LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t exactly news that Floyd Mayweather Sr. talked more and said less Thursday, but he did concede there were problems in Ricky Hatton’s training camp for his junior-welterweight fight Saturday night against Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand.
“It doesn’t mean it’s not a good camp if we have a problem,’’ Mayweather said. “Was there a problem? Yes.’’
When pressed to be more specific during the second session of interviews that started with Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach, Mayweather indicated there was a personality20conflict with assistant corner man Lee Beard.
“Not just me and Lee,’’ Mayweather said. “But you might be on the right track.’’
Roach, who has been repeatedly mocked in an ongoing war of words between the trainers, alluded to trouble in the Hatton camp when he said Wednesday and again Thursday that Mayweather had been late for an eight-round sparring session.
When asked about Roach’s comment Thursday, Mayweather laughed and said a lot, but he didn’t exactly answer the question, didn’t answer it at all. Instead, he continued to mock Roach and brag about how he was the best trainer in history.
“I don’t think Floyd is the right fit, the right style, for Ricky,’’ Roach said. “Floyd is me-me-me. But it’s about the fighter.’’
At opening bell Saturday, it will be about both of them. The question about whether the well-documented sideshow will have any impact on the fighters is probably better left open to speculation from Dr. Phil or some self-appointed ringside shrink.
Mayweather believes he is landing all the psychological blows.
“I’m in Freddie’s head,’’ he said.
So what.
Pacquiao’s head is the one that will take and duck the real punches. Can anybody figure out what’s going on in there? Pacquiao’s playful eyes and enigmatic smile are tough to read. He doesn’t say much and the Filipino is a relative newcomer to English, which means he probably has a tough time understanding Mayweather anyway.
Trouble in Hatton’s camp could have been a distraction. But the British junior-welterweight isn’t exactly an insecure personality whose concentration can be easily interrupted by an inevitable and perhaps momentary disruption. If Hatton were that fragile, he wouldn’t be a challenger for Pacquiao’s perch at the top of the pound-for-pound debate.
Mayweather says he made a lot of changes in Hatton’s style. The theory, at least, is that Hatton has morphed into less of a brawler and more of boxer.
But, Mayweather said, “if he goes back to the old Ricky, it’ll be good enough to do the job.’’
The other Mayweather
The possibility of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s comeback has been impossible to ignore during the Pacquiao-Hatton buildu p. Juan Manuel Marquez, who has arrived in Las Vegas for Saturday night’s fight, is being mentioned as Mayweather’s first opponent in a comeback that could lead to the Pacquiao-Hatton winner.
Even a date is rumored. July 18 has been reserved by the MGM Grand, although the guessing game indicates that mid-September is more likely.
Despite uncertainty, there are millions of reasons to bet on a Mayweather comeback. He has an IRS bill for a reported $6.5 million. A Las Vegas jewelry store is suing him. In an eroding economy, there are reports the Mayweather’s investments in real estate and other property have shrunk like a 401K plan. Still, negotiations for a fight with Mayweather are problematic.
If Pacquiao wins, promoter Bob Arum said he would not sit down and bargain with Mayweather representative Al Haymon.
“I ha ve no dislike for Floyd whatsoever,’’ said Arum, a former Mayweather promoter. “That’s not a factor. But I negotiations have to be with somebody I trust. I don’t want to deal with any sleazebags.’’
Arum said he would bargain with Golden Boy Promotions, the Oscar De La Hoya-owned company and Hatton’s promoter. He also said he would negotiate with Don King, who has been rumored as possible promoter for Mayweather.
“If Don King was on the other side, I would have no problem,’’ Arum said. “Obviously, there would be some posturing. But we have done deals before.’’
However, Arum is not convinced that Mayweather would be the biggest fight for Pacquiao if the Filipino beats Hatton. Miguel Cotto has been mentioned
“I’ll give you an even bigger fight, potentially, against Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.,’’ Arum said of a fight that would draw on the Filipino’s growing stardom and a Mexican market loyal to the son of that nation’s biggest legend.
Notes, Quotes, Oddservations
· Even if Pacquiao beats Hatton, Roach doesn’t foresee a fight with Mayweather. “Floyd doesn’t like to take chances, which is why he won’t fight Manny,’’ Roach said.
· Junior-middleweight Erislandy Lara (4-0, 3 KOs), a Golden Boy prospect from Cuba, is on Saturday night’s undercard against Chris Gray (11-7, 1 KO) of Baton Rouge, La. De La Hoya said he told Lara that it took him 11 fights to win a major title. “He told me he could=2 0do it in seven,’’ De La Hoya said.
· Hatton’s brother, Matthew (35-4-1, 13 KOs), is on the undercard in a welterweight bout against Mexican Ernesto Zepeda (39-11-4, 34 KOs). Matthew said he struggled for awhile to establish an identity of his own “A little bit,’’ said Matthew Hatton, who hopes to fight for an IBO title in his next bout. But Matthew also says he has learned lot from his brother. He says they have sparred. “About 100 rounds,’’ said Mathew, who worked with Ricky before his victory in November over Paulie Malignaggi.
· How big of a star is Pacquiao becoming? Here’s a clue: He met with former Presdeint Bill Clinton at the Mandalay Bay this week. Maybe Clinton gave him some tips on how to win an election. Pacquiao is 0-1 in his political career.
· And fear of swine flu is impossible to escape, even in Las Vegas. Nobody is wearing masks on the Strip. But Mexican junior-welterweight Omar Chavez (14-0-1, 10 KOs) was still traveling Thursday from his home in Culiacan for an undercard bout against Tyler Ziolowski (11-6, 6 KOs) of Saint Joseph, Miss. “Omar will be arriving, mask and all, from Mexico, this afternoon,’’ Arum said Thursday at a late-morning news conference.