Roger Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s uncle and trainer, dies at 58
Former world champion and well-known boxing trainer Roger Mayweather, the uncle of Floyd Mayweather Jr., has died at the age of 58 after years of failing health and complications from diabetes. TMZ Sports was first to report the news.
Mayweather was a two-weight world champion. He held the WBA and lineal super featherweight titles from 1983-84 and the WBC light welterweight title from 1987-89. He debuted in 1981 and won 59 of his 72 bouts.
Shortly after his uncle’s death was reported, Floyd Mayweather Jr. released a statement:
“My uncle was one of the most important people in my life inside and outside of the ring. Roger was a great champion and one of the best trainers in boxing. Unfortunately, his health was failing him for several years and now he can finally rest in peace. Roger meant the world to me, my father Floyd Sr., my uncle Jeff, everyone in and around the Mayweather Boxing Gym and the entire boxing world. It is a terrible loss for all of us.
We are thankful for all the love and well-wishes we have already received as word traveled about Roger's passing. It helps me to see that he was able to touch so many people through his life in boxing, because he gave so much to the sport, which was his first and longtime love."
In 1996, he began training Floyd Mayweather Jr. until his brother, fellow boxer Floyd Mayweather Sr., was released from prison and took over. Roger Mayweather fought his last professional bout in 1999 and returned as his nephew’s trainer in 2000, becoming a key part of the star’s training team.
"My uncle Roger Mayweather has lost a lot of memory from the sport of boxing," Floyd said in 2015. "He's only in his 50s, but it seems like he's an old man in his 80s."
Boxing community reacts to Roger Mayweather’s death
The 58-year-old former champion’s impact on the sport of boxing was widespread and as soon as TMZ broke the news of his death, condolences began to pour in over social media.
Un rival en el ring, un gran amigo, entrenador y persona fuera de el.
Lamento la perdida de uno de los grandes del boxeo. Siempre lo tendré presente en mi corazón. #DEP #RIP
El #BlackMamba #boxing #boxeo #Mayweather pic.twitter.com/K9Kufb6loe— Julio César Chávez (@Jcchavez115) March 17, 2020
RIP Roger Mayweather pic.twitter.com/8VYSMasb2z
— Kell Brook (@SpecialKBrook) March 17, 2020
Praying for @FloydMayweather and his family. Praying that God takes the sadness away from his heart. Lost his baby mom and uncle.
— ClaressaT-rexShields (@Claressashields) March 17, 2020
Rip Roger Mayweather 🙏
Quick story when i was around 11-12 years old, i came into the Mayweather gym and I met Roger we started talking and he quizzed me on the history of boxing, he tried to stump me but i passed and he was impressed hahaha I’ll always remember that.— Ryan Garcia (@KingRyanG) March 17, 2020
I’m truly saddened by the news of the passing of my long time friend & coach Roger Mayweather)Uncle Roge)Love Ya man 😔 An honest soul who always gave it to you straight. A talented fighter inside the ring becoming a 2 time world champion. RIP #BlackMamba #RogerMayweather pic.twitter.com/UCcqXIhFzo
— Jessie Vargas (@jessievargas_) March 17, 2020
#RIPRogerMayweather. Condolences to the Mayweather family. Prayers up for all. 🙏
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) March 17, 2020
RIP Roger Mayweather. #unitedchampions #nickonekick #GoodOleDays pic.twitter.com/qllMnbHlff
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 17, 2020
Condolences to @FloydMayweather @JeffMayweather1 @FloydMayweatherSr and all of the family and friends of Roger Mayweather. #RIP
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) March 17, 2020
Rest easy to the original #BlackMamba 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾#RIPRogerMayweather pic.twitter.com/AxFfQz6mXi
— caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) March 17, 2020
Rest in peace, Roger Mayweather, if it's true that he has passed away. He was a two-division champ (130 and 140) and he fought EVERYBODY. He was also a #boxing historian who loved to talk about the sport. #RIP #BlackMamba #MexicanAssassin
— Douglass Fischer (@dougiefischer) March 17, 2020
Oh man, this is awful. Tough week for the Mayweather family. https://t.co/pnS3ONBUew
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) March 17, 2020
Man. RIP to Roger Mayweather. Condolences to the Mayweather family as a whole and @FloydMayweather in this particularly difficult time. 🙏🏼
— Marcos Villegas (@heyitsmarcosv) March 17, 2020
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