When Floyd Mayweather invites you for a night out in Las Vegas, you know it will be extraordinary. Picture this: the neon lights of the strip reflecting off luxury cars, the pulsating energy of the city that never sleeps, and ‘Money Mayweather’ at the centre of it all.
From exclusive cigar lounges to high-roller tables, this was no ordinary night out. We sipped ‘Good Money Whiskey’ and indulged in caviar before discussing Mayweather’s relationship with his father, the key moments in his career, the current crop of boxers, and his exhibition earnings.
In true Mayweather style, he arrived at Eight Lounge, a chic cigar spot, in a blacked-out SUV, wearing a £2,000 Gucci jacket and a gleaming Rolex. Fans clamoured for photos as he was greeted by models holding sparklers and a glowing Mayweather sign.
‘I do like the finer things in life’, Mayweather quipped when asked about his love for luxury. ‘I enjoy my cars and my watches but money don’t make me, I make money.
‘I don’t just keep all the money either, I give back to the less fortunate. My mother don’t want for nothing, my loved ones don’t want for anything. My team live a pretty good life. They travel the world, stay at five star hotels. But, the most important thing is, we are happy. I was happy before I made money. With or without money I am a happy person.’
A fixture on the Vegas Strip with his 7,000-square-foot gentleman’s club and top-tier boxing gym, Mayweather took charge behind the bar, crafting an Old Fashioned cocktail with his Good Money Whiskey – a brand now available in 10 states including Nevada, California, and Florida.
When handed the five-year-old whiskey, Mayweather joked, ‘She’s come all the way from the UK, and you’re giving her the five-year-old whiskey? She deserves the 10-year!’
Though not drinking himself, Mayweather passed the cocktail with a knowing smile. ‘It’s just like boxing,’ he said confidently. ‘I had the best team, so I got the best results. I’ve got the best team working on my brands, too. Just try it and you’ll see.’
With a drink in hand, we moved to Mayweather’s exclusive area, adorned with Le Bon Argent Champagne and attentive waitresses ensuring my glass was always full. Intrigued by highlight reels of his career playing on the screens above head, I asked the boxing legend about his favorite memory.
‘I’m not sure which one was my favourite fight but the best fighter I ever fought probably was Manny Pacquiao. I can see why he won so many fights, it’s all the moves he would make. But, I reckon to roughest fight I ever had was Emanuel Augustus, he was very tough competitor. When I faced him, I think he was 26 with 14 losses but extremely tough.
‘That being said, I think around half of my 50 fights were world title fights, so they were all good fights’.
Mayweather faced and defeated some of the biggest names in boxing, including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya, and Canelo Alvarez. He also claimed world titles in five different weight classes: Super Featherweight, Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight, and Light Middleweight.
But the true highlight of his career was walking away unharmed—a poignant topic given his father and uncle, Roger, both suffered neurological damage resulting in memory loss.
‘The real highlight of my career is that I am still able to communicate. That I am still able to speak well. I am still able to read and write. I am able to spend time with my children and I am able to travel. I still have all my faculties. That’s the part about my career I am most pleased with. Not everyone gets that luxury and I’ve seen it first hand.’
Mayweather’s relationship with his father has been complex but pivotal. Mayweather Sr. was instrumental in shaping his son’s career, developing the defensive style that became his hallmark. Despite public disagreements and periods of estrangement, their bond remains strong.
‘My dad was my inspiration growing up. Without my dad I wouldn’t have any of this. Without my dad I wouldn’t have the crazy real estate portfolio I have. I wouldn’t have met my two best friends, James McNair and Ricki Brazil. I wouldn’t be here with you today. My dad is my driving force, my dad is everything to me.’
A stark contrast to when Mayweather lashed out at his father in 2011, shouting: ‘You couldn’t fight for s***. You weren’t nothing but a motherf***ing cab driver… bum a** trainer. You weren’t s*** as a fighter, so how you gonna be something as a trainer. Get the f*** out my gym f*****t!’.
While other kids played, Mayweather’s childhood was a whirlwind of responsibilities, juggling time between caring for his drug-addict mother and training with his father.
‘My dad was about business, ever since I was a kid. From 1985, my dad had me running five miles a day. He wouldn’t let me run in sneakers either. He made me run five miles every day in combat boots while I was a child.
‘He also brought me out into the garden and made me chop wood. He always told me, there is no room for excuses. He said no matter how many fights you win, it’s never good enough, you can always get better. There is always room for growth.
‘But, my dad gave me structure. He helped mould me into the man I am today. A man of honour, a man of dignity. A stand-up guy. A person that believes he can get better. It’s all because of my father.’
As we chatted, one of Floyd’s friend casually offered spoonfuls of caviar around the room. This wasn’t your average caviar; it was the kind that likely costs more than my entire monthly salary. The nonchalant manner in which it was served, however, made it seem like an everyday snack.
Meanwhile, Eddie Griffin, a comedian from American sitcom Malcolm & Eddie, flitted around the room casually cracking jokes before diving into the high-stakes action at the casino tables.
Having accompanied him to the high-roller area, I watched in awe as players casually dropped $500k per round on craps. It was clear I’d be spectating rather than participating in this high-rolling spectacle.
While Mayweather wasn’t one to splurge at the tables, he was exceptionally generous with his tips. When $500 slipped from his pocket, he handed it to a waitress without hesitation and quickly pulled out another $500 for her colleague, making sure everyone felt appreciated.
Mayweather’s wealth stems from his boxing prowess. Known for his defensive mastery and unmatched ring IQ, he earned the nickname ‘Pretty Boy’ for his flawless, unmarked face. He firmly believes no boxer will ever match his unique skills.
‘There will never be another boxer like me because my IQ was just on another level. You’ve got guys that have fast hands, you’ve got guys who have great punching power but they will never compete with my IQ.
‘My IQ was just on a whole different level. I could make adjustments that other people wouldn’t be able to do. Go look at the Shane Mosley fight. Guy hit me with a couple of good shots, I came back the next round a put on a master class.
‘I was zoned in and new exactly what he was going to do. I didn’t hear the crowd, I didn’t hear my trainer, I just listened to myself. I knew exactly what he was going to do. I had the ability to turn a fight on it’s head like that. Completely change the dynamic of a fight. That’s what it takes, a sharp mind, a good chin and the heart of a lion.’
Yet, despite his undefeated boxing record (50-0) and iconic status, Mayweather acknowledged personal defeats beyond the ring.
‘Losing my uncle was a defeat. Losing my grandmother was a defeat. Losing my housekeeper of 20-something years was a defeat. Losing the mother of my children was a defeat. Losing my best friend was a defeat. I have been defeated in ways like that. Everything you go through in life is an experience you can grow from. I just try to use those experiences to become stronger every day.’
Mayweather’s resilience in the face of such personal trials is mirrored in his approach to the racism he faced during his career.
‘You’re going to get racism and you’re going to have to deal with it. I knew I was going to deal with it but that never stopped me from being who I wanted to be. It never stopped me from believing in myself.
‘It was never going to stop me from taking myself to the top. I knew I was the best and nothing was going to hold me back. There are many fighters that will come after me that will experience the same thing.
‘I want them to be great and I don’t want them to be held back by it. I want them to surpass me if they can. Records are there to be broken but there will never be another Floyd Mayweather. I know that for a fact.’
Even in retirement, Mayweather keeps his love for boxing alive through exhibition bouts, taking on the likes of Deji Olatunji, Tenshin Nasukawa, and Logan Paul.
However, the pinnacle was his 2017 clash with MMA’s Conor McGregor. While Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James collectively earned $259 million that year, Mayweather surpassed that sum in a single night, shattering boxing’s pay-per-view record with 6.5 million buys.
‘People have such a problem with my exhibitions. Jeff Bezos is well off but he’s still working. Warren Buffett, he’s probably in his 90’s now and he’s still working. The Walton’s who own Walmart are still working. Elon Musk is still working. So, it’s okay for me to work.
‘There is no risk with these exhibitions. I am taking on former MMA guys and YouTubers. They can’t get near me. It’s not a crime for me to have some fun with them and entertain the crowd.
‘I feel like I deserve it. I am still one of the most talked fighters in the sport of boxing and I’m not even boxing professionally anymore. So, it’s only right I am getting the payday to match it. I have plenty of offers I could show you on my phone. $300million, $100million, $50million, $20million, $17million. They are all offers sat on my phone right now. It all depends but if you pay, we play. It’s as simple as that.’
Despite having the potential to rake in $300million from an exhibition bout and being nicknamed ‘Money Mayweather,’ the 47-year-old had a hilariously human moment at the end of our night out.
Just as Brits might hit a kebab shop on their way home, Mayweather popped into the local doughnut shop. After ordering two boxes of doughnuts, Mayweather was floored when he was told the total would be $90.
Pulling out a thick wad of cash, he went to pay before pausing dramatically, spreading the bills across his hands and playfully quipping ‘I’ve got the money, I just don’t want to spend it!’.
Mayweather will return to the ring this summer for a rematch against John Gotti III – the grandson of the late mob boss – having first faced the 31-year-old back in June 2023, with the fight ending in chaos after a brawl broke out when people stormed the ring.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72360245/Screen_Shot_2023_06_11_at_7.46.35_AM.0.png)
