As Floyd Sr. buries his father, he considers
relationship with his own son (Guardian.UK)
MAYWEATHER - Theartha Mayweather departed this natural life August 15, 2009. Public viewing Friday, August 21, 1 to 5 p.m. and funeral services Saturday, August 22, family hour 11 to 12 Noon, with service at Noon at Brown's Funeral Home.
--Obituary Notice, Grand Rapids, MI, Press
Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr., age 56, is entitled to his heavy heart.
Forget the poetry spouting, cartoon character you know only from the HBO 24/7 fight hype series. Forget the ex-fighter turned trainer who trashes fighters and rival trainers alike.
There was no joy in Mayweather’s voice when I spoke to him by telephone Friday morning.
Tonight, Mayweather will be at his 81 year old father’s wake. Tomorrow, he will be a grieving son burying his Dad.
A grieving son, yes, but also a son who acknowledges that Papa was a rolling stone, that his father left his children in Grand Rapids and relocated to Toledo, Ohio, when Floyd Sr., amateur boxer, was only 15.
The son’s emotions are decidedly mixed.
“I do remember seeing him only four times since then,” Mayweather said. “I really had nothing to do with my father. I could’ve been close but I wasn’t. Even so, your father is still your father at the end of the day.
“It was my mother who was there all of the time, no ifs, no ands and no buts. It wasn’t me who didn’t want to be close with my father. I didn’t make that decision. I was just 15.”
Some men might spurn a father who spurned them but that’s not what Mayweather will do this weekend.
“My mother, she was my mother and my father,” Mayweather said. “But, until now, I did have a father who was still living and I’ve got to acknowledge that.” (His mother is now age 77).
Come Tuesday, Mayweather, who is dealing with a debilitating lung disease, returns to his adopted hometown of Las Vegas. Then, he said, he will get back to the Mayweather gym and help his oft times estranged son finish preparation for his Sept. 19 comeback bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Today was not a day for boxing chitchat, it seemed inappropriate given the circumstances but I did ask “Pretty Daddy” if he might work his son’s corner on fight alongside his troubled brother, ex-world champion Roger Mayweather.
Friction between the two brothers in no family secret.
Floyd Sr. takes a bigger picture view on that mundane question.
“It'’s got nothing to do with my father because he didn’t know me,” Mayweather said. “But it all adds up to the fact that no father and no son should be separated. No father and no son should be away from each other. If my son asks me (to work the corner), fine. If he asks me, I will do it.
“I’m just trying to help my son any way I can.” [rc]
mlcmarley@aol.com
Copyright © 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com.
August 21, 2009
USA: As he buries his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr. considers his son
.
NEW YORK / Examiner.com / National / August 21, 2009
By Michael Marley
NY Boxing Examiner
As Floyd Sr. buries his father, he considers
relationship with his own son (Guardian.UK)
MAYWEATHER - Theartha Mayweather departed this natural life August 15, 2009. Public viewing Friday, August 21, 1 to 5 p.m. and funeral services Saturday, August 22, family hour 11 to 12 Noon, with service at Noon at Brown's Funeral Home.
--Obituary Notice, Grand Rapids, MI, Press
Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr., age 56, is entitled to his heavy heart.
Forget the poetry spouting, cartoon character you know only from the HBO 24/7 fight hype series. Forget the ex-fighter turned trainer who trashes fighters and rival trainers alike.
There was no joy in Mayweather’s voice when I spoke to him by telephone Friday morning.
Tonight, Mayweather will be at his 81 year old father’s wake. Tomorrow, he will be a grieving son burying his Dad.
A grieving son, yes, but also a son who acknowledges that Papa was a rolling stone, that his father left his children in Grand Rapids and relocated to Toledo, Ohio, when Floyd Sr., amateur boxer, was only 15.
The son’s emotions are decidedly mixed.
“I do remember seeing him only four times since then,” Mayweather said. “I really had nothing to do with my father. I could’ve been close but I wasn’t. Even so, your father is still your father at the end of the day.
“It was my mother who was there all of the time, no ifs, no ands and no buts. It wasn’t me who didn’t want to be close with my father. I didn’t make that decision. I was just 15.”
Some men might spurn a father who spurned them but that’s not what Mayweather will do this weekend.
“My mother, she was my mother and my father,” Mayweather said. “But, until now, I did have a father who was still living and I’ve got to acknowledge that.” (His mother is now age 77).
Come Tuesday, Mayweather, who is dealing with a debilitating lung disease, returns to his adopted hometown of Las Vegas. Then, he said, he will get back to the Mayweather gym and help his oft times estranged son finish preparation for his Sept. 19 comeback bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Today was not a day for boxing chitchat, it seemed inappropriate given the circumstances but I did ask “Pretty Daddy” if he might work his son’s corner on fight alongside his troubled brother, ex-world champion Roger Mayweather.
Friction between the two brothers in no family secret.
Floyd Sr. takes a bigger picture view on that mundane question.
“It'’s got nothing to do with my father because he didn’t know me,” Mayweather said. “But it all adds up to the fact that no father and no son should be separated. No father and no son should be away from each other. If my son asks me (to work the corner), fine. If he asks me, I will do it.
“I’m just trying to help my son any way I can.” [rc]
mlcmarley@aol.com
Copyright © 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com.
As Floyd Sr. buries his father, he considers
relationship with his own son (Guardian.UK)
MAYWEATHER - Theartha Mayweather departed this natural life August 15, 2009. Public viewing Friday, August 21, 1 to 5 p.m. and funeral services Saturday, August 22, family hour 11 to 12 Noon, with service at Noon at Brown's Funeral Home.
--Obituary Notice, Grand Rapids, MI, Press
Floyd Joy Mayweather Sr., age 56, is entitled to his heavy heart.
Forget the poetry spouting, cartoon character you know only from the HBO 24/7 fight hype series. Forget the ex-fighter turned trainer who trashes fighters and rival trainers alike.
There was no joy in Mayweather’s voice when I spoke to him by telephone Friday morning.
Tonight, Mayweather will be at his 81 year old father’s wake. Tomorrow, he will be a grieving son burying his Dad.
A grieving son, yes, but also a son who acknowledges that Papa was a rolling stone, that his father left his children in Grand Rapids and relocated to Toledo, Ohio, when Floyd Sr., amateur boxer, was only 15.
The son’s emotions are decidedly mixed.
“I do remember seeing him only four times since then,” Mayweather said. “I really had nothing to do with my father. I could’ve been close but I wasn’t. Even so, your father is still your father at the end of the day.
“It was my mother who was there all of the time, no ifs, no ands and no buts. It wasn’t me who didn’t want to be close with my father. I didn’t make that decision. I was just 15.”
Some men might spurn a father who spurned them but that’s not what Mayweather will do this weekend.
“My mother, she was my mother and my father,” Mayweather said. “But, until now, I did have a father who was still living and I’ve got to acknowledge that.” (His mother is now age 77).
Come Tuesday, Mayweather, who is dealing with a debilitating lung disease, returns to his adopted hometown of Las Vegas. Then, he said, he will get back to the Mayweather gym and help his oft times estranged son finish preparation for his Sept. 19 comeback bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
Today was not a day for boxing chitchat, it seemed inappropriate given the circumstances but I did ask “Pretty Daddy” if he might work his son’s corner on fight alongside his troubled brother, ex-world champion Roger Mayweather.
Friction between the two brothers in no family secret.
Floyd Sr. takes a bigger picture view on that mundane question.
“It'’s got nothing to do with my father because he didn’t know me,” Mayweather said. “But it all adds up to the fact that no father and no son should be separated. No father and no son should be away from each other. If my son asks me (to work the corner), fine. If he asks me, I will do it.
“I’m just trying to help my son any way I can.” [rc]
mlcmarley@aol.com
Copyright © 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com.
