Mayweather family bonds heal before Marquez bout

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Mayweather family fractures, and then it heals. The bonds of nearly a half-century can be severed with one argument, and they can stay broken for years before they’re restored almost by accident.

The dynamics of boxing’s first family might not make much sense to some people outside the clan of Floyd Mayweather Jr., but the former pound-for-pound champion thinks plenty of families can relate exactly to the roller-coaster ride of emotions that go along with being a Mayweather.

“What’s important is that we’re together now,” Mayweather said. “It doesn’t matter what people think. That’s private. We’re strong as a family.”

Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) was estranged for most of the past nine years from his father, Floyd Sr., who first taught his toddler to punch and later drove his early career. Mayweather Jr. then rose to the sport’s apex under the direction of his uncle, Roger, who has his own slate of issues with his nephew and siblings — and the occasional battery charge.

But in the months leading up to Mayweather’s comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez on Saturday night, the father and son reunited. Floyd Sr. now joins Roger in the gym, eager to add his two cents on Little Floyd’s training.

The reconciliation is a clear thrill for the father, who trained Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton in recent years while shut out from his son.

“We’ve been having a good, warm relationship, just like it’s supposed to be,” Mayweather Sr. said. “I get to see him in the gym. I get to spend time with my grandbabies. I just enjoy myself, going over to his house and being around our family.”

The happy family that will take over the MGM Grand Garden seemingly beat longer odds than what Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KOs) faces Saturday night.

After years of silence, punctuated by public sniping and an occasional reconciliation-gone-bad, things got so tense that Mayweather Sr. tentatively agreed to train Oscar De La Hoya for a rematch against his son that was scrapped by Floyd Jr.’s retirement. Floyd Jr. also was upset last year when Roger agreed to train Steve Forbes, threatening to fire his uncle before Jeff Mayweather — the soft-spoken third brother — took over Forbes’ training.

Floyd Jr. is reluctant to discuss what brought father and son back together this year, but most boxing people believe a family friend tricked the two into a reconciliatory meeting. Floyd Sr. says he doesn’t even know how it happened, but he’s enjoying the chance to be up-close to his son’s development again.

“My dad, he’s a great trainer,” Mayweather Jr. said. “It’s good having him in a boxing gym. We compete at a few things: jumping rope, hand flips, things like that. I’m glad to have my father back in my life, but I’m always at ease. My kids are getting a good education, and now they’re getting to see their grandfather a lot.”