By Edward Chaykovsky
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (46-0, 26KOs) enjoys fighting on two of the biggest boxing dates on the yearly calendar, and both of them revolve around Mexican holidays - Cinco De Mayo in May and Mexican Independence Day weekend in September.
Leonard Ellerbe, adviser and CEO of Mayweather Promotions, says Floyd has a very big Hispanic fan base. This coming Saturday, Mayweather will defend his WBC/WBA welterweight and junior middleweight titles against Marcos Maidana of Argentina in a rematch at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Ellerbe says Mayweather was swarmed during last year's stop in Mexico City for the Canelo PPV media tour.
"Hispanic fans obviously are a huge part of the boxing fan base, but Floyd has a tremendous global base, not just only with the Americans. Everyone appreciates a great fighter, and that's what Floyd has been able to display," Mayweather said.
"I'll use an example, we were on the Canelo press tour. I was actually quite surprised that the Hispanic/Latino support since once we got to Mexico City the fans actually loved Floyd, moreso than their own fighters, because they actually know the sport. A lot of times what's happened in the past is that coming up, fans feel a certain kind of way and people are always going to have opinions. But as a whole people appreciate what Floyd brings to the sport, not only just the American fans, but all the Hispanic, Mexican, everyone."
