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Sun May 03, 2009 3:40 pm EDT

Fight Night drama: Roach says Floyd Sr. showed up late

By Steve Cofield

Just because the fight is in the books, doesn't mean the angst between the Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao camps has been put to rest. Pacman trainer Freddie Roach dropped another bomb last night saying that Floyd Mayweather Sr. showed up an hour and a half late for the fight (1:43 mark).

Sounds ridiculous, right? Don't discard the possibility so quickly considering some of the drama that went down during the week. It started with reports from Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole and several British papers saying that the Hatton camp had already decided to fire Floyd Sr. and reached out to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer and Roach's lawyer to gauge the trainer's interest in working with Hatton after this fight. Schaefer and Nick Kahn went on the record confirming that calls had been made. Floyd Sr. then confirmed that there were issues with he and some Hatton campers, including Lee Beard. The statement was made to 15 media members during a roundtable discussion:

"I think we had a good camp. Was there a problem there? Yes. But I will say right here that the camp was good," Mayweather Sr. told Gareth A. Davies from the Telegraph. "Why pick on Lee out of everybody? You have all kinds of people coming in (to camp), not just me and Lee. But you could be on the right track."

The Guardian reports that was Floyd Sr. operating on his own schedule during the five week training camp in Las Vegas:

The build-up to the bout was marred by rumours of a split in the Hatton camp, with Mayweather's reportedly inexact timekeeping believed to have been an issue.

There were rumors swirling around the media center during the pre-fight that Floyd Sr. had been fired earlier on Saturday. Iole said on the ESPNRadio1100 postfight show that he was told Floyd Sr. and Hatton barely talked before the fight:

During the same post-fight show, Steve Kim from MaxBoxing.com said he thought Floyd Sr.'s behavior after the fight was bizarre. Kim saw Mayweather signing autographs and taking pictures with remaining crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena minutes after Hatton was brutally knocked out:

Floyd Sr. was also in "me-mode" during the postfight press conference telling The Guardian that Hatton blew it:  

"He didn't do as he was told," he said. "He didn't put his hands up. It was an error on his behalf. I was telling him in the dressing room before the fight, 'Make sure you keep your hands up'. Defense is very important. Defense can destroy a fighter."

Mayweather told everyone who'd listen last night that it's time for Hatton to hang up his gloves. After hearing some of the reported and rumored behavior, does Mayweather have any right to comment on the Brit's future?

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144 Comments

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  1. Nutcracker
    1. Posted by Nutcracker Sun May 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    I think it is clear no matter who hattons trainer is he just isn't top caliber material. his head was straight up, he was predictable and common. having said that, i think mayweather sr. is more of a liability than asset. he is overrated as a trainer imo.. there are tons of old school guys that can teach you to box, improve your hand speed, head movement, etc etc.. but if you are basically a pinto beneath the hood, there is only so much modification you can do to the engine. i always thought hatton was way overrated. i dont know how he beat kostya other than kostya must of lost his mojo. but now the filipino fans are going apesh$t saying manny is the best ever.. easy now pinoy fans. his last two wins were over a way over the hill dlh, and hatton who never saw a punch he didn't want to eat. pbf will be a whole other universe. as fast, if not faster hands, probably one of the best defensive fighters, and as good or better a counter puncher than pacman.. remember pacman has lost, pbf hasn't.. i am not a pbf fan. and i am happy for the filipino fans, but put some reason with your superlatives. i wonder if senior isn't back on that crack pipe...?????
  2. SouthCal21
    2. Posted by SouthCal21 Sun May 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    I agree with everything your saying nut....just glad we can post here without a thousand other posts watering down decent conversation....being from the phillipines, i have to admit i was screaming with excitement last night...i called my mom in san diego and my dad said he was going to have to peel her off of the roof cause she was sooo excited...i say this just to illustrate one point: my mom can be a pretty good example of someone who thinks manny is the best boxer ever and she has no idea what the hell shes talking about....she likes him cause they share the same heritage....this is what alot of pinoys are....fans of pac not of the sport....give pac credit though, he did what he was supposed to do in his last two fights and thats overwhelmingly dominate...your spot on though about PBF...hes in a whole different class than Hatton...styles make fights....Oscar and Ricky tried to take the fight to Pac and it turned out bad...thats not Money's style....not even a little bit....he will let Manny come to him and pepper him with precision counters...Manny is a perfect fighter to shoulder roll on....tougher to do with a southpaw but Floyd showed that he could do it when he fought Zab...i think Money takes a UD over manny after he stops Marquez late...
    sidenote: hopefully they can make that fight though....Floyds gonna want more money than Manny and we both know Manny's people can be like a bunch of Filipino women arguing over shoes when it comes to making deals...
  3. vegas_baby280
    3. Posted by vegas_baby280 Sun May 03, 2009 4:52 pm EDT

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    Easy to be a monday morning quarterback. plenty of blame to go around, but the bottom line is both mayweather and hatton are not in the same league as roach and pacquiao.before the fight, alot of trash talking goin on especially from mayweather, hatton camp but look who's crying now. hatton should retire along with mayweather sr. don't make people pity on your already sorry asses.
  4. SAY_WHAT?
    4. Posted by SAY_WHAT? Sun May 03, 2009 5:35 pm EDT

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    nutcracker do you know how to compare... hatton fought PBF and how long did it took for PBf knock out Hatton?.. PBF fought Golden Boy and what PBF did like always running around the gym such a boring fighter.. All he do is run when he knows that hes winning the round.. You called that a fighter.. PBF is a [profane].. so as his dad..
  5. MONGONI
    5. Posted by MONGONI Sun May 03, 2009 6:24 pm EDT

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    If figures all you out there would blame mayweather,that is so typical of you!! can't accept losing can you? how exactly is may sr. the blame? if ricky didn't listen then it is own stupid problem.what did being late have to do with anything? ricky is grown,he did not need may sr. to hold his hand.he lost on his own so get over it.may jr forever-panther power!!!
  6. SouthCal21
    6. Posted by SouthCal21 Sun May 03, 2009 6:53 pm EDT

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    josh r...your an idiot...only washed up hack analysts/journalists and you would compare fighters using your method...let me get this straight: if so and so beat so and so in a shorter amount of time than so and so did, then that means that so and so would beat so and so, right? do i have your method down correct?....look, styles make fights and can usually dictate how long they will last or how fast they are finished....but, by using your method if PBF finishes Marquez, then he can beat Manny right? Cause Manny has only gone the distance with him and squeaked out a very close decision and managed a draw....So all Floyd has to do is finish him and that makes him better than Pacman.....thats AWESOME, now floyd doesnt even have to fight Manny if he can just knock out JMM cause that must prove he is the better fighter....see where im going here, slick?...again, your an idiot...
  7. Mj S
    7. Posted by Mj S Sun May 03, 2009 8:02 pm EDT

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    Mayweather Sr, is an embarassment to all boxing trainers. He is the epitome of a stupid brainless nutshell that doesn't have a heart for his students. No boxer should trust him...ever...if they still want to have a good career in boxing.
  8. Mj S
    8. Posted by Mj S Sun May 03, 2009 8:12 pm EDT

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    Mayweather Sr, is an embarassment to all boxing trainers. He is the epitome of a stupid brainless nutshell that doesn't have a heart for his students. No boxer should trust him...ever...if they still want to have a good career in boxing.
  9. Da Truth
    9. Posted by Da Truth Sun May 03, 2009 8:49 pm EDT

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    julyfirehorse, I hear ya knockin at my door and I will kindly oblidge you by opening it. Nutcracker & SouthCal21 you are spot on with your comments to Josh r (malnourished and uninformed, some folks shouldn't be allowed to graduate.) LOL I didn't get to see the fight as I was dealing with a death in the family. I'll see the fight next week on HBO. Big props to Manny Pac, hell of a job from what I've heard. I just saw the highlights but didn't get to see the actual punch. No matter, Mayweather-Pacman will be the highest grossing fight in history no doubt. I'll take all bets on the Pacman. Mayweather will have to dig deep into the well to win but there is no doubt that he will. Can anyone say Ali Frazier? That will be the magnitude of this fight. Mayweather is just to sound, to smart and way to arrogant to go out and embarrass himself. I noticed the tale of the tape on Pacman. His forearms are huge for his size. Hatton's were like almost 2",s smaller. Hatton's defense is his offense and Manny's offense was far greater. Floyds defense is his strenth but his offense ain't no joke either. Therein lies the dilema; Are you more enamoured with Pacmans offense (which we should agree on is fantastic) or Floyds defense to set up his offense. I chose defense-offense over offense-??. And remember this; Floyd has rocket launchers of his own. And that's "Da Truth"..........Ruth
  10. Da Truth
    10. Posted by Da Truth Sun May 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    I should have added; On the scale of "Ali-Frazier" in interest, but without the political implications. "Da Truth"
  11. erwin
    11. Posted by erwin Sun May 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    no wonder why pretty boy divorced his dad....
  12. tommy
    12. Posted by tommy Sun May 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    Here's the deal on this post, pacman doesn't duck anyone! PBF does, and his dad is a dud as a trainer! PBF probably thinks that he'll just walk through JMM, but he'll need to box instead of run to get through this one. And to those of you who think Hatton was washed up, wasn't he "un"defeated prior to his last 2 fights? I don't remember him duckin' nobody either!
  13. xavier b
    13. Posted by xavier b Sun May 03, 2009 11:56 pm EDT

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    I am a filipino....................i salute british boxers coz they wont sleep in their vip suite rooms instead they sleep in the ring canvass............................kudos for all lousy british boxers.........................
  14. Emie
    14. Posted by Emie Mon May 04, 2009 1:30 am EDT

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    All you sorry losers, excuses after excuses, presumption after presumption, you are not in a barber shop…. MP does not talk like all the others, his fist do the talking… I tell you those fighters look like potatoes when in front of MP and people would tell that MP opponents were all past their prime because they can’t believe what MP is showing them, or you dumb losers… most of the time the truth hurts, my advise for you, next time put your money where it will surely earn and there will be no sour graping… better start your accounting, how much did you lose yet for betting against MP? Put all your expletives here and I won’t mind ‘cause I’m busy counting my winnings… he he he,
  15. Jaded Knight
    15. Posted by Jaded Knight Mon May 04, 2009 2:10 am EDT

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    nutcracker and southcal, you are spot on in your analysis and i salute you for being objective in your two cents. you take these comments to a whole new level of critical analysis and your observations are very well founded. kudos.
    however, i just have a slightly different opinion on how you view the celebrations being held while hatton was still lying on the ground. although i must say, after the initial 'woohoo!' i let out after that ko, i was worried for the brit. Having said that I thought i saw pacman going to check up on Hatton immediately after he sent him down but he was waved off by bayless (the kind of thing he did against Diaz). That's when the celebration began, and I agree that the celebrations should have been toned down a bit. But in my opinion, it doesnt mean he didnt show concern for his fallen foe.
    There's this side of me, the darker side of me, that says the celebration in question was justified, for all the trash the hatton camp mouthed all throughout the training camp. it was sort of an in-your-face retribution; they were talking trash, he was still the 'nice guy' with the biggest smile on earth, then bam! the mighty was humbled.
    But of course, i dont let this dark side rule me. I agree, they should have toned down the celebrations a bit :) (and im not saying this just to save my skin). i believe in proper sportsmanship myself.
  16. joyaxz
    16. Posted by joyaxz Mon May 04, 2009 4:25 am EDT

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    this is a very healthy discussion... all i can say is why do we always look for flaws? a win is a win and that's it.
    i also saw MP do the same thing he did for diaz after he knocked him out. manny is a great sport. he was able to absorb all the trash talking thrown by the opposite camp and yet didn't even retaliate. (now that's class)
    as for the critics of MP: there will be another discussion after the fight with mayweather jr... see you all soon!!!
  17. Mag S
    17. Posted by Mag S Mon May 04, 2009 5:18 am EDT

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    imho,roach is a hall of fame trainer. mayweather sr on the other hand,is all talk. im all for the trash talking but you have got to back it up. roach has no qualms about making predictions and bold statements because he knows he has done his job with manny. mayweather counts his chickens before they hatch. iv always wondered how mayweather sr could get jobs when even his own son doesnt want him as a trainer.
    as for the excessive(?) celebration,i saw pacquiao try to check on ricky as soon as the bell rang but bayless waved him off so as to give the medical personnel space.
    also,i laughed at mayweather sr's comment after the fight about hatton retiring. he said something like "he lost to my son and to lose to someone lower than that,i think he should retire." wtf? i am a filipino so i may appear biased but i think pacquiao could beat pretty boy and wipe that smug smile off his face. pacquiao's style has changed so much since he lost to morales. he now has power in both hands and has really improved his defense.if pretty boy gets caught,he's gonna wish he stayed home that day.
  18. Nutcracker
    18. Posted by Nutcracker Mon May 04, 2009 8:13 am EDT

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    Edel, had i bet this fight, i would of taken pacman and the ko before rd. 9 or so. i think that is what the 'line' was... cofield can tell you, he is a 'gamer'.. and actually i am in the barber chair, waxing poetic on all things pugilistic. isn't that what a blog is for??
    mag s. i hope you are right, i am not a pbf fan, but i cant deny his ability in the ring. would love to see him eat some 'humble pie'.....
  19. violet
    19. Posted by violet Mon May 04, 2009 9:58 am EDT

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    All I can say is WHO'S THE JOKE NOW?! L*sers! LOL Manny was right all along! LESS TALK LESS MISTAKES! A lesson That old Mayweather learned the HARD WAY!
  20. Mag S
    20. Posted by Mag S Mon May 04, 2009 11:16 am EDT

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    mayweather's power punches come from full wind up. if he gives pacquiao that much time,he'll eat two or three punches. plus i doubt he'll get a trainer better than roach who can help him adjust to any opponent's style.
    can we just give fighter and trainer of the year to manny and freddie already???
  21. Jhune F
    21. Posted by Jhune F Mon May 04, 2009 11:45 am EDT

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    In every great fighter there is always a great trainer. Roach compensate PACMAN very well. The relation is like Father & Son and you see the respect of each other. Pacman trust Roach too much that he always listen to him. The respect is the key importante in all their success. Of course Pacman is a very good student and Roach is a very good teacher. But until now Floyd 'Joy" Mayweahter Sr. still doesnt accept Manny as the Best boxer today....well we dont care the way he talk because as what Roach said before the fight "will see you in the ring". Manny your the best, you even stated on the press con that God protect you and hatton on the fight. And after the referee stop the fight.. He himself get down on his knee and thank God for the success. And for Ricky.... you want a rematch????? not in boxing but maybe on dart!
  22. tommy
    22. Posted by tommy Mon May 04, 2009 12:01 pm EDT

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    Mag S....good point about PBF....He's gonna have to reach way back to hurt him.....It's a shame that there are still suckers who'll take PBF senior for hire....he's a true bum. I predict, JMM decision....
  23. anon
    23. Posted by anon Mon May 04, 2009 12:12 pm EDT

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    Well first of all to those who's saying pacman didn't even check up on hatton you guys better re-watch the fight cause pacman did try to check up on hatton it just the ref didn't want him to get near hatton because of his state. now for the people saying pacman has a lost and PBF doesn't have one that doesn't matter now in my opinion pacman has improve so much since the morales fight. every single new fight he improves that makes manny unpredictable and to be honest I think if the manny now fights JMM he can definitely beat him and if the PBF did happen I'm pretty sure manny has a high chance of beating him. I mean it's really rare to see a fighter like manny he improves in every fight example like hatton he's decent boxer but he can't improve his skill but not manny in every fights he brings something new.
  24. DaLakerfan
    24. Posted by DaLakerfan Mon May 04, 2009 12:46 pm EDT

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    I hate sore losers who always try to make excuses for everything. Hatton made sure he was no less than his best- he got knocked da f out! And Manny was just getting started.. same goes w/ other fighters that were going to "beat" Pacman down. The man is Michael Jordan in boxing. Manny will slap Jr's dirty mouth on the canvass, too, and by that time, u chumps need a better excuse as to why MP isn't the BEST and shouldn't be compared to the likes of Ali, Sugar Ray, etc...
  25. DaLakerfan
    25. Posted by DaLakerfan Mon May 04, 2009 12:48 pm EDT

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    Mayweather Sr.- "That man, right there, is garbage!" Haha, straight from the man himself! ..(pac/hatton HBO 24/7).

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