"THE GANGSTER" VS "THE ABUSER"
(INSIDE BOXING) Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will battle Diego Corrales on January 20, 2001 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in what looks to be a battle of a pair of boxing’s most interesting characters. Both are dealing with PR problems.
Mayweather is said to be receiving $1.7 million while Corrales is getting paid $1.4 million for the bout.
Mayweather (24-0, 18 KO’s) is 23 years old and the current WBC junior lightweight champion. After firing his father Floyd Mayweather, Sr.(who refers to his son as a "would be gangster" as his trainer, Mayweather then allegedly had the dad’s van repossessed. His uncle, Roger now trains him and, according to the young Mayweather, has him throwing many more punches.
Corrales (33-0, 27 KO’s) is 23 years old and forfeited the IBF junior lightweight title after struggling to make the 130 pound weight limit. Corrales has a spousal abuse charge pending and is attempting to void a contract with his current managers.
Corrales is the making the sacrifice to make the 130 pound weight limit for one reason…his dislike of Mayweather.
When asked his impression of Mayweather, Corrales said, "The things he’s done, like kicking his own father out of the house is uncalled for. As a person, it’s a shame. Floyd’s a guy who acts tough when he has 7 or 8 of his buddies around but this time it’ll be just him and me."
This comment was in reference to the confrontation directly following the Lennox Lewis vs David Tua heavyweight championship bout held at the Mandalay Bay Casino where this writer witnessed several of Mayweather’s entourage verbally threaten Corrales. Corrales was not intimidated and continued to challenge Mayweather to "sign the contract!" Mayweather shouted obscenities and claimed "it’s going to happen!"
In reference to Corrales, Mayweather says he will "beat him like a dog on behalf of every battered woman out there. He can’t outbox me and I’m going to be throwing some hot stuff. It’s going to be exciting, but he’s a basic fighter. I’m the young veteran and it’s going to hard for anyone to beat me. I’ll hit him three times while he’s trying to hit me once".
Mayweather believes the four-inch height advantage enjoyed by Corrales will be nullified by his speed. "It’s a thinking man’s game and that’s why I’ve won so many fights. I may be in with a fighter who’s stronger than me but he can’t think".
Referring to the Mandalay Bay incident Mayweather said, "He’s blowing it out of proportion. We were just talking, there was nothing threatening about it. Boxing is a gentleman’s sport. I get paid to fight in the ring. I’m not getting into any street fight."
This fight was going to happen sooner or later. Both were originally penciled in to be co-main events on the undercard of a January bout. Mayweather against Alejandro Gonzalez and Corrales fighting WBC lightweight champ Jose Luis Castillo. This was to set up a show down between the two next summer at 135 pounds.
But promoter Bob Arum, sensing this thing was getting out of hand, decided now is the time to stage the event. "I thought I’d better get these two guys in the ring before they got into a fight somewhere else", said Arum.
Both of these fighters are young, tough and competetive. This fight should start the boxing year 2001 with a bang.