Floyd Mayweather looks sharp in Las Vegas gym as a boxing legend.
It would be an understatement to say that Roger is a huge fan of boxing.He goes to sleep thinking about how to change the sport and wakes up with an ambition to be the one who does.Roger says that boxing is all he has ever wanted to know.There is no secret that boxing flows within the family.Roger, Jeff, and Floyd have all had success inside and outside of the ring.Like Roger, Floyd and Jeff, they have stayed connected to the sport and have made the MBC their home away from home.
He was affectionately known as the "Black Mamba" because he was a fast knockout specialist.On July 29, 1981 he defeated Andrew Ruiz in a first round TKO, a glimpse of what was to come during his career.The convention hall in Atlantic City was packed for the fight between Roger and Ruben.Roger defeated Samuel Serrano in round eight of fifteen to win the World Superfeatherweight Title.On his way to his next title bout, Roger stepped into the ring with some of the best fighters in the world.On a sunny day in Los Angeles on November 12, 1987, Roger stopped Rene Arredondo in the 6th round to win the Light Welterweight title.As a boxer, Roger Floyd leaves behind a legacy that is as exciting to watch as it is dangerous, with 72 fights, 59 victories, 35 knockouts, 13 world title bout appearances, and two championship titles.
Roger fought a different battle outside of the ring.He suffers from diabetes, a condition that causes excessive thirst, fatigue, weight loss, blurred vision, and occasionally tingling in the body's extremities.Roger overcame most obstacles during his career and his battle with sugar diabetes is no different.He is still doing the things that are important to him.
Roger is a full-time trainer and mentor at MBC and he resides in Las Vegas.He rewards promising youth that are on the rise and who aspire to become professional prizefighters with lessons learned in the sport.He works with many professionals that train at MBC regularly as well as those who only come to the world famous workout facility for short periods of time.
Roger spends time with his two young children when he is away from the gym.He is a dedicated father who is determined to provide his children with top-notch educational opportunities and a better life than he had.A great steak, chicken, or fish dinner is what he loves the most about Mandingo.
Those who have had the chance to sit down with Floyd has understood how his last name has become synonymous with boxing royalty.Boxing is not a contact sport and only history will be able to define his family's legacy inside and outside the ropes.
He began his boxing career in the 70s.During his active years as a prizefighter, he was known for his defensive tactics.His first victory was against Ron Pettigrew on a cold Michigan night in 1974.There was a fight at the Air Force Base in Texas in 1977.He won the U.S. Championship Tournament title.The great Sugar Ray Leonard fought at the Providence, Rhode Island Civic Center in 1978 and was heralded as a fighter that was willing to step into the ring with any willing opponent.
The transition from fighter to trainer was easy for Floyd Mayweather Jr.One of the most notable contributions to the sport has been his defensive technique known as the shoulder roll where a fighter uses his front-facing shoulder as a shield against incoming blows.
Even though he continues to battle a disease that affects the respiratory system and causes fatigue, weight loss and arthritis, he will not be stopped.He gets up each morning with a determination to succeed and a passion for life that is infectious.
The entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, has been home to the boxer for over a decade.He continues to train his celebrated son Floyd, as well as rising stars Andrew Tabiti and Mickey Bey, and has trained boxing greats like Joan Guzmn and Laila Ali.
He is a father to four children and a grandfather.He is fascinated by current events, politics, and likes to keep up to date with what is going on in the world which may explain why he likes MSNBC's Politics Nation hosted by the Rev.Al Sharpton.Pork and beef have been removed from his diet for as long as he can remember, because he likes turkey, chicken and fish.A life that allows him to pursue his passion is what makes him come alive.He is the first to admit that boxing has afforded him a life of luxury and leisure, however, he is also quick to confess his desire to pay it forward and help those less fortunate as much as possible.
boxing is a vehicle that has taken him around the world and back again, ultimately planting him in Las Vegas as a trainer and caretakers at the Mayweather Boxing Club.He traveled to Las Vegas on a winding path.
As an amateur, he traveled Europe fighting bouts in Germany, France, Denmark, Russia and Hungary.After his appearance at the Olympics in 1976,Edwards turned professional and scored his first career win on December 13, 1976 against Barry Price in front of a rowdy crowd at a hotel in Mayfair, London.On March 4, 1979 he defeated Pedro Jimenez for his 19th victory and second loss in 45 fights.One of his best moments in the sport was on May 30, 1981 when each victory spawned the next one.The referee made a technical decision against Bobby Chacon in the 14th round after he decided not to leave his corner.Edwards was a seven-to-one favorite to win the title.He exclaimed "everything!" when asked what it meant to win a championship.Being on top of the world was like walking on water.
He used to be the favorite inside the ring, but now he is not.If he hadn't taken the path that led to boxing, he'd be an engineer.His thinking trickled down to his daughters as well.A man who values his family just as much as he does his career is a topic of great pride for each of them.When he has a chance to relax, the brother to four siblings likes to read, run, and play tennis.Remains of the Day is his favorite movie.
There are two things that supersede everything else in professional prizefighting.The fact that a boxer keeps his hands healthy enough to continue administering the powerful jabs, uppercuts, and knockouts that come to define his career is often overlooked.
Ensuring the safety and comfort of a boxer's most prized possessions is a job done by a hand specialist.He has been a cutman for 60 years and is now in his 80s.He took up boxing at the age of 15 because he was the victim of bully in school.He only entered the ring seven times as a bantamweight pro boxer before relenting to his mother's request for him to stop fighting for fear of injury.The corner of the ring was where the young man found his true calling when he laid down his gloves.
His journey to joining the team at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas has taken him through Germany, England, China, Korea, and his native Mexico, wrapping the hands of some of the most prolific fighters of his era.The pound-for-pound king, Floyd "Money" Mayweather, is one of the 35 world champions on the list.
In late 2000 he tried out for the position of hand specialist in Los Angeles.At the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, on January 20, 2001, the champ dropped Diego Corrales five times en route to a TKO victory.He knew he had found his man, and he credited the man with healing the pain in his hands from years in the sport.The champion has gone as far as to say that the hand wrapping techniques of the opponent have been a factor in prolonging his boxing career.
When he's not working for Floyd, Badou Jack, Mickey Bey, or Andrew Tabiti, he likes to relax at his house in Las Vegas and watch movies and listen to good music.Even though he has aged, he still exercises and swims in his daily life.He loves taking care of his parakeets and is a brother to five siblings.His Mexican roots are exposed when one opens his refrigerator and finds his favorite dishes.He concedes that poker often takes his mind to a place of relaxation.
The fighter turned cutman and hand specialist has created a niche for himself within the world of boxing."He's a guy I wouldn't trade for anything in the world, and he has a great team behind him."
His body and health allow him to be a boxing phenomenon.Chris Ben is the strength and conditioning trainer for the rising stars of the boxing ring.
Chris moved to Las Vegas with his family at the age of four and has lived in the city ever since.Chris and Floyd met at a Nevada gym in the 1990s.He watched the future pound-for-pound king train as an amateur and enjoyed watching his rise to boxing's ivory tower.Chris was one of Floyd's sparring partners and would often stop by the MBC to watch Floyd train.Chris was invited to join the team full-time after learning more about his skills as a strength and conditioning coach.
Chris has devoted himself to the science of elite athlete conditioning for 19 years.He has been a member of the National Academy of Sports Medicine since 1995 and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
A proper strength and conditioning regimen is required in a championship fighter's training routine after training boxers specifically for 16 years."Any guy at the gym can give you an exercise that is tough, or that can make you sore, but a true professional has a short-term goal and long term goal with every exercise choice and program adaptation," he explains.A fighter-centered guide is developed and rigorously implemented in an effort to take a boxer from good to great.
Chris strives to fabricate greatness with every plan he develops and every fighter he coaches.The price tag on excellence requires a lot of sacrifice.Chris can be found holding mitts, helping coach, and assisting with exercises at the MBC daily during fourteen hour days in advance of any Money Team fight card.
Chris enjoys fishing, hiking, and prospecting for gold when he has moments to himself.His favorite foods are sushi, pizza, and Korean BBQ.He would love to have kids one day, but for now he is the proud parent of two dogs.
The boxer Otis Pimpleton knew he belonged in.Pimpleton was a fighter as a child.It was a passion that came naturally to him.After deciding to hang up his gloves, this 4-time state champion from Grand Rapids, Michigan wanted to pass down his knowledge to the next generation.Unable to leave the sport behind, Pimpleton stepped into a different role within the boxing industry.He is a boxing coach at the club.
Hard work and dedication are what he believes will get you farthest in life.This is something he instills into his fighters.The easy way out is not allowed by Pimpleton.He takes on the role of trainer to a fighter after looking for desire, hunger, and dedication.
Thirty-two years later, Pimpleton still trains the likes of Juan Heraldez, Lanell "KO" Bellows, and Michael Hunter, as well as rising talent Thomas Hill.At the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas, Pimpleton teaches young fighters the basics of boxing.The amateur fighters he trains are inspired by his love for giving back.The time and eye for teaching is different between training pro's and training amateurs.When professional fighters come to him, they teach the basics of how to duck, roll, be busy, step, and move their heads.
According to Pimpleton, Roger Mayweather inspired him to shift his focus to helping mold future fighters in the sport.Training can't be bought with money.He is making a difference in someone's life and getting them closer to fulfilling their dreams of success.Success for Pimpleton as a trainer is related to seeing the transformation and developing them to the best fighters they can become.
The trainer has passions that are hidden by Pimpleton's mostly quiet demeanor.Pimpleton received scholarships for mechanical engineering in his younger years.He says he would have become an architect or a mechanical engineer, but his true passion was boxing and he trained fighters.
Bob Ware has been wrapping hands for 10 years.Ware helps with day-to-day duties at the boxing club.Ware was a shy kid who was interested in a lot of sports, but his favorite was baseball.As he got older, he realized that his quiet nature made him the best person to help fighters as their cutman.He learned the craft of wrapping hands and stopping cuts on his own, because he understood that excessive bleeding or injured hands can easily end a fight for any fighter.A lot of fighters are injury free because of his strategy, which he keeps under wraps.
Ware started in the boxing industry after working with amateur fighters.He used this as a vehicle to make more connections and eventually people around him started to take notice of his technique, gaining the trust of other fighters, which transitioned him to working with professional fighters.Ware landed a spot in Floyd's corner.When he was training for his first fight, he wrapped Floyd's hands.He was wrapping The Champ's hands on a regular basis by the time the second fight came around.Ware had a smooth transition.Ware made his debut in Floyd's corner for the second fight against Maidana.Ware was in the corner for the next two fights.
His quiet demeanor and ability to block out the chaos makes him unique.He is focused on what he has to do for the fighters.Ware does his job as fast and efficiently as he can when there are 8 or 9 fighters lined up to get their hands wrapped.Ware found a job where he doesn't have to answer to anyone, and he does it with great pride.Ware sees himself in the fight game 10 years from now.
John Sinclair has lived in Las Vegas for 10 years.He was involved in the opening ceremonies of the boxing club in 2007, as well as being active in every aspect of operations.John plays a variety of roles from the opening to the closing of the gym.His main focus is to make sure the fighters are doing their daily workout regimen properly, putting the proper timing into their training, and being a counselor/mentor to them.
John Sinclair enjoys working at the boxing club.He has built a reputation as a trainer and mentor over the years.He has an athletic background that spans over the course of his life.John has been playing sports his whole life.He is able to incorporate his outside experience into his daily routine and instill that same foundation into the fighters he works with.John says that working at the boxing club gave him an opportunity to try something different and help others.
It is an unbelievable feeling for John to be able to work with a fighter of Floyd's caliber.Being around my coworkers is a blessing.John looks forward to seeing the continued progress amongst the fighters that train out of the Mayweather Boxing Club, and takes pride in knowing that he is a part of a positive environment.
Gerald Sinclair was born in Hudson, New York.Floyd's mother and uncle are the younger brother and nephew of the legendary boxer.Gerald was a forklift driver before moving to the boxing capital of the world.
In 2006 Gerald came to Las Vegas to watch his nephew box, he would then come out for little trips here and there.Floyd's mother encouraged Gerald to move to the boxing club when it opened in 2007.The gym runs day-to-day thanks to Gerald.He is a manager along with his brother John and cousin Steven.He says that Floyd is his boss #1 and family #2nd, and that it is more than just a job for him.A normal day in the gym includes opening and closing the facility, wrapping fighter's hands, and making sure they have what they need to train and prepare.
He has been at the boxing club for nine years.Maintaining the gym to an excellent standard is the most important task.Gerald has been able to see a lot of the changes that have taken place at the boxing club.Floyd gave him the chance to expose his talents to the fighters.He has watched legends and rising stars train at MBC.Gerald wants to become a great cornerman one day and train with the fighters who train the gym.He credits Floyd with giving his nephew the peace of mind that everything is taken care of.
Gerald is very quiet and serious, but he is also quite different.He handles his business at the gym while he is in it.One of the most valuable lessons Floyd has left on Gerald is to be respectful, be humble, and handle your business.
Steven Cartledge is originally from North New Jersey and currently resides in Las Vegas.He was introduced to boxing by a local community center that only taught karate and boxing.Cartledge was drawn to boxing because he grew up watching boxers like Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, Joe Frazier, and Muhammad Ali, which made him interested in the sport.As time went on, his pursuit of a career in boxing shifted towards the training aspect of the sport.
Despite training taking up a lot of Cartledges time, one thing that remains an intricate part of his life is his family.Some of his uncle's experiences helped shape who he is, coming from an athletic background.I look up to my uncle.Cartledge was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the Negro Baseball League and participated in a lot of sports.Eddie was the first African-American to wear a Yankees uniform.Floyd being one to carry on the torch as well as the athletic genes stems from generation to generation.Cartledge says it's an honor and privilege to watch Floyd and the rest of the team.
The perk of being a trainer is getting to know the fighters.Cartledge said, "It has been an amazing experience to see what Floyd has done for these young fighters."He feels that the gym has given him the opportunity to build relationships and trust with the fighters, because he created a place where they can come train and learn from some of the greatest trainers and fighters in the sport.Cartledge says that some of the fighters come to him for advice outside of boxing, because they understand that he has a lot of life experiences from which he grew.He understands that he has a role in the gym and part of that role is to help keep the fighters focused on their craft.
Cartledge focuses on basic fundamentals as a trainer because he finds that is what will keep a fighter going as far as conditioning goes.The boxer is taught the importance of being healthy and staying in shape by him.Your body will only go as far as you have trained it to go, that's what he instills.
He loves his job at the Mayweather Boxing Club and looks forward to it on a daily basis.Being able to pass his knowledge onto the younger generations is something that you can't put a price on.
There is a common phrase often heard during warm-ups, pad work and sparring sessions inside the famed Mayweather Boxing Club in the heart of Las Vegas, Nevada.