Boxing – the manly art of self defense, the sweet science of bruising – offers a richly drawn human drama unlike any other sport.
And that’s before the bell even rings.
The cadre of managers, trainers, promoters and influencers on the fringe of any big fight is a story in itself. And that’s to say nothing of the backroom dealings and internecine politics that qualify as business as usual in what’s been called the red-light district of professional sports. Never more so than with the breathlessly awaited welterweight showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. And while even casual fans are familiar with the stars of Saturday night’s blockbuster, a deeper understanding of the supporting cast lends itself to a deeper appreciation of the theater at play. Here’s a cheat sheet for the names you need to know.
The puppet master
Al Haymon, architect of the unorthodox financial model that’s made Mayweather the world’s highest-earning athlete, widely regarded as boxing’s most influential figure. Makes JD Salinger look like Madonna. Haymon is a legendary recluse who prefers to wield his influence from behind the scenes and operates exclusively through frontmen. Essentially off the grid: no office, no voicemail, doesn’t grant interviews. Harvard-educated with a background in music promotion, the 60-year-old spent the past few years amassing a stable of more than 150 fighters with a previously unknown endgame that revealed itself in January as Premier Boxing Champions, a new series aimed at broadening the sport’s mainstream appeal by broadcasting fights on free-to-air television. Operates under nebulous title of “adviser”, though critics have accused him of acting as both manager and promoter in violation of a federal law meant to curb abusive and unfair practices in boxing. Don’t expect to see him anywhere near ringside on Saturday night.
The lion in winter
Bob Arum, the 83-year-old chairman and CEO of Top Rank Promotions, has promoted Pacquiao since 2005. Had little interest in professional boxing until he audited a fight as an attorney in the tax division of Robert F Kennedy’s Justice Department, saw how much money could be made, changed careers and has been a major force in the sport ever since. The Harvard law graduate promoted Muhammad Ali (27 fights), Marvin Hagler (20), George Foreman (14) and Sugar Ray Leonard (seven). Also stewarded the entire careers of Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather before acrimonious splits in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Bad blood stemming from the Mayweather divorce made it seem like Saturday’s fight would never happen – that Floyd would rather pass on a record-shattering purse than enrich his former boss – yet the vast sums of money at play ultimately prevailed. As they do. Most famous quote: “Yesterday, I was lying. Today, I’m telling the truth.”
The teacher
Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer, whose 14-year partnership with the Filipino icon ranks with Ali-Dundee, Louis-Blackburn and Frazier-Futch among the game’s legendary trainer-fighter tandems – and makes him arguably the second-most famous person in the Philippines. Owns and operates the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, where Pacquiao first turned up in 2001 looking for a trainer. Formerly a fan-friendly lightweight nicknamed ‘La Cucaracha’ who retired at 26 after 53 mostly brutal fights, the 55-year-old now suffers from Parkinson’s disease, which he’s thus far been able to control through medication and continued active training of boxers. A seven-time BWAA trainer of the year regarded by many as the best in the business, he’s embraced the role of lead instigator during the run-up to 2 May, frequently invoking Mayweather’s domestic-violence record to cast the fight as a “good against evil” struggle.
The father
Floyd Mayweather Sr, father and on-again/off-again trainer of boxing’s pound-for-pound champion. The elder Mayweather was himself a welterweight contender in the 70s and 80s who once fought (and lost to) Sugar Ray Leonard. Regarded as a boxing savant with an uncanny knowledge of defensive strategy. Trained Floyd Jr from childhood until Sr was imprisoned on a drug trafficking charge in 1994, after which brother Roger (young Floyd’s uncle) took over. Not on speaking terms for years, returned to his son’s corner in time for Mayweather’s first world title with a 1998 win over Genaro Hernandez, yet their relationship has proven turbulent ever since, like when he threatened to train Oscar De La Hoya against Floyd Jr before later declining to do so. The nadir was a nasty argument caught by HBO’s 24/7 cameras before Mayweather’s 2011 fight with Victor Ortiz. Threw a party this week I already regretting skipping.
The sidekick
Buboy Fernandez, born Restituto Fernandez, Pacquiao’s childhood best friend and omnipresent cornerman and assistant trainer. They grew up with each other in General Santos City, their houses separated by a piece of wood. Aside from proffering trust and friendship in a trade where those words so frequently serve as punchlines, Buboy occupies a Bundini Brown role in Pacquiao’s corner: a sort of spiritual talisman who knows his friend better than anyone. The story goes that Pacquiao’s first words after famously getting separated from his senses against Juan Manuel Marquez were: “Boy nasan ka (Buboy, where are you)?” Made headlines when he kicked a Getty Images photographer he felt was disrespecting Pacquiao after the seismic knockout, later apologizing.
The adviser
Michael Koncz, enigmatic Canadian adviser to Pacquiao and financial confidant who holds massive influence in the fighter’s affairs even if no one can seem to put a finger on why or how. Once described as an LA drifter who hung around the Wild Card where he was introduced to Pacquiao. Said to have played an instrumental role in delivering Pacquiao to Bob Arum and Top Rank Promotions. One conspiracy theory – of which there are no shortage in boxing – says Koncz knows too many secrets about Pacquiao for the Filipino congressman to feel safe letting him go. Possibly suffered a heart attack the week before Pacquiao’s fight with Brandon Rios in Macau two years ago. Has at some point come into conflict with virtually ever major character in Pacquiao’s orbit.
The constant
Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, which makes him ostensibly the alpha dog of Mayweather-Pacquiao promotionally. Ellerbe’s role within the operation became less clear amid rumors of discord last year, but he’s been a longtime friend to Mayweather and one of few in the champion’s inner circle, the one constant in the fighter’s turbulent personal life. A former amateur fighter and US Air Force veteran, he first spotted Mayweather while he was training at 13 and became his adviser in 1997, shortly after Floyd won bronze at the Atlanta Olympics and turned pro. Will run Mayweather’s nascent promotional company which includes three world champions: super middleweight Badou Jack, junior middleweight Ishe Smith and lightweight Mickey Bey. “Left a six-figure paying job to come work for me,” Mayweather told the Washington Post last year. “Could’ve been making $3,000 a month ... He worked his way to the top. He’s a multi-millionaire now.”
The matriarch
Dionisia ‘Mommy D’ Pacquiao, mother of the eight-division champion often spotted at ringside. A national celebrity in the Philippines, she famously called for Pacquiao to retire after he was knocked out by Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012. During Pacquiao’s second fight with Timothy Bradley in April 2014, a clip of Mommy D clutching a rosary and prayer card and appearing to put a hex on Timothy Bradley went viral. (She formally denied it.) Once confronted her son on live television about his choice to abandon traditional Philippine Catholicism for a form of evangelical Protestant Christianity. The day after the Bradley rematch, she covered Wrecking Ball on a popular Philippine TV show. Now 65, her relationship with her decades-younger boyfriend – she reportedly wants to have a child with him – is tabloid catnip back home.
The hood ornament
Justin Bieber, world famous pop star and unlikely staple in Mayweather’s entourage. What purpose he serves is ostensibly unclear since it’s hard to believe they’re, like, friends. Was only 18 when he joined Mayweather for ring entrance before his 2012 fight with Miguel Cotto – along with Lil Wayne and 50 Cent – and the two have cross-pollinated their, shall we say, discrete followings ever since. Also made ringwalk with Mayweather for his 2013 fight with Canelo Alvarez. Turns out their friendship is a marriage of business interests: Bieber and Mayweather are investors in Shots, a photo-sharing app both have breathlessly hawked. Mayweather even announced the Pacquiao fight through the nascent platform, leveraging the App Store’s official account to tease the reveal and push their product. Bieber first mentioned his admiration for Mayweather in an 2012 interview with V magazine:
Yeah, I mean, when I was coming up, trying to get to where I am now, people were so happy [for me]. They were rooting for me. Now that I’m on top, everyone wants to bring me down. Everyone’s trying to tug at me and take my spot. And that’s how it always is, everyone wants you to be on top, and as soon as you’re there – like Floyd Mayweather, he’s the best boxer in the world. Now he is a champion. Every time he goes to a fight now, people are like, “He’s going to lose this time,” and then he wins. And the next time they say, “He’s going to lose,” again; “he’s undefeated, he’s getting old, he’s going to fight Ortiz, who’s younger, and he’s going to lose.” Every time he wins.
Bieber says he’s planning a big announcement timed around Saturday’s fight. You can even place a wager on what it will be. Only in America.
