Floyd Mayweather's early fight outfits sponsored by UFC's Dana White
LAS VEGAS -- Long-time boxing observers keenly remember Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s professional debut. On Oct. 11, 1996, at the Texas Station Hotel/Casino in North Las Vegas, Nev., the Olympic bronze medalist made his pro debut against Roberto Apodaca.
Kenny Bayless, who will be the third man in the ring when Mayweather takes on Manny Pacquiao on Saturday at the MGM Grand, refereed the Mayweather-Apodaca bout. Mayweather won that by a second-round TKO.
The judges were Jerry Roth and Patricia Morse-Jarman, both of whom are still active today and have worked many Mayweather fights, as well as the late Art Lurie. Al Bernstein, who will do the analysis on Saturday's pay-per-view broadcast with Jim Lampley on play-by-play, worked the ESPN2 show that night.
Mayweather wore a primarily black outfit that night, with his first name emblazoned across the waist and gold stripes on the outside of the right leg. Across the back of his jacket was "Bullenbeiser Boxing Gear."
The owner of Bullenbeiser Boxing Gear might be pretty familiar to fight fans now: UFC president Dana White.
"Floyd wore my stuff for his first four fights," White told Yahoo Sports. "I still have the stuff somewhere, though I don't know where it is."
White has a long history in boxing and because both are long-time Las Vegans, they have come across each other numerous times in local gyms. White, who trained amateur fighters and also refereed, worked alongside Roger Mayweather at the United Champions Gym.
White will return to boxing, at least for two nights, when he serves as an expert analyst for Yahoo Sports' coverage of the fight on Friday following the weigh-in at the MGM Grand and then Saturday after the fight. White will help break down the fight, determine the keys to victory for each man and point out how they've changed over the years.
He'll also provide his expertise to give fans insights on things like ticket sales and pay-per-view sales.
White said he is donating the fee Yahoo Sports will pay him for his time to charity.
