Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gervonta Davis are seemingly at odds, and their beef may have been the fuel for the boxing icon to break one of boxing’s unwritten rules.
In boxing, sharing footage of private sparring sessions is considered taboo.
Sparring is a scared aspect of the sport, and there are times when lesser fighters will get the better of famous ones. Because the sessions are supposed to be more about learning and growth, they’re not usually meant for public consumption.
At times, bitter rivals will violate this unwritten rule.
Mayweather has seemingly reached this point with his former protégé. The two men have traded barbs on social media over the past several months and Mayweather’s most recent strike seems to have landed at a time when Davis’ star is shining bright.
After a 14-month absence from the ring due to a prison term, Davis made a triumphant return. He delivered an impressive eighth-round KO win over Frank Martin, proving that he’s still a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.
On June 17, Mayweather released footage of a sparring session between Devin Haney and Davis that showed the former seemingly getting the better. The session happened ten years ago at Mayweather’s gym, and the timing of Mayweather releasing the sparring video raised eyebrows.
Former champions Badou Jack, Adrien Broner, and others can be seen in the video on the ring apron, and Mayweather is in the ring with the future champions, playing the role of referee/hype man.
Here is a look at the video:
Once the footage was released, many have reacted negatively toward Mayweather, seeing it as the boxing icon’s way of taking a shot at Davis.
Bill Haney, Devin’s dad, had accused Mayweather of leaking the footage back in May in the video below.
It’s tough to determine Mayweather’s long-term goal considering he and Bill Haney engaged in a very spirited exchange that included some perverse name-calling recently on a live video on Instagram.
Professional boxer Mykal Fox was critical of Mayweather.
“Floyd released Tank and Haney sparring when he spent his whole career not letting people record his sessions. That’s corny,” per World Boxing News.
Longtime Mayweather friend and former fighter Ishe Smith was asked about his opinion on Mayweather sharing the video. Smith went in even deeper with his criticism.
One of the most surprising moves was Mayweather’s recent decision to fire Leonard Ellerbe, the President of Mayweather Promotions, and replace him with Richard Schaeffer.
According to Smith, Mayweather made this decision in retaliation to Ellerbe’s continued support of Davis.
“What do I think about the Tank and Dev sparring video? Absolutely nothing; it’s sparring. I felt the same way when Paul Spadafora had a good day against FM. S*** happens, why are we putting so much stock in sparring,” per World Boxing News.
“He’s such a petty a** individual [is Floyd]. I have no insight, but I’ve known that mother****** for over three decades. The company has been failing, and no change [from him]. [It was] always them two [Floyd and Leonard] together like sugar on grits. Floyd told Leonard to pick a side. When he didn’t, he chose to do some petty shit and blindside that man. This wasn’t calculated and a firing. It was a petty a** firing from one side.”
One X user, El Gallo Guapo, accused Mayweather of “drinking haterade” and trying to diminish Davis’ recent win over Martin.
The Davis-Haney feud, a public spectacle for over a year, has become a significant narrative in the world of boxing.
These two men, part of the current generation of captivating superstars in the 135-140 pound weight range, have set the stage for a potentially explosive showdown. Davis, Haney, Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez, and Ryan Garcia are proven needle movers capable of driving significant pay-per-view numbers.
Mayweather could be left on the outside looking in if he’s no longer involved with the guidance of Davis’ career. Some might guess that the potential reality behind Mayweather posting the sparring session is that it puts Davis in a poor light. Ultimately, that won’t be the impact.
Davis has proven himself under the lights as have the other fighters on the short list of dynamic lightweight and super lightweight divisions.
If anything, Mayweather’s video will only serve to amplify interest in a potential Haney-Davis clash, raising each man’s takeaway. We never know where the real alliances lie in boxing or if all of the posturing is part of a master promotional plan.
Undeniably, the intricate beefs in boxing, such as the Davis-Haney feud, hold a significant appeal for many, particularly the casual fans.
These fans, often the majority in terms of numbers, wield considerable power in the fanbase, shaping the narrative and dynamics of the sport.
By the way, Mayweather took to Instagram to announce a rematch with John Gotti III on August 24. Only in boxing.
