Mayweather’s reality may be too real for younger viewers

In the debut episode of HBO’s “Mayweather-Mosley 24/7” last week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. curses a blue streak as he berates Shane Mosley while preparing for their May 1 welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden.

But depending on when and how the reality series is watched, the profanity might have been missing. HBO provides two versions of “24/7” to its affiliates — an unedited late-night “mature audience” version and a “PG-14” version that airs during the day.

“All HBO programming has two versions,” a network spokesman said. “It’s an agreement we have with our affiliates.”

Some cable and satellite systems show both, and others air one version. Cox Cable spokesperson Stephanie Stallworth said both versions of “24/7” are being shown on the system but at different days and times during the week.

“HBO schedules their programming, and in Las Vegas that version, which is on Channel 200 on Saturdays, is the ‘MA-rated’ version and on Mondays on HBO OnDemand on Channel 1,” she said. “But if you watch it on Cox ‘OnDemand Free Zone’ later in the week, you’ll get the PG version.”

■ MAYWEATHER-MOSLEY OFFICIALS — The Nevada Athletic Commission selected Las Vegas’ Kenny Bayless to referee Mayweather-Mosley. Las Vegas judges Dave Moretti, Adalaide Byrd and Robert Hoyle will score the fight.

■ FLOYD BIG FAVORITE — When Station Casinos posted Mayweather-Mosley odds six weeks ago, Mayweather was a minus-250 favorite and Mosley plus-200. On April 1, Mayweather was minus-330 and Mosley plus-250.

As of Friday, Mayweather was minus-450 and Mosley plus-325.

The round proposition bet on whether the fight goes the distance hasn’t changed: minus-320 it goes the full 12 rounds and plus-240 it won’t.

■ HOPKINS-JONES NUMBERS — The Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones Jr. fight April 3 at Mandalay Bay produced a live gate of $1,198,200, according to numbers released by the athletic commission.

There were 4,240 tickets sold and 2,311 complimentary tickets issued, with 3,272 tickets going unused.

■ PRIMM CARD — Veteran junior welterweights Julio Diaz and Hermann Ngoudjo will headline a card May 14 at Star of the Desert Arena. The 10-round fight will be televised on ESPN2 as part of its “Friday Night Fights” series.

Diaz (36-6, 26 knockouts) is a two-time world champion. Ngoudjo is 18-3 with 10 KOs, but his losses have been against Jose Luis Castillo, Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Urango.

Tickets for the card, promoted by Guilty Boxing, Vega Boxing and Thompson Boxing Promotions, cost $50 for ringside and $10 for general admission.

■ FUNEKA SUSPENDED — The athletic commission on Friday issued a temporary suspension of South African lightweight Ali Funeka, who tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic, after his fight with Joan Guzman on March 27 at the Hard Rock Hotel.

Funeka, who lost a 12-round split decision, has until May 3 to answer the complaint.

■ REMEMBERING MERCANTE — Hall of Fame referee Arthur Mercante Sr. worked 145 title fights but, surprisingly, none in Nevada. He did work as a judge in Las Vegas.

According to NAC records, Mercante, who died April 10 at age 90 from cancer, was 83 when he judged the Erik Morales-Bobby Boy Velardez WBC featherweight title fight May 3, 2003, at Mandalay Bay.

But Mercante made his name as a ref.

“He had the mutual respect of everyone,” said Marc Ratner, a former NAC executive director. “He cared about the boxers, and with his demeanor and the way he took charge, he was the epitome of what a referee should be.”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.