Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Floyd Mayweather Jr: Reality-TV show scenes were fabricated

Commission accepts boxing champion’s explanations at meeting

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Takes Questions From NSAC

Steve Marcus

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. smiles during a Nevada State Athletic Commission meeting at the Sawyer State Building Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. Commissioners expressed concern about activities at his gym that were broadcast on Showtime’s “All Access” program.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Takes Questions From NSAC

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., center, arrives with Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, left, and attorney Shane Emerick during a Nevada State Athletic Commission at the Sawyer State Building Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. Commissioners expressed concern about activities at his gym that were broadcast on Showtime's Launch slideshow »

Jones and Cormier Fined For Brawl

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones appears before the Nevada State Athletic Commission at the Sawyer State Building Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014. Jones was fined and ordered to do community service for his role in a brawl with Daniel Cormier during a news conference at the MGM Grand last month. Launch slideshow »

All Access Doghouse Episode

Floyd Mayweather Jr. didn’t get much of a fight from the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a meeting Tuesday morning at the Grant Sawyer State Building.

The only thing that took a beating was Mayweather’s periodic “All Access” television show on Showtime — and it was mostly self-inflicted. The commission called upon Mayweather after coming away concerned with several incidents included in the series’ recent run leading up to his fight against Marcos Maidana two weeks ago.

Mayweather eased their minds by emphasizing that the reality show wasn’t as real as advertised.

“With ‘All Access,’ we’re able to edit and chop footage like we want to,” Mayweather said. “Everything that we do, we can edit it the way we want.”

Because the commission recently approved Mayweather for a promoter’s license with his fledgling Mayweather Promotions company, it wanted to ensure that the boxer understood he was now held to an elevated standard. “All Access” scenes such as an uninterrupted 30-minute sparring session, ringside gambling in the gym and the presence of marijuana at home were not to be tolerated.

By all accounts, the commission accepted Mayweather’s explanation of those moments being faked. The 37-year-old local pound-for-pound king left the meeting without punishment.

“I think you have acquitted yourself exceedingly well this afternoon,” Commissioner Skip Avansino told Mayweather after a 30-minute hearing.

The most unease was caused by a segment of the second episode where Mayweather staged a “doghouse” fight in his gym, pitting two boxers against each other in a sparring session with no time limit.

During the show, Mayweather described the format as a “fight to the death” where both competitors go at each other until one quits.

“When I first saw it, I was sitting back going, ‘oh my God, that can’t happen,’” said Commissioner Anthony Marnell III.

Mayweather asserted the “doghouse” never really occurred, not in the fashion it was depicted at least. Showtime officials offered no comment when reached by e-mail.

Mayweather said his gym focused on fighter safety above all else, with several high-level trainers and himself monitoring every practice session.

It was no different on the day Donovan Cameron and Hasim Rahman Jr. were put into the “doghouse.” They were just playing to the cameras.

“There were more than three of four breaks,” Mayweather said.

No one was actually betting on the outcome either, according to Mayweather. The broadcast showed several members of Mayweather’s “Money Team” pulling out wads of cash and picking a side.

“We try to be creative because, of course, it’s a new generation,” Mayweather said. “By us doing things that are different, we got better pay-per-view numbers this time around.”

He had a similar response to questions about the marijuana use on “All Access.” Although Mayweather was never shown with drugs, several females were smoking inside his house as he instructed an employee to buy rolling papers.

Lawyer Shane Emerick and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe defended Mayweather by referencing his career-long crusade against performance-enhancing drugs. They said he would never risk a failed drug test with second-hand smoke.

“We have a staff that works on ‘All Access,’” Mayweather explained. “We are given props or whatever we need. We asked to do something different. We think outside the box. I think that was the most interesting show we’ve ever done on Showtime. I don’t like to just sell the fight. I like to sell a lifestyle.”

That might be toned down on the next “All Access,” which won’t be until next year with Mayweather not planning to fight until May. Marnell instructed Mayweather to notify the commission of any potential controversy before the show aired.

Commissioner Bill Brady took it a step further, and asked Mayweather “to not cross the line.” But neither he nor any of his four colleagues could find reason to as much as question Mayweather's status as a licensed promoter.

On several unannounced trips to Mayweather Boxing Club over the years, Brady found the atmosphere closer to what Mayweather described than what the television show broadcasted.

“I know that’s not what a lot of people want to hear but I have to say what I’ve seen and what I believe,” Brady said. “I’ve never seen anything that would be detrimental or harmful to any fighters there. Just the opposite, I would even compliment Mr. Ellerbe and Mr. Mayweather for the way the gym is run.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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