Mayweather Names Cotto for May 5th!
(February 1st) Reports out of Los Angeles have WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. telling the Nevada State Athletic Commission that WBA Super World Light Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto is now his contact obligation for May 5th at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas.
Mayweather, 42-0, 26Ko's was scheduled to start his ninety day jail sentence for domestic violence at then Clark county Jail in Las Vegas January 6th was allowed to postpone the start of his sentence to June 1st when his legal team convinced the judge that he had a contract obligation for May 5th. "Money" Mayweather claimed the WBC title with a bizarre controversial KO win over "Vicious" Victor Ortiz in September. In his only other fight at 154lbs Mayweather won the WBC Light Middleweight Title with a split decision win over Oscar De La Hoya, May 2007.
Cotto, 37-2, 30Ko's avoided by Mayweather for years claimed the WBA Super World Light Middleweight title March 2011 with a twelfth round stoppage of Ricardo Mayorga. Cotto will enter his fight with "Money" Mayweather coming off a tenth round retirement of Antonio Margarito (also skipped by the self proclaimed pound for pound champion) in December.
Cotto taking the bout leaves Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley as Manny Pacquiao's most likely next opponent.
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Mayweather Makes Good on Promised $100,000 Donation, Calls Out Pacquiao Again and is Open to a Fight with Sergio Martinez
January 18th, Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas: Wearing pink at an arranged meeting at his gym unbeaten WBC welterweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. met with some of the media to publicize his following through with promise to Judge Melissa Saragosa of donating a $100,000 during National Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Mayweather presented a check to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Southern Nevada Affiliate the global leader of the breast cancer movement. The donation was something promised to Judge Melissa Saragoswho sentenced "Money" to six months for misdemeanor, battery and harassment of his ex-girlfriend.
Mayweather, 42-0, 26Ko's who ultimately had his jail sentenced postponed for contractual obligations reiterated he is only interested in fighting Manny Pacquiao on May 5th at the MGM Grand.
"Money" a great counter puncher would not miss a chance to take a shot at Manny Pacquiao saying "Manny Pacquiao is the only fight I want but if he won't fight me then I will have to fight someone else. I have to make a living."
Then after hearing that WBC Diamond Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez would come down to a 150lbs catchweight to fight him, Mayweather responded "If Sergio Martinez can make 150, we can make the fight, absolutely. There are no excuses. If he can make 150, lets make it happen. I'm a little bit different from the other guys. I think he has a very, very impressive style," Mayweather said.
There was no mention of the 40 hours of community service Mayweather was ordered to complete by January 31st with the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity Project under the order of a South Carolina federal judge's order for dodging a deposition in a music rights lawsuit.
It appears more and more that Mayweather may have mentioned Pacquiao as the contractual opponent of his May 5th date to the judge.
If Mayweather follows through he just made DiBella Entertainment Promotions Lou DiBella and Sergio Martinez St. Patty's Day a little greener. Martinez, 48-2-2, 27Ko's now boxing's most avoided fighter is already scheduled to face UK's Matthew Macklin St. Patrick's Day March 17th at New York's Madison Square Garden. Team Mayweather later went on to clarify Floyd's statements declaring the WBC Champion was talking about a fight with the 36 year old Martinez down the line, not May 5th.
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Mayweather Twitters "Punk" Shot
at Pacquiao Feinting a May 5th Fight
By: Bill Ethan
(January 10th) WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather in a sigh of relief after manipulating the Las Vegas DA's office has now began his attempt to do the same to Manny Pacquiao. Yesterday Mayweather tweeted "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see." Like a quick 1-2 one minute later, Mayweather snapped "My Jail Sentence was pushed back because the date was locked in. Step up Punk."
With reports of Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero being the lead runner for Mayweather's obligated May 5th bout and that Mayweather hinted in court of a Pacquiao bout "Money" has once again dipped deep into his business mode "the Art of Deception" and used the social media to cover his slight of hand calling out Manny Pacquiao on twitter taking the Pacquiao / Mayweather debate at a new angle and getting the upper hand in the eyes of his fans.
This isn't the first time either has called the other out. Pacquiao has met all Mayweather's demands and this time Mayweather is just using his latest fiasco with the courts to make Pacquiao seem like the one holding it all up.
WBO Welterweight Champion Manny Pacquiao responded back quickly saying clear that neither he nor Top Rank promoter Bob Arum are dodging a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. just not may 5th.
Arum cited a concern over stitches Pacquiao recieved in the Marquez fight, the split and the size of the venue saying a larger arena would triple the revenue. Once again it's all smoke and mirrors just have to decide who is the pound for pound king of hype.
If you haven't figured it out "Money" is well aware of the "Art of War" the fight will never happen until he (Mayweather) gets it on his terms.
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Did Mayweather Just Buy the Las Vegas Legal System
Or Use His Get Out of Jail Free Card?
By: Phil Kane
(January 7th) After numerous legal problems including avoiding deposition orders in a discrimination case with Manny Pacquiao and being ordered to serve community service by a South Carolina judge for avoiding ordered court appearances in a music rights lawsuit WBC Welterweight Champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather Jr. has been allowed to put off serving his 90 day plea agreement jail sentence.
Mayweather sentenced to serve 90 days in the Clark County Correctional Facilitybegining January 6th by Las Vegas Supreme Court Judge Melissa Saragosa after to pleading guilty to misdemeanor, battery and harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris has once again manipulated things on his terms.
Earlier this month Judge Saragosa sentenced Mayweather to six months in Clark County Correctional facility going on to suspended half the sentence for unexplained reasons leaving "Money"to begin serving the 90 days beginning January 6th.
Mayweather was also ordered to and pay a $1,000 fine to avoid trial and more jail time for a November 2010 fracas with a homeowner association security guard during an argument about parking tickets.
It has now been reported by numerous new agencies that a Clark County, Nevada judge has granted "Money" a 90 day continuance of the 90 day plea agreement allowing him not to go to jail until June 1st claiming the welterweight champion has contractual obligations to a May 5th fight and that his fights bring in millions of dollars in revenue for the city.
Wow! A Mayweather last minute negotion ploy.
No, it's not April Fools Day but it sure feels like it. Forget that the fact that Mayweather still has the Pacquiao defamation case pending along with charges he avoided depositions in the case. He also has an open civil case in Las Vegas from two men who allege he arranged a shooting attack on them outside a skating rink in 2009. I can't help but ask myself what if it were me or you? Would we be able to postpone the jail time? Pay our mortgage? Keep your job?
Are you kidding? Come on! Mayweather has people on the payroll to take care of his business and is the Las Vegas legal system forgetting he is a serial offender who just pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge involving women and children?
Is the Las Vegas legal system actually saying a 90 day postponement of a fight scheduled without an opponent will be put before the law and its victims. If I or you rent a hall and don't follow through there is a penalty. Is Las Vegas saying they are working with a sentenced individual before serving his time to obtain financial gain? Ihope not.
Mayweather is certainly one of boxing's top fighters, if not the sports number one attraction. But does that put him above the law? All this has done is give credence to those who claim he is the hands down leading negotiator, dodger / fighter traeting treats the boxing game as if its his own and now he is doing the same to the legal system.
The whole thing stinks and leaves way too many questions like, why was half of Mayweathers original sentence automatically suspended? Who is "Money" contractually obligated to? Who is he fighting May 5th? Is the Clark County DA's office saying rich athletes are allowed different standards? Or just the money making ones? Does Vegas have a victims rights division and what do they think? Oh and after this except for the money why would anyone fight Mayweather in Vegas?
I could go on and on but this just appears to scream money talks and "Money" walks. So much for learning his lesson.
Shame on those involved in allowing it to happen. He made a plea deal now wants to change the deal. While I'm not a gambling man I wonder what the odds are of a Mayweather appeal in June or he demands the judge take a drug test. How much are we supposed to take I don't need to see a Mayweather / Pacquiao fight hat bad. No one athlete should be bigger than the game!
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Mayweather to Begin Serving Jail Time!
By: Ethan Doutney
"Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather Jr. will begin serving the 90 day sentence he received from judge Melissa Saragosa on December 21st stemming from a 2010 domestic for which the undefeated boxer pleaded guilty to misdemeanor, battery and harassment of his ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris.
The plea allowed Mayweather to avoid a trial on felony and misdemeanor charges that could have earned him up to thirty four years in state prison.
While sentencing boxing's self proclaimed pound for pound champion Judge Saragosa for undisclosed reasons suspended half the term and gave him credit for three days previously served. She also ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service, pay a $2,500 fine and complete a year of domestic violence counseling to go along with the forty hours of community service with the with the Las Vegas Habitat for Humanity Project Mayweather was ordered to do by January 31st by a South Carolina federal judge for repeatedly failing to appear for a deposition in a music rights lawsuit.
Just last week attorneys for Mayweather completed the second part of the plea deal allowing the high profile fighter pay a $1,000 fine and ultimately avoid trial and more jail time for a November 2010 fracas with a homeowner association security guard during an argument about parking tickets.
Starting his time for on Friday doesn't clear Mayweather legal calendar for the WBC Welterweight Champion as he still faces a civil lawsuit in Las Vegas from two men who allege he arranged a shooting attack on them outside a skating rink in 2009. Mayweather is not charged with the actual shooting and has never been criminally charged.
Mayweather also has a defamation lawsuit pending in federal court in Las Vegas filed by Manny Pacquiao stemming from statements by Mayweather and members of his team for publicly claiming Pacquiao takes performance enhancing drugs. Mayweather also has a charge for missing depositions in the Pacquiao similar to his case in South Carolina.
Mayweather fighting only four times in the last five years will join a long list of boxing 's top fighters including his father Floyd Sr. who have served time for many different reasons.
(Typical Clark County Detention Center cell)
Mayweather scheduled to serve his time at Las Vegas Clark County Detention Center, not exactly Alcatraz earning good time should only serve between 45-50 of his sentence if he stays out of trouble unless he somehow gets a Las Vegas DA office get out of free card. Any rule violations or problems could cause the welterweight champion to serve his full six month sentence.
Mayweather who claims his high profile is the cause of all his legal problems shows no sign of changing his lavish life style as he reportedly is doing all he can to entertain himself and block out reality claiming he just won a million dollars on a football bet and purchased a Bentley.
Mayweather who has received advice from James "Mandingo Warrior" Kirkland (felony possession of a weapon while on probation for armed robbery) and retired boxing champion Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson who served time in 2000 for an domestic incident with his then wife said there’s life after prison for unbeaten boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Kirkland said Mayweather should stay busy, read the Bible and turn prison into a gym while Johnson suggested "Mayweather needs to stay focused, stay to himself and prepare himself for his release."
One problem with that is Mayweather is doing a relatively short bid where Kirkland, 30-1, 27Ko's served thirty months in prison for a 2003 robbery conviction and later five months in Bastrop Texas Federal Prison for the gun possession losing about two and a half years of his boxing career.
Mark “Too Sharp” Johnson, 44-5, 28Ko's the first African-American boxer to capture a World Flyweight Title and boxing's most avoided fighter in his day served eleven months in the middle of his career.
Both Kirkland and Johnson prison time was longer and both appear tougher and more street wise as Mayweather joins his father Floyd Sr. who spent five years in prison for drug trafficking on the long list potential and great fighters to have experienced the prison experience.
Of course there was "Iron" Mike Tyson who seen by most as potentially boxing's greatest heavyweight served three years in an Indiana prison for the raping a beauty contestant never returning to his full potential.
There was also Sonny Liston who's prison time for armed robbery in the fifties introduced him to boxing and a heavy weight world title and the infamous bouts with Muhammad Ali.
Actively there is Talkin Boxing with Billy C's favorite fighter Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins who at the age of eighteen discovered his love for boxing while serving four and a half years in Graterford Prison for nine felonies.
How about Tony "El Torito" Ayala Jr. Ayala, 22-0, 19Ko's who was sentenced to thirty five years in prison in 1983 for burglarizing the home of his neighbor and brutally sexually assaulting her. After serving sixteen years Ayala was paroled in 1999 and returned to boxing winning six straight bouts by KO before quitting o his stool against Yori Boy Campas. Ayala would then go 4-1 before receiving ninety days in 2000 he was shot in the shoulder by a young woman after breaking into her home. Then in 2004 Ayala was sentenced to ten years in prison when while on probation was convicted of speeding, driving without a license and possession of heroin and pornography all violations of his probation. "El Torito" was released from prison November 2010.
At the age of nineteen the late heavyweight contender Ron Lyle was convicted of second degree murder resulting from a Denver Colorado gang fight and sentenced to 15 to 25 years in a Colorado State Penitentiary. In prison Lyle was introduced to boxing who upon parole in 1969 continued boxing claiming a 1970 National AAU Heavyweight Championship going onto turn pro in 1971 going on to become one of heavyweight boxing's most feared punchers recording a record of 43-7-1, 31Ko's with big wins over the likes of Buster Mathis, Gregorio Peralta, Jimmy Ellis, Oscar Bonavena, Earnie Shavers, Scott LeDoux and Joe Bugner while battling some of the 70's best including Jerry Quarry, George Foreman, Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Young.
During a brief retirement after being stopped in the first round by Gerry Cooney Lyle was found not guilty of the shooting of a man in his apartment. In his fifties Lyle returned to the ring recording four straight KO's before finally hanging his gloves up for good in 1995 after failing to get a rematch with "Big" George Foreman. Lyle passed this past November 26th in Denver, Colorado succumbing to complications from a sudden stomach ailment.
Prison time has affected many of boxings elite with various consequences with most have served much longer sentences in state prisons not county jails at different points of their career and county jail is usually seen as a deterrent and very rarely as rehabilitation so we can only wait and see how this slap on the wrist will effect Mayweather's life style of continues scrapes with the law and return to the nauseating conversation of a possible bout with Manny Pacquiao.
To watch Mayweathers sentencing (click here)
