By Chris Robinson
Trainer Roger Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the most outspoken personalities in the sport of boxing but despite his outlandish ways the 50-year old prefers to live a low key life and isn’t one to necessarily crave attention. But if there ever was a moment when the spotlight shined brightest on Roger it may have been on the night of April 8th, 2006.
On that night Roger was guiding his nephew Floyd against his rival at the time, Zab Judah, during their duel inside of the Thomas & Mack Center and things eventually got out of hand. Trailing on all scorecards late into the fight and fading against an onrushing Mayweather, Judah momentarily shook things up by hitting Floyd below the belt in the 10th round and followed it up with an illegal blow behind the head seconds later.
Seeing his charge writing in pain, an infuriated Roger stormed from his corner and went right at Judah. Members from each fighter’s camp soon took to the ring and a small riot ensued as emotions flared and things got a bit physical.
Once everything cleared up, Mayweather would get back to work and finish up his job on Judah as he took a commanding unanimous decision in one of his more complete performances as a pro. The scuffle at the time was so intense between both parties that it is hard to get it out of one’s head but looking back on that night Roger insists that there were no hard feelings that boiled over between him and Judah.
“Ah no, it aint no big thing. It was just because of what he did to my nephew, that’s all it is. It was just one of those things. I was just fired up at the time,” Roger told me from the Mayweather Boxing Club earlier today during our brief talk.
Sine that loss Judah has seen his career go up and down but is currently riding a five-fight winning streak that last saw him capture the vacant IBF junior welterweight crown that he once held with his 7th round TKO over South Africa’s Kaizer Mabuza in March. Judah again will find himself in the role of an underdog this weekend as he faces off with WBA junior lightweight title holder Amir Khan inside of the Mandalay Bay but Roger seems to have little doubt that an upset will be taking place.
“Oh I think Zab should beat Amir Khan,” Roger said without hesitation. “He has more skill, he’s a veteran. He done fought the best fighters in the world. Who has Amir Khan beat? He aint beat no real name fighters.”
Taking things further, Mayweather then took some shots at Amir, who seems to be on Roger’s hit list seeing as though he is a stable mate to Manny Pacquiao, a potential opponent for Floyd Jr. one day.
“The only reason Amir Khan has become the fighter he is, is because he’s got those steroids in his ass too. The same thing Pacquiao’s got in him. I know because those motherf**kers told me,” Roger retorted.
Bold accusations but to know Roger you shouldn’t be surprised. Pressing him for more details on who exactly was dishing out the info to him, he claims to have gotten close to a few members from Team Pacquiao.
“Motherf**kers from Pacquiao’s camp, that’s who. I talk to them dudes all the time.”
