FOR a man who has been incarcerated for domestic battery, Floyd Mayweather Jr may not be your choice of inspiration, but when the same man was named the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2013 by Forbes magazine, you begin to wonder whether the American pound for pound king is worth emulating.
This past week, it was reported that Mayweather, 37, who has won all 46 of his fights with 26 knockouts as a professional, made a whopping $105 million (BP 62.5 m) or K1 bn plus for his last two fights against Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Marcos Maidana to displace Cristiano Ronaldo to top spot.
Mayweather also topped the list in 2012 with $85 million (BP51m), ousting Tiger Woods who had been number one for the previous decade.
“I’m humbled and extremely fortunate to be recognised by Forbes as the highest paid athlete once again,” said the man fondly known as God’s gift to boxing.
What is it that has made this brash, sometimes enigmatic fighter the success he has been, earning almost $ 400 million since turning professional in 1996?
You should hear him say: “I’m doing something that no other athlete is doing, promoting myself (he runs a stable Mayweather Promotions) and seeing my hard work pay off in the form of record-breaking numbers. It’s all about hard work and dedication which is so important and a key part of my financial success.”
It’s no secret Mayweather’s work ethic is second to none, but it isn’t until you see it up close for yourself that you truly see and appreciate how superior Floyd is not just as a fighter, but an verall athlete.
Boxing Scene’s Luis Sandoval was at the Mayweather Boxing Club recently to see the champ in  action as he prepared to face Maidana and he was told Floyd had taken the previous day off so he’d come into this session with a vengeance; “they weren’t lying.”
Sparring was on the agenda on that day and more than a dozen gloves were laid out on the ring apron for Mayweather to choose from. The gym was packed with spectators and also fighters who already got their training session in for the day, but have stayed to watch boxing’s number one pound for pound fighter.
“Mayweather enters the gym and looks ready to go as the All Access camera crew is already rolling on his every move. Floyd lives to put on a show whenever he fights under the bright lights, but he also does the same under the lights of his gym as those in attendance are treated to a showcase of pure talent and skill,” says. Sandoval.
Floyd warns his sparring partner that he’d better have rounds in him because it’s going to be a long day “and long doesn’t even begin to describe it.” Three minute rounds may be the normal standard for every fighter, “but for Floyd, he takes it to another level. He spars unprecedented nine- minute rounds this day as he not only tests the skill set of his sparring mate, but also his endurance.”
Even in sparring his opponents seldom get the best of Mayweather as he dominates the action while giving his sparring partner an earful of taunts and boasting. The champ looks crisp and fluid and while his sparring partner is game, Floyd is just too good.
His sparring partner isn’t able to last a fourth round as sparring is stopped and Floyd now moves out of the ring and commences to punish the heavy bag. After working the bag  continuously with no breaks, he heads back into the ring for mitt work with Uncle Roger and then more work with co-trainer Nate Jones who wears the body suit.
The pace is relentless and breaks are seldom seen.
“The more time we go, he just gets more and more stronger. Training camp is getting better and better. It seems like the older he gets, the harder he works” said Camp Coordinator and cousin Dujuan Blake.
Need one say more?
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