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This was when both Mayweather and Cotto were with Top Rank/Bob Arum
Mayweather fires verbal jabs at fighters, Arum
Pretty Boy Floyd criticizes Gatti, De La Hoya, Cotto
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been one of boxing's elite fighters for many years. On Friday, he tried to join Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, James Toney and Hasim Rahman as one of its best trash-talkers.
A clearly agitated Mayweather fired verbal jabs at many of boxing's biggest names and best fighters, including WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya, up-and-coming star Miguel Cotto and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
He also assailed what he called unscrupulous managers who "are always inventing ways to take a fighter's money."
Mayweather's vitriol was caused by Gatti's decision to scrap plans for a June 11 pay-per-view fight between the two. Gatti's representatives had set a 2 p.m. PST deadline Friday for Mayweather to sign a contract. Mayweather agreed to terms, but had not signed.
Mayweather said he had no problem with HBO and went out of his way to praise it for paying him well, but he said "HBO is protecting Arturo Gatti because he puts up good ratings and sells a lot of tickets in Atlantic City and they don't want to see him get knocked out on his face."
He said Arum, who has promoted all of his 33 fights, "doesn't like me and I don't like him. But that's OK, because he don't know how to promote a good fighter anyway."
Mayweather warned Arum not to pair him with Cotto, the WBO super lightweight champion and the rising star of the Top Rank stable.
"If Bob Arum is smart like he thinks he is, he'll keep Miguel Cotto as far away from me as he possibly can," Mayweather said. "That's easy work, three to four rounds tops for me. I'll do him like I did his stable mate (Henry Bruseles, whom Mayweather stopped in the eighth round on Jan. 22)."
He called out De La Hoya, who announced plans to move to welterweight, but said De La Hoya has offered a lame excuse. De La Hoya has said he won't fight Mayweather out of respect for his trainer, Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.
"I haven't talked to my Daddy in five years, so what kind of excuse is that?" Mayweather asked.
He ridiculed De La Hoya's performance against middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who used a body shot to stop De La Hoya in the ninth round of their Sept. 18 fight. Shortly after, De La Hoya made Hopkins a partner in his promotional company.
"Oscar took a dive and then two weeks later, they're together," Mayweather said. "Come on, man. Can't you see what's happening?"
Mayweather said he desperately wants to fight Gatti, but said he doubts he will. He is friends with undisputed welterweight champ Zab Judah, but said "Zab knows he can't beat me. No questions asked."
Despite his anger, Mayweather said he is at peace.
"I don't care who loves me or who hates me as long as my kids love me," he said. "I am the truth. I am the best. I told you many years ago I would be the last man standing. I know it's going to piss some people off, but I'm going to retire undefeated, too."
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Mayweather fires verbal jabs at fighters, Arum
Pretty Boy Floyd criticizes Gatti, De La Hoya, Cotto
By KEVIN IOLE
REVIEW-JOURNAL
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been one of boxing's elite fighters for many years. On Friday, he tried to join Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, James Toney and Hasim Rahman as one of its best trash-talkers.
A clearly agitated Mayweather fired verbal jabs at many of boxing's biggest names and best fighters, including WBC super lightweight champion Arturo Gatti, former world champion Oscar De La Hoya, up-and-coming star Miguel Cotto and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
He also assailed what he called unscrupulous managers who "are always inventing ways to take a fighter's money."
Mayweather's vitriol was caused by Gatti's decision to scrap plans for a June 11 pay-per-view fight between the two. Gatti's representatives had set a 2 p.m. PST deadline Friday for Mayweather to sign a contract. Mayweather agreed to terms, but had not signed.
Mayweather said he had no problem with HBO and went out of his way to praise it for paying him well, but he said "HBO is protecting Arturo Gatti because he puts up good ratings and sells a lot of tickets in Atlantic City and they don't want to see him get knocked out on his face."
He said Arum, who has promoted all of his 33 fights, "doesn't like me and I don't like him. But that's OK, because he don't know how to promote a good fighter anyway."
Mayweather warned Arum not to pair him with Cotto, the WBO super lightweight champion and the rising star of the Top Rank stable.
"If Bob Arum is smart like he thinks he is, he'll keep Miguel Cotto as far away from me as he possibly can," Mayweather said. "That's easy work, three to four rounds tops for me. I'll do him like I did his stable mate (Henry Bruseles, whom Mayweather stopped in the eighth round on Jan. 22)."
He called out De La Hoya, who announced plans to move to welterweight, but said De La Hoya has offered a lame excuse. De La Hoya has said he won't fight Mayweather out of respect for his trainer, Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr.
"I haven't talked to my Daddy in five years, so what kind of excuse is that?" Mayweather asked.
He ridiculed De La Hoya's performance against middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins, who used a body shot to stop De La Hoya in the ninth round of their Sept. 18 fight. Shortly after, De La Hoya made Hopkins a partner in his promotional company.
"Oscar took a dive and then two weeks later, they're together," Mayweather said. "Come on, man. Can't you see what's happening?"
Mayweather said he desperately wants to fight Gatti, but said he doubts he will. He is friends with undisputed welterweight champ Zab Judah, but said "Zab knows he can't beat me. No questions asked."
Despite his anger, Mayweather said he is at peace.
"I don't care who loves me or who hates me as long as my kids love me," he said. "I am the truth. I am the best. I told you many years ago I would be the last man standing. I know it's going to piss some people off, but I'm going to retire undefeated, too."
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