Latest news with #FloydMayweather
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
HBO Boxing Icon Jim Lampley Drops Blistering Trump-Mayweather Take
Floyd Mayweather and Donald Trump, HBO Boxing Icon says, "No Mayweather, No Trump" 'No Mayweather, no Trump.' That's the heavy-duty take HBO Boxing icon Jim Lampley dropped on me during our conversation on Friday afternoon. It's one of the most polarizing, but plausible things anyone has said to me in a while. In case you're a relatively young sports fan or someone who didn't pay much attention to HBO Boxing during the 1990s and early 2000s, you may not know Lampley. Without listing every accolade and distinction, I'll say this: there are people in every industry who have a combination of experience and wherewithal that enables them to captivate a room with the stories and takes they've accumulated during their journey through levels of their craft and the years of their life. Lampley is one of those people. CANASTOTA, NY - JUNE 14: Boxing commentator Jim Lampley poses with his new ring and photo on the ... More wall after the induction ceremony at the International Boxing Hall of Fame induction Weekend of Champions events on June 14, 2015 in Canastota, New York. (Photo by) During our interview, we discussed his book, It Happened, his autobiography that tells the story of his 50-year career in sports broadcasting and tons of boxing stories and concepts. I asked him about the infamous post-fight moment with his longtime broadcast partner Larry Merchant—you know the one, where Mayweather snapped, 'you don't know s### about boxing,' and Merchant fired back, 'if I was 50 years younger, I'd kick your a##.' It's classic. I wanted to know from Lampley, who was there, what the deal was with Mayweather and Merchant, but I got so much more. Lampley explained, 'Well, obviously it was something that built up over a long period of time. I think that Larry gave him proper credit for being a great fighter. In particular, he didn't like that Larry would sometimes say something to the effect of, well, he's great and you can't beat him, but he isn't gonna sell a single ticket with this style, that kind of thing.' Clearly, Merchant was wrong about Mayweather's ability to sell tickets. No fighter has made more in pay-per-view revenue, and Mayweather can still command a crowd and a payday by participating in boxing exhibitions. Also, if you watch the history of post-fight interviews between Mayweather and Merchant, the latter is particularly abrupt and a little antagonistic toward the fighter. Even during the aforementioned interview, the conversation starts off with Mayweather having his arm around Merchant. However, Merchant's tone and verbiage was off-putting to Mayweather as it came just moments after the controversial ending to his fight with Victor Ortiz, but I digress. That aspect of Lampley's answer was mostly what I expected to hear. The broadcast journalism legend delivered a punchier concept as he delved deeper into Mayweather's dynamic and his overall influence on American culture. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 26: Floyd Mayweather Jr. visits "Making Money With Charles Payne" at ... More Fox Business Network Studios on February 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) The concept is wild, but not completely unfathomable. I used to say this about Mayweather, 'it takes a special kind of person to be at peace with being the most hated person in a room.' In that sense, it's easy to see tons of people in every industry who have adopted that approach–whether they got it from Mayweather or someone else. DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 18: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, ... More brings boxing legend Thomas Hearns to the stage during a campaign rally on October 18, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. There are 17 days remaining until the U.S. presidential election, which will take place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. (Photo by) Donald Trump's involvement with boxing dates back to the late 1980s and early 1990s, when Trump Plaza in Atlantic City became a key venue for major fights. At its peak, the hotel and casino played host to several heavyweight title bouts, including, Mike Tyson vs. Michael Spinks in 1988 and Evander Holyfield vs. George Foreman in 1991. Trump didn't just rent out space for the fights—he appeared to actively positioned himself as a central figure in these events, often appearing ringside, hosting press conferences, and getting photographed with the fighters. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - JANUARY 22: Businessman Donald Trump in ring with boxer Mike Tyson after ... More knocking out opponent Larry Holmes at Tyson vs Holmes Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 22 1988. (Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images) Some may argue Trump used these moments to build prestige, associate himself with dominance and success, and to thrust himself into the spotlight. Needless to say, it seems to have worked. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - JANUARY 22: Businessman Donald Trump and Champion Boxer Evander Holyfield at ... More Tyson vs Holmes Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey January 22 1988. (Photo by Jeffrey Asher/ Getty Images) Putting a bow on the Mayweather-Merchant beef: Mayweather's rise to global prominence began in the mid-2000s. Specifically, his bet-on-myself fight against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007. The fight marked Mayweather's triumphant separation from Top Rank Boxing and it also was the cornerstone moment of his shift from 'Pretty Boy' to 'Money.' Mayweather and Trump's paths would more publicly cross years later. In 2017, Trump publicly praised Mayweather after his win over Conor McGregor, calling him a "great guy" and 'an unbelievable fighter.' Mayweather also endorsed Trump for President earlier. Mayweather may have used social media to push negative concepts in the past. However, to his credit, I interviewed him earlier this year, and he formally apologized for every time he used social media to be toxic. That admission actually adds some credence to Lampley's concept. I've never had an opportunity to speak to President Trump, but I can promise you, if I do, I will ask him if he learned anything from his encounters with Mayweather. Whether Trump truly studied Mayweather's moves or simply mirrored them instinctively, the similarities are clear—and Lampley might be one of the only people to call it out this directly.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Caleb Plant Vs. Armando Resendiz Fight Card: What Time Does It Start?
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Super middleweight boxer Caleb Plant poses on the scale during a ... More ceremonial weigh-in in Toshiba Plaza at T-Mobile Arena on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plant is scheduled to fight Trevor McCumby for an interim WBA super middleweight title at the arena September 14. (Photo by) Caleb Plant vs. Armando Resendiz will headline a Premier Boxing Champions show on Prime Video on Saturday night from Las Vegas. On a pretty slow weekend for combat sports, the card has a chance to steal a piece of fight fans' attention. In case you're interested, here's how you can watch. In the co-main event, Jermall Charlo returns to the ring in search of a return to glory and relevancy. He takes on Thomas LaManna. If Plant and Charlo win their fights, the plan is for PBC to make a fight between the two later in the year. Plant and Charlo's beef stems from a backstage altercation in 2023 that saw the former slap the latter. It's crazy to think this moment is literally powering Saturday's event and potentially another show later in 2025, but apparently, that's the case. Here is a look at the complete card, which also features the next fight for rising lightweight star Curmel Moton. Moton is a protégé of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and supremely gifted. Still just 18, Moton has already amassed a 7-0 record as a professional with six KOs. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 21: Jordan Plant (L) interviews Curmel Moton during boxer workouts at the ... More Split T Boxing Club on March 21, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Moton will meet Anthony Cuba in a super featherweight bout on March 30, 2024, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Photo by) He should look impressive against Mastrapa, who will likely be in over his head. While I wouldn't expect Moton to be ready to be a serious title contender for at least two years, astute fans will likely want to get a glimpse of one of the sport's next potential superstars. Also on the undercard, undefeated super bantamweight KO artist Carl Jammes Martin takes on veteran Francisco Pedroza Portillo. Martin is from the Philippines, and his fighting style is all-action. The 'Wonder Boy' is just 26 years old and he has serious potential. If he can score an impressive win, he will put himself in a position to be one of Naoya Inoue's next challengers. With rumors swirling that Top Rank will land with Amazon Video, it makes the prospects of an Inoue-Martin fight all the more possible. Another intriguing fight is the clash between undefeated middleweight Yoenli Hernandez and Kyrone Davis. Hernandez is ranked in the Top 10 by every governing body besides the IBF. He is the No. 1 contender for Erislandy Lara's WBA title. Davis is only ranked by the IBF, as he is seventh in those rankings. If Hernandez can stay undefeated as a pro, he would likely land in the IBF's rankings, thereby creating more paths to a title shot against anyone wearing a title at 160 pounds. With all due respect to Janibek Alimkhanuly, the unified IBF and WBO champion, the current landscape of middleweight champions is arguably weaker than it has been in a long while. The division is hungry for a compelling star to emerge. We'll see if Hernandez can rise to become a household name. Be on the lookout for results following the event on Saturday.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero: A rivalry forged in sparring to be finally settled in the ring
Ryan Garcia and Rolando 'Rolly' Romero have been circling each other for years. Their rivalry bubbling beneath the surface of the boxing world. Now, on May 2, they will finally meet under the bright lights of Times Square — a fitting stage for two fighters with unfinished business. A Viral Beginning Their animosity dates back to a fiery sparring session at the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas, when both were rising stars under the tutelage of boxing royalty — Garcia under Oscar De La Hoya and Romero under Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 2018 footage spread rapidly online sparking intense discussion amongst fans. The viral clip shows the two in the midst of an intense sparring session. Romero is in pursuit of Garcia, throwing wild shots to the head and body, making him look uncomfortable on his back foot - unable too keep 'Rolly' at range. Garcia was able to land sharp jabs and counter shots, but it was not enough to stop the Las Vegas native from closing the distance and using his physicality to push Garcia against the ropes and unload at close range. While the sparring was just that — it gave Romero the early bragging rights. 'I did beat the shit out of him both days,' Romero told BoxingScene. 'But it doesn't matter. It's just sparring.' Garcia, for his part, has been disparaging of the footage. 'We sparred about eight years ago,' he said at a recent press conference. 'It was a little rough... but he continued to use that sparring to boost his career, credit to him.' From Trash Talk to Mutual Respect Years of jabs on social media followed, with both fighters pushing for a real fight to settle the score. In late 2023, Garcia called out Romero after a victory over Oscar Duarte, and Romero echoed the sentiment after capturing the WBA junior welterweight title, saying their bout was 'a fight that everybody has been asking for forever.' Despite the momentum the two once again diverged with Garcia choosing Haney and Romero fighting Isaac 'Pitbull' Cruz. The fight only materialised when Garcia's original opponent for the 3rd of May, 'Pitbull' Cruz, pulled out — and Romero picked up the phone. 'I just made a phone call,' he said to BoxingScene. 'There were no other options.' Surprisingly, the lead-up to the fight has taken a softer turn. Behind the bravado, the pair appear to have buried the hatchet. Romero revealed that he reached out to Garcia during his public struggles with mental health — a gesture that resonated deeply. 'I DM'd Ryan and asked for his number,' Romero told BoxingScene. 'He said no at first, but I told him some things are bigger than boxing. We talked and we've been good ever since.' There has of course been the mandatory name calling in the build-up, with Garcia calling Romero a clout chaser and 'Rolly' insisting that 'Kingry' just wants to be a model. Selling a fight comes as part of the package for a boxer and whilst they may throw schoolboy insults at each other, they have both made clear the respect they hold for one another as fighters. Their clash in Times Square promises fireworks, but it's no longer driven by hatred. What began as a bitter feud born from sparring footage has evolved into something more nuanced — two fighters bound by mutual respect and a shared history.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Fisher-Allen II: Three other controversial matches that led to return bouts
This Saturday will see a rematch between Johnny Fisher and Dave Allen when the pair meet at the Copper Box Arena in London. After first meeting at the end of last year in Riyadh, the pair went to a ten-round split decision that ended in a win for Fisher. Despite – or, maybe, because of – the victory, controversy rose around the scoring. While one judge thought that Fisher had lost by three points, the two others gave it to him by a single notch each. There was a good argument for Fisher having lost. He was knocked down in the fifth round, went toe-to-toe with Allen for much of the fight, and looked at the end as if every second in the bout had been an arduous one. And now, this weekend, the pair meet again. Judgement is a matter of shades. Controversy within boxing is not unusual. It is far more the rule than the exception, with many fights over the years generating such controversy first time around that a rematch has become immediately imminent. Corrales-Castillo When Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo met in 2005, few were excited by their lightweight unification. Corrales was 39-2 (32) and was coming in after tough fights against Joel Casamayor and Acelino Freitas. Castillo, meanwhile, had also taken a split decision over Casamayor. He had beaten the decent Juan Lazcano, too, and stopped Julio Diaz in ten. But Castillo was most famous for pushing Floyd Mayweather Jr to a decision in 2002 in a bout that many thought he had won. Magic entered the building at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas that night when Corrales and Castillo met. They pair went toe-to-toe for ten rounds until Castillo put Corrales down, twice, on the floor. In pain, Corrales let his gumshield slip from his mouth during the first knockdown. He spat it out deliberately on the second and lost a point. His coach, placing it back into his mouth, said, 'You better ****ing get inside on him now.' Corrales did. Fewer than thirty seconds later, he pitched Castillo against the ropes and punched him until the referee stopped it. The pair of them returned five months later, but Castillo missed the weight limit by 3.5lbs. The fight went ahead anyway, and a weight-drained Corrales was knocked out in the fourth. A third fight between the pair was set to end the controversy, but was cancelled after Castillo missed the weight again, that time by 4.5lbs. Huck-Arslan The pair first met in 2012 in Halle, Germany, where Huck, the WBO cruiserweight champion, won a unanimous decision over former WBA champion Arslan. Despite the wide scorecards, the decision was controversial and the pair rematched fourteen months later in Stuttgart. This time, Huck left no doubt by stopping Arslan in six rounds. Both men are still fighting many years later. Huck, now 40, last appeared in a boxing ring last June in Berlin. Arslan, now 54, last fought in a small show in his gym in Goeppingen, Germany, in October. But while they have not appeared against each other for a third time, they are often pictured together at shows, having seemingly become friends years after their two fights. Abraham-Smith When Liverpool fighter Paul Smith went to Kiel, Germany, in 2014, few expected him to be anything more than a foil for the German super-middleweight Arthur Abraham. Abraham had been fighting in Germany since 2003, only ever lost decisively to elite fighters when on foreign soil, and had been matched carefully by his promoters for years. Smith expected much different of himself. His family and friends spoke of how dedicated he had been in his training, and of how had left no stone unturned. It sounded like hyperbole, the words that all supporters say before a big fight. But then Smith outworked and outmanoeuvred Abraham over twelve, tightly contested rounds. The only thing Smith did not do was outpoint Abraham, losing a unanimous decision. Such was the controversy over the result that the pair met again, five months later in Berlin and in front of a much-bigger crowd. This time, though, Abraham seemed to be better prepared and he took another decision – this one now thought to be much fairer.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boxing Great Floyd Mayweather Jr's Greatest Investment – How He Turned $750K Into $400M
Knowing your worth and having the courage to invest in yourself are two critical traits for anyone seeking success in life. Perhaps there is no better example of this than boxing great Floyd 'Money" Mayweather, who parlayed a $750,000 investment in himself into a $400 million boxing and promotional empire. Mayweather told Forbes the story of how he earned his nickname. It all started in 1996, when Mayweather turned pro after winning a bronze medal in the Olympics. Mayweather, who comes from a family of famous boxers, had sublime boxing skills but lacked the connections and know-how to stage and promote professional prize fights. So, he did what most fighters in his situation did back then.. Don't Miss: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — 'Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. He signed a contract with Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions. Arum was a very well-respected promoter with a proven track record of staging lucrative fights. Through his career, Arum had made numerous fighters wealthy, and Mayweather was no exception. By 1998, Arum had guided Mayweather to a spotless 18-0 record and a world championship. Arum's career guiding fighters to superstardom included stints managing legends like Muhammad Ali and Oscar De La Hoya. It looked like Mayweather was the next one. By 2005, Arum had featured Mayweather in two high-grossing pay-per-view fights against Arturo Gatti Jr and Zab Judah. According to Forbes, both fights drew over 350,000 views, and the promotions were wildly successful for Top Rank. Forbes also estimates Mayweather earned about $3 million per fight. It wasn't chump change by any means, but Mayweather wanted more. Arum was paying him well, but Mayweather believed that earning $3 million was small change compared to the money Arum and Top Rank were making off 350,000 pay-per-view buys. Mayweather knew that he, not Arum, was the main draw for any pay-per-view fight and believed he could earn nine figures by managing his career and promoting his fights without Arum. Trending: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — There was a clause in Mayweather's Top Rank contract allowing him to become a free agent for $750,000. Mayweather paid the fee and linked up with Al Haymon, a well-known concert promoter, and trainer Leonard Ellerbe, to form Mayweather Promotions. Ellerbe, who was CEO of Mayweather Promotions until 2024, told Forbes, "Floyd wanted to take his career in a new direction. Floyd walked into Top Rank's office, handed them a check, and the rest is history." Mayweather's instincts proved correct. Even though his first Mayweather Promotions fight only netted 325,000 views, Mayweather still made $8 million. That was more than double what he was earning at Top Rank. Mayweather hit the big time in 2007, when his fight with De La Hoya netted 2.48 million pay-per-view buys and generated $137 million. Mayweather earned $25 million for the fight when his pay-per-view share was calculated. Mayweather earned at least $25 million for his next ten fights, mostly because Mayweather Promotions was plugged into every possible revenue stream. Mayweather was getting his money off the top instead of waiting until his promoter deducted all the expenses first and paid him last. Then Mayweather signed an eight-fight deal with HBO in 2013 that would pay him a minimum of $32 million per next big payday came in 2013, when he fought Canelo Alvarez. According to Forbes, the Mayweather vs. Alvarez fight netted 2.25 million pay-per-view buys and earned an astonishing $130 million. Mayweather reportedly earned $41.5 million for his work in the ring, plus another $30 million cut of the pay-per-view money. By the time Mayweather retired, he had a 50-0 record, and Forbes estimates his fights generated $871 million in revenue. Forbes also estimates that Mayweather has personally netted around $420 million in earnings and that roughly 90% of it came to him after the split with Top Rank. He also has a passive income stream because Mayweather Promotions still handles fighters. It all started with Mayweather knowing his worth and investing in himself. Ellerbe told Forbes, "It is the best investment in the history of sports." Read Next: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . Inspired by Uber and Airbnb – Deloitte's fastest-growing software company is transforming 7 billion smartphones into income-generating assets – Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Boxing Great Floyd Mayweather Jr's Greatest Investment – How He Turned $750K Into $400M originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
