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Going Negative: The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Campaign Machine
Shawn Krest - AHN Sports Correspondent
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (AHN) - The run-up to a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight always seems like a political campaign. And no one is better at going negative than Pretty Boy Floyd.
No fighter in recent memory has done a more effective job of getting underneath an opponent’s skin. Fighters from Arturo Gatti to Oscar de la Hoya have found themselves defending against an “October Surprise” from Team Mayweather.
It could be allegations about their history or complaints about their demands at the negotiating table, but some off-topic issue always seems to come up to occupy a Mayweather opponent’s attention, instead of allowing them to focus on their preparations for one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the business.
Against Gatti, Mayweather was at his villainous worst. When he wasn’t calling Gatti a “blown-up club fighter” and a “C plus fighter,” he was claiming that HBO asked him to overhype Gatti and complaining about the fact that he had to go to Gatti‘s “turf“ in order to get the bout signed.
The big attack came a week before their fight, however. In an appearance on ESPNews, Mayweather answered questions about his legal troubles, which at one point put the fight in jeopardy.
“How come no one says anything about (Gatti’s) alcohol issues?” Mayweather asked, then started giving details of reported incidents while a stunned Gatti stood speechless until the anchor was able to end the segment.
Mayweather also launched a series of attacks on de la Hoya’s “Golden Boy” reputation.
“He ain’t real,” Mayweather said. “Oscar de la Hoya is a fake-ass fighter…we all know Oscar de la Hoya is greedy. He’s ungrateful and a brat. HBO will tell you that.”
Suddenly, de la Hoya found himself having to defend his TV network negotiations, then his promotion’s handling of Bernard Hopkins’ nephew Demetrius, who Mayweather claimed got preferential treatment in a close bout.
Against Ricky Hatton, he upset the British fighter by insulting his army of fans that regularly make the trip from England, getting Hatton so riled that he used an expletive on British network TV.
A superbout with Manny Pacquiao, originally planned for March, was scuttled when Mayweather suddenly brought up the issue of drug testing.
Now, with a pay-per-view showdown with Shane Mosley scheduled for Saturday night, the mud is being slung hot and heavy.
Over the past few weeks, Mosley has had to answer questions about his involvement with the Balco designer-steroid firm, a story that broke in 2004.
After declaring himself a better fighter than Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, Mayweather said, “I can’t see how a guy like Mosley can even call himself great. I can’t see Mosley talk about putting himself as a future Hall of Famer. This is a guy we don’t know how long he was taking enhancement drugs.”
“That’s a ****** question,” snapped Mosley, declaring himself a “clean fighter.”
Doesn’t matter. By that point, Mayweather was busy wondering how Mosley avoided perjury charges after testifying in the Balco case.
Before Mosley can respond, Mayweather took notice of the tribal tattoo that Sugar Shane got on his arm. “I think Shane is acting out of character,” said Mayweather. “Why would someone wait until they were 38 years old to get a tattoo? I think he feels the pressure of this fight.”
Mayweather, who has feuded with his own father at times during his career, then brought up the fact that Mosley is no longer training with father Jack.
“The thing that is not cool is how Shane is talking about (Jack). Shane kind of downplayed Jack Mosley…Jack Mosley was a good trainer and a good father. He helped his son. He stood by his son’s side through the ups and downs of his career. For him to say his dad wasn’t giving 100%, I didn’t like that at all.”
Mosley has been barraged with questions on steroids, his grand jury testimony, a possible mid-life crisis, his relationship with his father. And when he tried to fire back at Mayweather?
“I think Shane is out of character,” said a suddenly wounded Mayweather. “That is not Shane Mosley, to be trash talking…I’ve never known Shane to be a big trash talker.”
The Pretty Boy Floyd campaign machine: Slinging mud and raking muck for five years now. Saturday night, watch the returns pour in on pay per view.
Karl Rove and James Carville would have been proud.
I’m Floyd Mayweather Jr. and I approve this message.
Shawn Krest - AHN Sports Correspondent
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States (AHN) - The run-up to a Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight always seems like a political campaign. And no one is better at going negative than Pretty Boy Floyd.
No fighter in recent memory has done a more effective job of getting underneath an opponent’s skin. Fighters from Arturo Gatti to Oscar de la Hoya have found themselves defending against an “October Surprise” from Team Mayweather.
It could be allegations about their history or complaints about their demands at the negotiating table, but some off-topic issue always seems to come up to occupy a Mayweather opponent’s attention, instead of allowing them to focus on their preparations for one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the business.
Against Gatti, Mayweather was at his villainous worst. When he wasn’t calling Gatti a “blown-up club fighter” and a “C plus fighter,” he was claiming that HBO asked him to overhype Gatti and complaining about the fact that he had to go to Gatti‘s “turf“ in order to get the bout signed.
The big attack came a week before their fight, however. In an appearance on ESPNews, Mayweather answered questions about his legal troubles, which at one point put the fight in jeopardy.
“How come no one says anything about (Gatti’s) alcohol issues?” Mayweather asked, then started giving details of reported incidents while a stunned Gatti stood speechless until the anchor was able to end the segment.
Mayweather also launched a series of attacks on de la Hoya’s “Golden Boy” reputation.
“He ain’t real,” Mayweather said. “Oscar de la Hoya is a fake-ass fighter…we all know Oscar de la Hoya is greedy. He’s ungrateful and a brat. HBO will tell you that.”
Suddenly, de la Hoya found himself having to defend his TV network negotiations, then his promotion’s handling of Bernard Hopkins’ nephew Demetrius, who Mayweather claimed got preferential treatment in a close bout.
Against Ricky Hatton, he upset the British fighter by insulting his army of fans that regularly make the trip from England, getting Hatton so riled that he used an expletive on British network TV.
A superbout with Manny Pacquiao, originally planned for March, was scuttled when Mayweather suddenly brought up the issue of drug testing.
Now, with a pay-per-view showdown with Shane Mosley scheduled for Saturday night, the mud is being slung hot and heavy.
Over the past few weeks, Mosley has had to answer questions about his involvement with the Balco designer-steroid firm, a story that broke in 2004.
After declaring himself a better fighter than Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson, Mayweather said, “I can’t see how a guy like Mosley can even call himself great. I can’t see Mosley talk about putting himself as a future Hall of Famer. This is a guy we don’t know how long he was taking enhancement drugs.”
“That’s a ****** question,” snapped Mosley, declaring himself a “clean fighter.”
Doesn’t matter. By that point, Mayweather was busy wondering how Mosley avoided perjury charges after testifying in the Balco case.
Before Mosley can respond, Mayweather took notice of the tribal tattoo that Sugar Shane got on his arm. “I think Shane is acting out of character,” said Mayweather. “Why would someone wait until they were 38 years old to get a tattoo? I think he feels the pressure of this fight.”
Mayweather, who has feuded with his own father at times during his career, then brought up the fact that Mosley is no longer training with father Jack.
“The thing that is not cool is how Shane is talking about (Jack). Shane kind of downplayed Jack Mosley…Jack Mosley was a good trainer and a good father. He helped his son. He stood by his son’s side through the ups and downs of his career. For him to say his dad wasn’t giving 100%, I didn’t like that at all.”
Mosley has been barraged with questions on steroids, his grand jury testimony, a possible mid-life crisis, his relationship with his father. And when he tried to fire back at Mayweather?
“I think Shane is out of character,” said a suddenly wounded Mayweather. “That is not Shane Mosley, to be trash talking…I’ve never known Shane to be a big trash talker.”
The Pretty Boy Floyd campaign machine: Slinging mud and raking muck for five years now. Saturday night, watch the returns pour in on pay per view.
Karl Rove and James Carville would have been proud.
I’m Floyd Mayweather Jr. and I approve this message.