We have heard his brothers and nephew proclaim themselves the greatest this and the greatest that. Floyd Mayweather, Roger Mayweather and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have never met a microphone or a mirror they didn’t like. But that’s not Jeff Mayweather’s style. In fact, if it weren’t for the obvious resemblance, it would take a DNA test to prove he really is part of boxing’s flashiest family.
Nevertheless, it’s Jeff Mayweather’s quiet nature, along with his boxing savvy, that has made him a good fit as trainer for WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov. No boasting; all boxing.
“I think I was the right guy for (Ibragimov) because we have the same exact temperament,” Mayweather said. “He’s a quiet guy. He’s laid back. He’s humble. He’s gracious. That’s the same type of character that I have. So I don’t have to be out of character with him by calling him the greatest. I don’t like to sell fighters B.S. I compliment you when it’s deserved. I don’t stroke egos.”
After watching his brother Floyd Sr. gain national exposure by training Oscar De La Hoya and Roger getting rich training Floyd Jr., Jeff Mayweather gets his turn in the spotlight Saturday night when Ibragimov faces IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at the Garden. It’s the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999. HBO will televise.
Mayweather has been working with Ibragimov for nearly two years, helping him win the WBO title last June over Shannon Briggs, one of Mayweather’s former pupils. Mayweather was brought in to make Ibragimov, the 2000 Olympic Silver medalist, a more complete fighter. Ibragimov, 6-foot-2, is naturally a brawler, a style that doesn’t lend itself to a long career and could be especially dangerous against the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Klitschko, who has won four straight fights by knockout.
“When I came in I told him he was too small of a heavyweight to (brawl) with everyone,” Mayweather said. “You’re going to have a short career if you keep doing that. We’ve got to fight smart. We’ve got to become a thinking fighter.”
That’s the strategy for Saturday night. “We’re going to outsmart him, outthink him, outslay him, kind of like what David did to Goliath,” Mayweather said.
Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs) is a huge favorite, but Mayweather says that’s because most people haven’t seen Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs) fight.
“He’s not invincible,” Mayweather said of Klitschko. “He’s got three losses to guys who have less talent than Sultan Ibragimov has. That’s lost on the general fans, because all they see is Klitschko beating all the kings men and retreads, and they think he’s the greatest fighter out there in the heavyweight division.”
Tickets still are available for the fight, including a newly released block for $150 each.