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Almost every famous boxer is involved in some controversy or the other, and Floyd Mayweather is no exception. 'The Best Ever' has had more than his fair share of scandals and controversies over the course of an illustrious boxing career.
Mayweather might be the best boxer of his generation, a technician and magician in equal parts, but he is also one who is often talked about in a vilified manner. He is one of the richest combat sports athletes in the world, who makes news for several wrong reasons and plenty of right ones as well.
On that note, here's a look at the five most controversial incidents involving Floyd Mayweather.
#5 Floyd Mayweather's racial slur against Manny Pacquiao
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are known to be old foes. The two fought in 2015, with 'Pretty Boy' Mayweather winning the fight via unanimous decision. However, the rivalry doesn't seem to have ended to date. Five years before the bout between the two, Mayweather was putting out hateful messages about Pacquiao.
Floyd Mayweather posted a video on his social media account with a hateful and racial message against Manny Pacquiao, who was in the midst of a three-city tour to promote his fight with Antonio Margarito. Mayweather had said:
"As soon as we come off vacation, we're going to cook that little yellow chump. Once I stomp the midget, I'll make that mother f***** make me a sushi roll and cook me some rice. He better make me a shrimp tempura cut roll... I'm gonna take that motherf***er to the teppenyaki room and chop his ass up with some rice."
The video posted by Floyd Mayweather caused a huge controversy. His self-made internet video received the strongest rebuke from the National Federation of Filipino American Association (NaFFAA). The NaFFAA's national chairman Greg Macabenta slammed Mayweather for his controversial statements against Pacquiao, who is an icon in his country, saying:
"This disgusting diatribe against Pacquiao is a racial slur against all Filipinos and Filipino Americans and an embarrassment not only to the boxing community, but to all Americans. Talking trash may be common between boxing rivals, but Mayweather's racially laced profanities brazenly crossed the line of decency and respectability."
Facing huge backlash for his controversial comments, Floyd Mayweather issued an apology the very next day. In another video message, he said:
"I do want to apologize for what happened the other night. I want to apologize to everybody because everybody thought that it was a racist comment that I said. I don't have a racist bone in my body. I have nothing but love for everybody. Forgive me for saying what I said. I was just having fun. I didn't really mean it. Nothing in a bad way. So let's stay on this roller coaster ride and keep riding, baby. It's all love."
#4 Floyd Mayweather sentenced to three months in jail after pleading guilty to battery
Floyd Mayweather was sentenced in 2011 to serve three months in jail after he pleaded guilty to a charge of battery and two counts of harassment. It all started when the boxing legend punched the mother of his three children, Josie Harris, at her home.
Mayweather was later arrested. According to an arrest report, along with assaulting Josie Harris, Mayweather had also threatened her, saying,
"I'm going to kill you and the man you are messing around with."
Floyd Mayweather was initially sentenced to six months in jail on misdemeanor charges, fined $2,500 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service. Apart from that, he was ordered to attend long-term domestic violence counseling.
His sentence was supposed to be reduced to 90 days on the condition of him successfully serving the first 90 days. Mayweather's sentence was also postponed to allow him to fight Cinco de Mayo. However, staying in prison was hard for the boxing great, who complained about mistreatment from the officers, among other things.
On release, he was received by his family members, his manager Leonard Ellerbe, and rapper 50 Cent.
#3 Floyd Mayweather got into a fight with his father, called him a "fa***t" on camera
Floyd Mayweather has disrespected several people in his life, but starting a beef with his own father is by far the biggest controversy he has started.
While on HBO's 24/7, Mayweather got into a heated argument with his father at their gym and let his emotions get the better of him. Not caring about the cameras that were still rolling, Floyd Mayweather dealt some really insulting comments to his father, saying:
"You couldn't fight worth s**t. You weren't never nothing but a motherf***ing cab driver... You weren't s**t as a fighter, so how you going to be something a trainer? You wasn't s**t as a motherf***ing fighter. Get the f**k out of my gym. F***ot.
For people who have been following Floyd Mayweather, it is a known fact that he has a strained relationship with his father. Nonetheless, this particular incident was so controversial that it raised even the eyebrows of his own fans.
Watch the controversial incident below:
#2 Floyd Mayweather's sucker punch against Victor Ortiz
Floyd Mayweather faced fellow American boxer Victor Ortiz for the WBC title at the iconic MGM arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2011.
The bout started with Mayweather bossing around Ortiz in the first few rounds. However, the tempo changed when Ortiz found some success in the fourth round and landed a few significant shots, cornering Mayweather.
The urge to come up victorious must have been overwhelming for Victor Ortiz, who then deliberately headbutted Floyd Mayweather, busting open a cut. The referee intervened and warned Ortiz, while also giving him a 1-point deduction. However, as Ortiz proceeded to apologize to Mayweather and hug him, the latter caused another controversy.
As Ortiz began to separate with his hands to the side after apologizing, Mayweather sucker-punched him with a vicious left and then a quick right. The combination sent Ortiz straight to the ground and filled the arena with sounds of disbelief. As Ortiz could not beat the referee's count, Mayweather was announced the winner in the fourth round via KO.
While Floyd Mayweather extended his boxing record to 42-0 with the KO win, it marred his image even further in combat sports. He is remembered to this date, in a bad light, for his highly unsportsmanlike behavior.
#1 Floyd Mayweather went on a rant against HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant
Moments after he knocked out Victor Ortiz at the MGM Grand Arena, Floyd Mayweather was interviewed by HBO broadcaster Larry Merchant. While Mayweather had won the bout against Ortiz and was being propped up by his cornermen, Merchant chose to quiz him about the unsportsmanlike blow.
Floyd Mayweather tried to be politically correct, saying that it was a fair move. He stated that Victor Ortiz should have paid attention to the ''protect yourself at all times' rule. But Larry Merchant was having none of it. When he pressed Mayweather to answer his question honestly, 'Money' lost his temper and went on a rant against the HBO broadcaster.
Interrupting Merchant, Mayweather said during the interview that was being telecast on live TV:
"You never give me a fair shake. So I'm gonna let you talk to Victor Ortiz, alright? I'm through. They can put somebody else up here to give me an interview. HBO needs to fire you. You don't know s*** about boxing. You ain't s***."
The incident snowballed into a big controversy. But Mayweather defended his words against Larry Merchant and said that he didn't regret them.
