That Floyd Mayweather Jr. the promoter and his protege Gervonta Davis have had an up-and-down relationship over the years is no secret. But it may be more down than it is up, according to a mutual friend.

The pair were famously at odds with each other back in 2018. Since then they seem to have patched things up as Davis’ career took a turn for the better. But according to former multiple-belt titleholder Adrien Broner, who was once a Mayweather protege himself and is a good friend of Davis, things are still icy between the two. The public rows have stopped, but a touch of animosity still lingers.

“They don’t like each other,” Broner said on the Wyatt Promotions’ Wyatt Live podcast. “They really don’t.”

After blowing past Jesus Cuellar in April 2018, the 25-year-old Davis sat on the shelf for the rest of the year, presumably because his relationship with Mayweather turned sour. Davis wasn’t shy about voicing his discontent, as he repeatedly went on social media to air out his grievances. Since that period, the hardhitting Davis has come into his own. Last year, he drew large crowds to his fights in places as disparate as Carson City, CA, Atlanta, and his hometown of Baltimore, where nearly 15,000 spectators saw him knock out Ricardo Nunez in the second round. And, now, on October 24, Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) is set to make his pay-per-view debut against Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) on Showtime. The bout is scheduled to take place at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT, but that is subject to change depending on Covid-19 regulations.

Broner (33-4-1, 24 KOs), who is widely credited with introducing Davis to Mayweather, suggested that one reason why Davis does not get along with his mentor has to do with incompatible personalities…something Broner can personally attest to since he’s had his own ups-and-downs with Mayweather. 

“Like I said, me and ‘Tank’ (Davis) we’re the same (kind of person),” Broner said. “He a little bit more quiet than me… When we’re (him and Mayweather) together, we can only be together for two, three days, and then we clash.”

The semi-retired Broner, however, still admires Mayweather, even if they’re not as close as they used to be.

“Anything with boxing, I love that sh-t, when it comes to him (Mayweather) and boxing,” Broner said. “Outside of boxing, we’re just so different. He moves a little different than me. I’m my own man at the end of the day. I can do whatever the f--- I want.”

“When we see each other it’s always love, but we don’t call or speak to each other no more,” he added. “If something happens he’ll call and see what’s going on and check on me.”

Broner, who is 0-1-2 in his last three fights, also said that when he returns to the ring, he will do so as a 140-pounder.