Image via Complex Original
Floyd Mayweather likes to fight. A lot. So if you say something that he doesn't like, he will disagree with you and he will start an argument with you, regardless of who's watching. Just take a look at what he did recently when a woman approached him and told him that she didn't know who he was. Rather than just brushing her off, Mayweather spent time—quite a bit of time actually—arguing with her about why she should know who he is. It made some people mad, but Mayweather didn't care. Arguing gave him the chance to say what he wanted to say to the woman.
At this point, Mayweather's arguments have become legendary. From the disagreements he's had with his dad Floyd Mayweather Sr. to the issues he's had with boxing analysts, he's argued with everyone. So after seeing him get into a verbal altercation with the woman in London, we decided to take a look back at Floyd Mayweather's Most Memorable Arguments. Watch him go.
Argues With a Woman Who Says She Has No Idea Who He Is
Year: 2014
Takeaway Quote: “The Money Man, he takes 60 minutes and makes over 100 million.”
It may not be easy for Floyd to accept this, but there really are people out there who have no idea who he is. Obviously, this is entirely baffling to the Money Man, who is clearly so rich that he goes to the barber shop even though he doesn’t have any hair. His recent argument with a fellow patron who did not know him was hilarious because it’s clear how much it genuinely bothers Floyd that this random lady doesn’t recognize him.
Jr. vs. Sr.
Year: 2011
Takeaway Quote: “You ain't nothin' but a muthafuckin cab driver.”
Floyd and his father have never had an easy relationship, and on more than one occasion they have gone years without speaking to one another. This blowup that aired on the August 2011 season premiere of Showtime’s 24/7: Mayweather-Ortiz illustrated just how bad things could be between the father and son. Not only did Floyd call his dad a homosexual slur, but he makes sure to tell the cameras that all credit for the Mayweather name being where it is belongs to him and his uncle/trainer Roger. It was clearly uncomfortable for Floyd’s entourage, who you could basically feel tense up through the screen, and watching their reactions certainly flies in the face of the popular theory that this particular argument was staged.
Tells T.I. to “Control his B*tch”
Year: 2014
Takeaway Quote: “Control yo bitch, muthfucka.”
Floyd was having such a great night this past May, and went to wind things down at a classic late night Vegas spot: Fat Burger. Unfortunately, T.I. was waiting for him and was none too pleased that Floyd had been seen earlier in the night with Tiny, T.I.’s wife. The wild brawl between the two entourages included thrown chairs and significant police presence, and in the aftermath nobody has really discussed exactly what happened. Perhaps this shall forever remain a mystery.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Larry Merchant
Year: 2011
Takeaway Quote: “HBO needs to fire you! You don't know shit about boxing! You ain't shit!”
Clearly, Floyd did not want to get into a long conversation with Larry Merchant after Mayweather’s victory over Victor Ortiz in September of 2011, but Larry started firing away regardless. Floyd had just knocked Ortiz out in highly-controversial fashion, as Ortiz had seemingly lowered his guard to touch gloves with Mayweather in a display of sportsmanship and Floyd responded with a vicious combo that knocked the challenger down. Merchant kept pressing Floyd on the matter in the post-match interview, and finally Floyd erupted. He told Merchant that HBO should fire him, and Merchant responded by telling Floyd “I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass!” We’d totally pay to see that fight.
Mayweather vs. ESPN's Brian Kenny
Year: 2009
Takeaway Quote: “I forgot, I'm talking to Brian Kenny, a guy who's never laced up gloves a day in his life, who don't know nothing about boxing.”
After a brief retirement, Floyd decided to return to the ring in 2009 to fight Juan Manuel Marquez. The fight the world wanted to see, however, was Mayweather against new star Manny Pacquiao, who was widely considered to be equally as good as Floyd. SportsCenter anchor and boxing expert Brian Kenny started an interview with Floyd by calling him the “former” best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, which did not go over well. He then pressed Floyd on the topic in their interview, and fighter and host engaged in a 13 minute argument that, if nothing else, made for riveting television.
Trades Verbal Jabs with Shane Mosley
Year: 2010
Takeaway Quote: “I'mma get the kid a Mayweather suit, a custom suit, know what I'm saying? Some real gators!
points to Mosley's suit This off the rack.”
Grown men arguing over whose suit is tailored and who's is off the rack? No this isn't an argument from an episode of America's Next Top Model. These are two future Hall of Fame boxing champions going at one another about the quality of their suits. And people wonder how boxing has fall off so quickly.
Nearly Trades Blows with Ruben Guerrero
Year: 2013
Takeaway Quote: “You guys like that shit? Like this guy? The womanbeater? He must've learned that from his dad!”
Ruben Guerrero delivered more damage in this press conference than his son did over 12 rounds. Ruben brought up Floyd's history of domestic violence all while dressed like one of the Lil Homie figurines. It's all about balance, people.
Tells Jim Rome He's the Greatest Boxer of All Time
Year: 2010
Takeaway Quote: “I have to [put myself ahead of guys like Ali and Sugar Ray Robinson]. Why Muhammad Ali and not me? Ali never even threw no body punches.”
Sugar Ray Robinson? Nope. Muhammad Ali? Nah. Joe Louis? No. The greatest boxer of all time–according to the Money Man himself–is Floyd Mayweather. Even haters have to admit that his confidence is unwavering. Many argue that he's never fought a Hall of Famer who was still in their prime, much less had a fight that is up there with the Thrilla in Manilla but all of those opinions are mute in Floyd's mind.
Brushes Off 50 Cent's Literacy Insults
Year: 2014
Takeaway Quote: “I'd be perfect at reading if it was how I had to feed my family.”
Floyd Mayweather and 50 Cent's feud over the summer was one of the season's most-discussed topics in pop culture. The two have been snipping back-and-forth at one another for awhile now, but their arguing reached its peak when 50 called out Floyd's reading ability, challenging him via Instagram to read a page out of a Harry Potter book on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. The heat on Floyd only grew hotter after Power 105.1's Charlamagne Tha God released audio footage of Floyd struggling to read while doing radio drops for tehe station.
However, Floyd's response to the situation was classic Floyd. Posting on his Instagram, Mayweather took two pictures of two separate checks worth a total of $72,276,000. Anyone can read a number like that, right?
Goes Off on Manny Pacquiao
Year: 2010-Present
Takeaway Quote: “Miss Pac Man is broke and desperate for a pay day.”
The public has always been eager to see a fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, the two greatest fighters still active in the ring. However, since 2009, when talks first started developing about a possible bout between the two, we've been constantly teased yet shown nothing. During this time, Pacquiao and Mayweather's respective camps have shot back and forth at each other, with implications of steroid use and disputes over testing causing the greatest rift in negotiations. Mayweather also delivered a regrettable rant against Mayweather in 2010 when he called Pacquiao a “yello chump” , as well as a homophobic slur. He quickly apologized for the remarks.
Most recently, Pacquiao fired away at Floyd Mayweather during a press conference in the Phillipines, calling him “an uneducated person” and saying Mayweather “should fear God.” Floyd responded on his Instagram account, showing three pictures of Pacquiao on the mat, with a caption reading, “My new boxing DVD is coming soon and is called “3 Ways to Sleep”. Back, Face and Butt and I'm Falling & I Can't Get Up. Miss Pac Man is broke and desperate for a pay day. Your Pay-Per-View numbers are a joke. www.themoneyteam.com.”
When will we see the two settle their arguments with their fists instead? Maybe never, but so long as Money Mayweather and Pac-Man keep on throwing verbals jabs at each other, we'll always have hope.
Takes on Security Guard
Year: 2010
Takeaway Quote: “It's a 4 o'clock in the morning! You asking me for a fucking ID, and you know it's my house?!”
Early on a morning in December of 2010, as Floyd Mayweather was rolling into his gated Las Vegas community, he was stopped by a security guard at the entrance and asked to show his ID. It seemed like a routine question to ask, but Mayweather was not having it, and quickly became irate at the guard's unwillingness to let him in. “Let me in my motherfucking house!” said Mayweather. “You know who I am, man. Let me in my house!” Floyd was clearly angry about the guard's inability to recognize him, and made a vague reference about a past dispute between himself and another security guard who “lied and said I touched him and I didn't”, according to Mayweather. Eventually, after the security guard retreated into the guard house, Mayweather exited his car and opened the gate himself.
Calls into Shade 45 and Goes at Rude Jude
Year: 2011
Takeaway Quote: “So, you riding my dick for a living, huh?”
During a 2011 call-in with Rude Jude, a host for Eminem's Shade 45 channel on Sirius XM, both Floyd Mayweather and Jude went back and forth at one another, as the popular radio host aired his grievances about Mayweather's career and fighting tactics. Calling Mayweather boring, and claiming he was “ducking Pacquiao”, Jude had no love for Mayweather. Eventually, the conversation took a racial turn, as Mayweather said he knew Jude “wasn't black”, and accused him of racial profiling. Mayweather also went in on Jude's profession, calling him a dick-rider. There was no clear outcome for the argument. It was a lot of anger, confusion, and weird, uncomfortable hate.
Fires Back at R.A. The Rugged Man
Year: 2009
Takeaway Quote: “Listen, all roads lead to Floyd Mayweather!!”
Like many of Floyd Mayweather's other critics, veteran rapper R.A. The Rugged Man decided to go in on Floyd over the radio, calling him out for not scheduling bouts with top fighters like Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams. “You fight pussies,” R.A. said. Incensed, Mayweather went on an impassioned rant about the business of boxing and his undefeated record, dismissing R.A. by saying, “I don't know who y'all is.” However, R.A. wouldn't quit. “Instead of being offended,” he suggested. “Why don't you take heed and fight the best?” Eventually, Mayweather would answer The Rugged Man's call, taking down top-ranked fighters like Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz, and Miguel Cotto, winning every single bout. You can't argue with those results.