Boxer could face license questions

However, with the undefeated welterweight not planning to return to the ring anytime soon, there’s no need for the Nevada Athletic Commission, or any other regulatory body, to immediately deal with him. But Mayweather likely will be asked about his most recent arrest when it comes time to apply for a new boxing license.

Mayweather, 33, was arrested Friday on grand larceny charges related to Thursday’s domestic violence complaint by Josie Harris, his ex-girlfriend.

Mayweather last fought May 1, beating Shane Mosley in a 12-round bout at the MGM Grand Garden to improve to 41-0 with 25 knockouts. His boxing license in Nevada expires Dec. 31 and licenses must be renewed annually. But since he has no intention of using his license the remainder of 2010, his arrest is a non-issue for the commission at this time.

Mayweather was offered an opportunity to fight Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. But he declined, claiming he was taking a break from boxing.

The same can be said of the NAC’s lack of action regarding last week’s video rant against Pacquiao. Mayweather launched a 10-minute verbal assault on Pacquiao on the UStream Web site, pelting him with racist and homophobic slurs. While some members of the commission expressed disgust, they didn’t plan to take any action.

Keith Kizer, executive director of the NAC, said Friday that he’ll "continue to monitor the situation and see how the legal process plays out."

In its list of richest and powerful sports athletes of 2010, Forbes Magazine ranked Mayweather No. 2 behind golfer Tiger Woods, at $65 million. While boxing officials may not act on Mayweather’s recent transgressions, corporate America has not stood idly by. Both AT&T and Reebok have dropped him as a product pitchman. Both said they had cut ties with Mayweather prior to his UStream appearance.

In addition, Mayweather has been publicly denounced by the NAACP and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations for his hateful diatribe against Pacquiao, who is from the Philippines and currently serves as a congressman there.

Mayweather isn’t the only one in his family dealing with the law. His uncle and chief trainer, Roger Mayweather, 48, faces trial Oct. 25 in Clark County District Court on a 2009 felony battery charge from an alleged attack on Melissa St. Vil, 26, a female boxer he once trained.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.