The merry Mayweathers: Legendary boxing family makes amends

By Andy Samuelson

Monday, Sept. 14, 2009 | midnight

Perhaps it was the fact that Floyd Mayweather Sr. had to bury his 81-year-old father, Theartha, last month, or maybe dealing with his own life-altering disease, sarcoidosis, helped the longtime boxing trainer have a change of heart.

Whatever the reason, Mayweather and his world champion son, Floyd Mayweather Jr., have patched up their near-decade-long feud.

“It's a very good feeling. It's been nine years,” the 56-year-old Mayweather Sr. said of reuniting with his son in and out of the boxing ring. “That's a long time. But we both got older, and we both used some common sense."

While Floyd Sr.’s brother, Roger, will still be the head trainer for Mayweather Jr.’s coming-out-of-retirement match against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday at the MGM Grand, Floyd Sr. will be in the building cheering his son on from his own corner, instead of outside the ring.

“My dad understands that Roger is my trainer, but I love when he comes down to the boxing gym and support me. Who wouldn’t want their mother or father to support them,” said the undefeated (39-0) Mayweather Jr.

“It’s just like when you’re a kid and you’re playing pee-wee league football, you want your parents there on the side. You feel that much more confidant. It makes me smile when my mother comes to watch me at the gym, just like when my dad comes.”

The colorful Floyd Sr. is equally all smiles when talking about the recent reunion with his son.

“I missed my son first, but I also missed the boxing," he said. "That's a big part. That's what we lived for. I told him, 'You're going to be great. We're going to be great together.'”

While Marquez hopes to have something different to say about that, Floyd Sr. said his son looks sharp in his training sessions.

"He's bigger and he's faster (than Marquez). That's two important factors," Floyd Sr. said. "He's looking sharp in training.”

Floyd Sr. says that helping out with his son hasn’t been a burden on his brother.

“Me and Roger don’t have any problems. I am his father regardless to who is his trainer,” he said. “We’re back on the same page and everything is great.”

Roger says he has tried to stay clear of the pair’s problems in the past, but admits it’s nice to see the two back together.

“It’s kind of their deal, but I’m happy to see them working things out,” he said. “They’re family, that’s the way it is supposed to be.”

The elder Mayweather said his family is no different than anyone else’s, except for the publicity (positive and negative) the prized pugilists have been placed under.

“Every family is gonna have arguments, every family is gonna have fights. Everybody’s family is gonna have differences. The only difference is my family is in the light right now,” he said.

And for the first time in a long time, the Mayweathers all are focusing their fighting energy on a common opponent instead of each other.

“The family is back together and everything is going good,” Mayweather Jr. said with a big smile.

Andy Samuelson can be reached at andy.samuelson@lasvegassun.com or 702-948-7837.