Most people who make headlines about theft would probably prefer the attention to disappear. Looks like Floyd Mayweather wants more of it.
Days after criminal charges in Nevada brought renewed scrutiny to the undefeated boxing legend, Mayweather responded with a lengthy message in which he expressed satisfaction with the coverage and dismissed the criticism as merely free advertising.
Instead of expressing concern about the allegations, Mayweather argued that negative stories only enhance his image and create more opportunities.
“Free Promotion”
Mayweather addressed the growing interest in the case via social media.
“Lies and negative news always travel faster than the truth. That’s how it works. Unhappy people love bad news.
“I love stories that they say can destroy the strongest being on earth, the BLACK man.
“At the end of the day, my name remaining in the media is still my name remaining in the media. Attention is attention.
“People are still talking, people are still watching, and that attention is still generating opportunities.
“I am focusing on what I have always focused on: family, generational wealth and staying away from other people’s affairs that are not mine.
“So please keep posting. More blogs, more lies… Free promotion and I’ll happily take every line!”
The news was Mayweather’s first direct reaction since headlines about the case began dominating boxing news.
Greece is waiting
Mayweather is expected to travel to Greece in the coming days ahead of his June 27 exhibition fight against Mike Zambidis in Athens.
Mayweather’s problem is that history won’t go away.
Another wave of questions awaits when Mayweather lands and starts making public appearances during fight week.
Reporters will want answers. Cameras will track your every move. Every interview will eventually come back to the allegations.
Instead of talking about Zambidis, Greece or even the possibility of a rematch with Manny Pacquiao later this year, the conversation now focuses on the theft charges, the disputed purchase of a $200,000 watch and the possibility of grave legal consequences should the case move forward.
A week of shadow over the fight
Mayweather clearly opposes the media reports and seems determined not to retreat from the spotlight.
Whether this approach will work is another matter.
The entire fight week, weigh-ins and fight night may now be dominated by the issue hanging over the former five-division world champion.
Any microphone placed in front of him runs the risk of reducing the discussion to the same topic.
For now, Mayweather seems comfortable with this reality.
His message to critics, bloggers and anyone speaking out about the allegations remains elementary.
“Keep posting.”
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Ryan Garcia has named the fighter that he believes can put an end to Shakur Stevenson’s 25-fight undefeated record.
Stevenson stepped up in weight to dominate Teofimo Lopez and claim the WBO super-lightweight title back in Januaryfully intending on returning to his natural lightweight division during the aftermath, until those plans were derailed when he was stripped of his 135lb title.
As a result, Stevenson has kept hold of his 140lb marble but has not fought since, despite links to a showdown with Garcia in spring, which collapsed when the Newark southpaw declared that he would not be willing to move up in weight once again.
Now, Garcia is scheduled to face Conor Benn next month, whilst Stevenson has recently signed with Zuffa Boxing and is searching for an opponent for his second outing of 2026.
Speaking to FightHypeGarcia revealed that he would favour IBF lightweight world champion Raymond Muratalla to come out on top if he and Stevenson collide.
“That would be a good a** fight. He [Muratalla] is smart, he is not going to just go in there and just [be reckless].
“I just think that Raymond has a lot of things that would give Shakur problems. It won’t be an easy fight for Shakur, that is for sure.
“[If it was] a three-round fight, I would give it to Shakur, even a six-round fight. A 12-round fight? I am siding with Muratalla.”
Muratalla is set to vacate his IBF crown and move into the super-lightweight division imminently, with the WBO having recently stated that he could be named as Stevenson’s mandatory challenger when he does.
Robert Garcia, the trainer and manager of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, has expressed his annoyance with a lack of communication from Team Nayoa Inoue.
‘The Monster’ made a seventh successful defence of his undisputed crown in May, unanimously outpointing Junto Nakatani in their all-Japanese encounter.
As a result, Inoue is not only considered the super-bantamweight king but, on a pound-for-pound metric, many would also place him at the top of the tree.
Rodriguez, meanwhile, made his bantamweight debut in June, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning WBA champion Antonio Vargas with a sixth-round finish.
While there is much talk surrounding a potential clash between Rodriguez and Inoue, it would seem that no official negotiations have actually taken place.
Or at least, it is far from certain that the pair will square off in March 2027, when Inoue is reportedly looking to stage his next outing. He recently stated that he will not hang around at 122lbs waiting for ‘Bam’, and will move on if the fight does not happen in Q1 of 2027.
On the proposed showdown, coach Garcia has told Ring Magazine that he and ‘Bam’ have no problem with the deadline.
“There’s been talk that Inoue says he’s moving up [to featherweight] sooner than later – that he probably won’t wait [for the Rodriguez fight] past March of next year.
“We’re okay with that, but nobody’s told me that. Nobody from Inoue’s team has approached me saying, ‘Look, Robert. This is what Inoue wants. He wants to know if you guys are interested in the fight’.
“Yeah, we’re interested in the fight. But I’m not trying to change the date. I would love Bam to get one more fight at 118[lbs].”
Garcia went on to name WBO bantamweight champion Christian Medina as the ideal opponent for Rodriguez in November, before he hopefully steps up to 122lbs and challenges Inoue.
Teofimo Lopez has criticised his father for showing a lack of competence during his unanimous decision defeat to Shakur Stevenson.
‘The Takeover’ was handily outboxed and dethroned by Stevenson in January, winning just one round as his opponent became a four-division world champion at 140lbs.
As a result, Lopez is now moving up to 147lbs in an attempt to reinvent himself and become a three-weight world champion against Rolando Romero.
But while he felt a change in weight was most certainly needed, the 29-year-old saw no reason to dismiss his father, Teofimo Sr, as his head coach.
This is in spite of the fact that Lopez Sr was heavily ridiculed for his efforts in the corner at Madison Square Garden, where Stevenson’s route to victory was only made clearer by his bizarre style of coaching.
Rather than offering his son any words of advice, he just simply pointed out his flaws and gave the defending champion no direction on how to improve.
Lopez therefore confronted his father while speaking with Ring Magazinealbeit with no threats of employing a different trainer.
“Every son wants to make their father proud. When you got your father in that moment – when you’re bleeding; when they’re allowing Shakur to do all these extra things … and your trainer is not going you instructions – they’re just talking you down: ‘Where’s your power? Where’s this? You’re gonna hate yourself’ – all roads lead to [defeat].”
As he takes on WBA champion Romero at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, it should be interesting to see how Lopez’s corner shapes up between rounds.
In any event, the American will be under a fair amount of pressure to produce an improved performance.
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