Judge denies Mayweather’s request to leave jail early

By Dave Toplikar

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 | 6:23 p.m.

A Las Vegas judge has denied undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s request to serve the remainder of his 90-day jail sentence for domestic abuse under house arrest.

Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa put out a three-page order and decision late this afternoon. She said the sentence was appropriate.

She also said his claim that he was dehydrated and his estimate that he was consuming only 800 calories a day was “self induced.” He has chosen not to eat the jail food provided and has water available 24 hours a day, she said. Addressing another of his complaints, she said Mayweather has sufficient time and space to exercise.

Saragosa’s late-afternoon order effectively cancels Mayweather’s scheduled hearing Thursday in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Mayweather’s lawyers were expected to verbally argue his health was declining and that he might never fight again if he was not released.

The request came 12 days into Mayweather’s incarceration at the Clark County Detention Center for attacking his ex-girlfriend in front of two of their children.

Citing lack of exercise, poor nutrition and the isolated conditions under which Mayweather is being held because of his celebrity status, the boxer’s attorney, Richard Wright, argued in his motion that his client may never fight again if forced to remain in jail for the full 90-day term.

An advocate for victims of domestic violence had countered the fighter should have thought about those consequences before battering his girlfriend.

In the motion, Wright argues it is “inhumane” for Mayweather to be housed with felons, becasue he was convicted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. Mayweather, because of his celebrity, is held in lockdown 23 hours a day.

Saragosa wrote that at the time of the sentence, she considered the full range of punishment options available, including the statutorily required sentencing.

“After consideration of the arguments of counsel, the criminal record of the defendant and the seriousness of the crime committed, the court determined that a jail sentence was appropriate,” she said.

“The Court finds the alleged dehydration of the Defendant to be self-induced as water is made available to him 24 hours a day,” Saragosa wrote.

“The Court further finds the estimated intake of only 800 calories per day is also self-induced as Defendant chooses not to eat the food provided,” she wrote.

“Finally, the court finds that while the physical training areas and times provided to Defendant may not be consistent with his prior regimen, he is indeed provided sufficient space and time for physical activity if he so chooses."

She also said to the extent that his motion suggests a civil rights violation or potential challenge to the conditions of his confinement, the court finds such issues are outside the jurisdiction of Justice Court.