Dad to train Mayweather in next bout
Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn’t announced an opponent for his May 4 fight at the MGM Grand Garden. But he did say who will prepare him.
Mayweather posted on his Twitter account Wednesday that his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., will work his corner for the fight, which is expected to be against Robert Guerrero.
“Me & my trainer (my dad) back working together getting ready for May 4th.” Mayweather’s Tweet read. It included a photo of the two together.
Father and son have had a love-hate relationship. Mayweather learned how to box from his dad, who guided him through the early stages of his professional career before Roger Mayweather began training his nephew in 2000.
But father and son have had dark moments, most notably when Mayweather went on a tirade in his gym directed at his father with HBO’s “24/7” cameras rolling during his preparations for a 2011 fight with Victor Ortiz.
Now, what isn’t clear is whether Roger Mayweather will continue to be involved in his nephew’s career. Roger is dealing with health issues stemming from diabetes, and Mayweather Jr. might have wanted to take some of the burden off him.
Mayweather’s co-manager, Leonard Ellerbe, said he was aware of the Tweet but couldn’t shed further light on the matter or on whether Guerrero will be the opponent.
“I can’t clarify anything,” he said. “You just have to go with what Floyd said. He’s the boss. He makes all the calls. Once we announce the fight, Floyd will be able to answer those questions.”
The co-feature for the May 4 card involving Saul “Canelo” Alvarez also may be close to getting settled. Alvarez posted on his Twitter account Thursday that a fight with Austin Trout has been finalized. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, though, told ESPN.com on Friday that no deal is in place.
■ BOGERE-ABRIL AT HARD ROCK — Sharif Bogere and Richard Abril have traded insults on Twitter for months. Now they can settle their feud in the ring.
They will meet in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBA lightweight title March 2 at the Hard Rock Hotel. Showtime will televise the card, which also features Gary Russell Jr. against Vyacheslav Gusev in a 10-round featherweight bout.
The original venue was New York’s famed Apollo Theater, but Golden Boy moved the card to Las Vegas after Jayson Velez fractured his right ankle and nixed his fight against WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.
Tickets, priced at $25, $50, $75, $100 and $150, go on sale at noon today at the Hard Rock Hotel box office and through Ticketmaster.
■ RAMIREZ’S NIKE DEAL — Former U.S. Olympian Jose Ramirez has fought once as a professional, winning by knockout. But the lightweight from Avenal, Calif., has landed an apparel and shoe contract with Nike.
He’ll wear Nike gear for the first time Saturday in Los Angeles, where he faces Charlie Dubray (0-1) in a four-round bout. Ramirez also is expected to fight on Top Rank’s March 30 card at Mandalay Bay on the undercard of the Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado rematch.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.