Sideshow doesn’t distract Floyd Jr.
Every now and then, you expect some director to sprint from behind a punching bag and scream, “Cut!”
Every now and then, you begin searching for a makeup artist to touch up a member of the entourage who appears to have no responsibility at all, but then realize there are too many of those folks to count.
Then the next bizarre moment arrives, and a public relations official continues to join the list of enablers surrounding Floyd Mayweather Jr., by offering, “Now that’s what I’m talking about,” to another of the fighter’s pretentious proclamations, and you recognize the scene continues.
That it never really ends.
That everyone has a part.
It’s a boxing edition of “The Truman Show,” only in this version, the star is very much in on the secret.
He feeds the homeless. He denies having troubles with the Internal Revenue Service. He buys shoes for disadvantaged children at elementary schools. He is sued for defaulting on an automobile loan, a repossessed car that reportedly was sold to another party in 2007 and yet one he still originally borrowed $415,000 for at 16 percent annual interest, which you would figure should have resulted in at least two of the enablers being fired for sheer stupidity, if not just poor math skills.
He holds fairs and purchases toys for needy kids. He is questioned by police about a shooting outside a skate rink and cleared of any involvement, and a subsequent search of his home produces guns and bulletproof vests, which one of the enablers quickly says belong to the bodyguards.
He talks adoringly about his children, about their talents and personalities and penchant for falling asleep in his car late at night as it follows him on training runs.
He calls boxing analyst Emanuel Steward an Uncle Tom.
He warns the media that his financial state and relationship with his father are personal issues and then goes on national television to flaunt the former while discussing the latter at great lengths.
He sounds genuine playing the family card.
He sounds desperate playing the race card.
He says insightful, eloquent things.
He says a lot of dumb things.
He preaches about always being in pristine condition.
He gets docked money after not making weight for tonight’s fight.
Churchill had it easy forecasting the Russians. That whole riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma idea wouldn’t begin to describe Mayweather.
But while it is impossible to interpret where the boisterous character ends and the real person begins, one thing has always remained constant about Mayweather: While his public life appears more Fantasyland than anything Walt Disney created, complete with a on-call support staff ready and willing to indulge his every whim and blindly support his every declaration, none of it ever has affected him inside a ring.
It shouldn’t again tonight.
There is not one area when analyzing a fight’s matchup — size, speed, strength, skill — where an older Juan Manuel Marquez owns an advantage over Mayweather.
The only edge Marquez might have is a stomach more able to digest liquid waste, but unless the nontitle welterweight fight at the MGM Grand Garden is decided by who can drink the most urine, Mayweather’s record at night’s end should stand at 40-0.
“We can never say never,” Mayweather said. “(Marquez) respects my fight game. He told me that from the beginning. I feel the same way.
“You always hear, ‘This guy does this good and that good.’ You never hear, ‘Floyd Mayweather does everything good.’ It’s God-given talent. One thing we understand is that God doesn’t make mistakes.”
Tonight’s fight has a far better chance of being boring than not. Mayweather by decision sounds about right.
The matchup has been hyped for months to laughable measures — the final news conference was Wednesday, but I’m fairly certain Mark Taffet of HBO is still there talking away in the dark — and now must go head to head with UFC 103 for pay-per-view buys. Those will be interesting final numbers, not that either sport can be trusted to be factual about them.
Whatever happens at the MGM Grand Garden, the cameras will continue rolling and the director will remain hidden and the enablers will give their lines on cue. It’s a fascinating thing, watching one of the greatest athletes in his sport’s history reside within such a world of imagination and controversy. The only thing missing at times is King Arthur’s carousel.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. isn’t the first athlete to live such an existence, but he just might be the best at putting the entire extravaganza aside and taking care of business when work beckons.
He should do so again tonight.
Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He also can be heard weeknights from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on “The Sports Scribes” on KDWN-AM (720) and www.infernosportsradio.com.
