MEXICO CITY — Although Floyd Mayweather has joined the wave of fighters returning to boxing for exhibition fights, he recognises that it is not the same to face an influencer as it is to face a legend. For that reason, and as a way of paying tribute, "Money" Mayweather turned down the chance to face Mexican legend Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
At the start of the WBC convention, Mayweather and Chavez shared the podium and the Sinaloa native said he could repeat the history he had with Roger Mayweather four decades ago.
"Julio Cesar Chavez is a legend, I take my hat off to him. He was able to beat my uncle and it's crazy that the guy Chavez lost his unbeaten record to was Frankie Randall, who was like a big brother to me," he said in an interview with DAZN News. "I even went to the second fight between Chavez and Randall and got to stay at Randall's house and drive his cars.
"(Randall) was like a big brother to me, he told me things about professional boxing. Nice cars, living on a golf course, he treated me very well, but he passed away this year, may he rest in peace."
However, just the thought of putting on the gloves to face someone like Chavez, who fought 90 times before suffering his first loss, makes no sense to him.
"Yesterday when we were on stage I told him he's a legend, guys like Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran, Larry Holmes paved the way, they paved the way for me to get to where I am.
"However he was insisting that he wanted to do the exhibition and I told him I could only use one hand... but it was all trash talk. I really wouldn't do it, as it would damage his legacy as well as mine. I owe him. He's older than me, but Chavez is a legend."