fighter has reacted negatively to Floyd Mayweather’s method. Vargas for his part seems to have some sort of lingering resentment because he wrote:
“I don’t know if he’s hating on me or not but why hate? Bro you’re the best fighter in the world, just because I’m winning – and you’re not putting me into fight. My manager is doing your job.The promoter and manager’s job. Come on man. Don’t hate because I’m winning by knockout. Catching these bodies. That is some corny s*** motherf*****.”
That’s a fairly strong reaction. It will be interesting to see what happens next. If Mayweather holds his hands up to the young man and acknowledges that he’s caused disrespect, then it could turn bad publicity into great publicity. Don’t count on it though.
