Mayweather vs Ortiz: Floyd Mayweather Jr on Conan (Video)

by Scott Christ on Sep 13, 2011 3:59 PM EDT in Boxing Interviews & Quotes

For those who missed it, as I did, here's the full interview from Floyd Mayweather Jr's Monday night appearance on Conan O'Brien's TBS late night show.

Mayweather does, you know, OK in the format. Without getting to play his character (or caricature) he never comes off quite so charismatic. He's a "24/7" creation, or perhaps "24/7" is a creation of his. "Money Mayweather" isn't really present here -- he's just Floyd, and he's often at a loss for anything to say, which Howie Mandel encounters quickly. Floyd isn't particularly quick or witty. Like a pro wrestler, he does better with a rehearsed promo he's probably given to a mirror at The Big Boy Mansion.

But it's pretty good promotion, because this "other side" of Floyd, which is probably closer to the real guy behind the ridiculousness, can be quietly charming. He's just a guy, not a fearsome combat athlete.

This probably didn't do anything to sell the fight to someone on the fence, but it's never bad to get the fighters out there.

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Goofy, quiet and unfunny Floyd is OK. It’s unfunny, loud and goofy Floyd I can’t stand.

"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."

by Oli Goldstein on Sep 13, 2011 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

This is a rather weird look at Floyd. I mean, I understand what you’re saying about how it’s more comfortable for him to be in the 24/7 format, but he was also loud and obnoxious in his interview with Brian Kenny, for instance. So why is he all shy and quiet here? It does seem like he’s at a loss for words many times. And his jokes have no timing. I’m guessing Conan didn’t like doing that interview too much. It was awkward.

But you can definitely understand why he “plays” the heel then. He would be Chad Dawson if he didn’t have this obnoxious and grating character.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Sep 13, 2011 5:46 PM EDT reply actions

He would be Chad Dawson if he didn’t have this obnoxious and grating character.

He’s 20 times the talent Dawson is.

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on Sep 13, 2011 6:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I meant in terms of being a draw.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Sep 13, 2011 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions

And I was trying to exaggerate, but really, a defensive fighter with a dull personality would not draw well at all, I think.

Bob Arum would promote Lucifer himself if he could put asses in the seats.

by Apprentice on Sep 13, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I hesitated a bit before I watched this, but I don’t think it reflected too badly at all on Mayweather.

He was in a situation which I assume he knew would be nonconfrontational, and he seemed almost asleep. Also, O’Brien is paid to be nonstop in conversation, just to keep the flow going. I thought Mayweather had two or three understatedly good responses (“that’s another house,” for instance").

His sound byte about how simple drug testing is for everyone, and how he’s setting a moral example, may resonate with a few. But those few will not have followed the entire, twisted and questionable story.

It was entertaining, though. I still detest the guy.

by DrRck on Sep 13, 2011 5:48 PM EDT reply actions

I thought “my children like Harry Potter. So that’s one thing they have in common,” was pretty good.

If he’d only act like this more often I could like him.

There is no safety in numbers, or in anything else--James Thurber, 1939

by BoxAnne on Sep 13, 2011 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

That was a really good line.

by DrRck on Sep 13, 2011 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

2 things

1. i think seeing shy at a loss for words floyd is very interesting. at this point this kind of stuff interests me more than “money” on 24/7. just like scott said i think this is actually closer to the guy floyd actually is. he seems almost embarrassed by the attention here. i think this is much more charming than money mayweather that cusses and throws fits and goes on rants. cant wait for the fight

and 2. and this happens a lot. but its always crazy to see just how small these guys are. floyd is tiny when compared to conan.

"After this, I'm gonna kick Bob Arum's ass."
-George Lopez

by Eddie Gonzalez on Sep 13, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions