Mayweather; Arum Will Have To Pass Haymon, Not King

By Michael Marley

While promoter Don King has been aggressive in courting Floyd Mayweather Jr., the unbeaten boxer is surrounded, at age 33, by the same people who have been in his Inner Circle for several years now and there is no indication, I mean zero signs that he will boot any of them in favor of the 79-year- old, legendary promoter. And that won't change even if Mayweather pops up at ringside at the Pontiac Silverdome on Saturday night for the heavily hyped HBO main event between Devon Alexander and Tim Bradley.

It doesn't require the brain of the proverbial Einstein to see that the Man Behind The Curtain, adviser Al Haymon, remains in charge in the "Money" camp.

The day that Haymon will work harmoniously with King will never come. Either Mayweather annoints King as his new leader or he sticks with Haymon. There's no combo platter option.

The supporting cast also remains the same for Mayweather.

Leonard Ellerbe is still the main guy who goes to court with Mayweather on his domestic violence charges.

When Mayweather went to jail in Las Vegas, white-haired and genial Sam Watson has been there to meet and to greet him.

I assume that Mayweather's bail is always arranged and paid for by Haymon and his acolytes.

The point is, I can't see how King has cracked the lineup, even in the lower part of the batting order.

And, if you know one thing about King, about his wealth and ego and his advanced age, you know that he's not going to link up with Mayweather unless he is the baller and shot-caller.

Mayweather has kept his mouth shut on King's status and the reason is obvious. He's been teasing King during these trips to South Florida and to a recent King promoted card in St. Louis.

He's not ditching Uncle Al for Uncle Don.

If you want to believe otherwise, enjoy your fairy tale, sure.

If Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao can or will be made, either this November or next year, it will be made with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and company president Todd duBoef mixing it up with Team Haymon.

King doesn't play second fiddle, he doesn't babysit, not at this point in his storied but controversial life.

Although Haymon disains the spotlight, he's a rich cat also and unlikely to bat second behind King, either.

King believes in the credo that former Yankees owner George M. Steinbrenner lived by, that if you're not the lead dog, then the view never changes.

The lead dog in the Mayweather camp was, and remains, Al Haymon.

Any other arrangement is merely wishful thinking.