The “bromance” between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Adrien “The Problem” Broner seemed to be rock solid in the past. It seemed like no matter what happened the foundation of their friendship could not be shaken. But it seems as if Broner’s comments within the past month towards Mayweather’s “The Money Team” in which he has stated “f%ck The Money Team” and “I don’t f%ck with The Money Team, only Floyd” seem to strike a nerve with the former pound for pound king.
Mayweather was recently being interviewed by Ben Thompson of FightHype.com and was asked about Broner’s comments. Mayweather pointed out that he had always had Broner’s back and supported him with words of encouragement when Broner suffered his first loss, but Broner has been a bit spoiled and a hypocrite with his actions.
“Some of these fighters, we spoil them too much,” Mayweather told Fight Hype. “I’m being honest, me and Al [Haymon] together, we both spoil these fighters too much. A lot of them are appreciative, but a lot of them are not appreciative.
You know, you got fighters that I’ve stood behind, like Adrien Broner. When he lost to Maidana, I was the first one to post a picture of me and him, and I told him, ‘You know what? I’m behind you. Hold your head up high. Stay focused and you’ll be able to bounce back.’
But then you have this same guy that I’m defending and standing behind and going to war for is the same guy that said, ‘You know what? I love my big brother Floyd Mayweather, but fuck The Money Team! He’s the same guy that you can go on if I’m not mistaken, my TMT website and see that he had on a Money Team shirt. And then you was in Vegas, he had on the Money Team sweatsuit. So I never really understood that.”
What caused Broner to go off on The Money Team? It could be Mayweather telling Ashley Theopane that he likes the thought of Theopane facing Broner? Mayweather has stuck up for Broner several times in the past when Broner has done stuff that he shouldn’t have in the past and has gone as far as being a sort of a life coach in certain situations.
“I really don’t know [what caused Broner to go off]. I really, really don’t know. But once again, you know, I don’t discredit no one for what they have done. When Adrien Broner won his first world title, I don’t know who he fought, I don’t even know who the guy was, but I was happy for him, and I always wanted to give Adrien Broner positive advice.
When everyone had something negative to say about him, you know what I do? I say, ‘This kid comes from a rough and tough background, and I just want to stand behind him, support him, and help get him to the next level.’ But you saying, ‘Fuck The Money Team’? Well, what he don’t know, The Money Team is making eight figures a year. I mean, you know, I’m really thankful and really blessed to be where I’m at.
I’m blessed way beyond belief and every day I give thanks. Throughout the day, I thank God that I’m in the position that I’m in to help fighters, to help my family, and to give back to the people that’s less fortunate. I never had anything negative to say about Adrien Broner. If he does something that I didn’t like, I’m like, ‘You know, AB, don’t do that. AB, you shouldn’t do that. You should take this approach.'”
Mayweather believes Broner should be thanking The Money Team instead of saying “f%ck” them. Had it not been for The Money Team and one if it’s members, Al Haymon, Broner would not be where he is at today. Mayweather also took shots at Broner fighting for a vacant title while coming off a loss.
“On the flip side, I mean, he just lost to Shawn Porter. He lost to Shawn Porter; then you fight for a world title right after that? For a vacant title; you and your opponent coming off losses. Instead of saying, ‘Fuck The Money Team,’ he needs to be thanking The Money Team because, at the end of the day, Al Haymon is a part of The Money Team.
He needs to be thanking The Money Team. Everything is under the same umbrella when it’s all said and done. If you saying,’Fuck Al Haymon,’ you saying, ‘Fuck Floyd Mayweather!’ If you saying, ‘Fuck Floyd Mayweather,’ you saying, ‘Fuck Al Haymon!’ I mean, me as a fighter, if I lost a fight, there’s no way in hell that my next fight I would be fighting for a title against another guy that’s coming off a loss. I wouldn’t even be proud or consider myself a champion. What makes that worse is they took the guy to your hometown to fight after you complained and bitched about getting beat on an even playing field.”
Mayweather believes that despite Broner’s age he still has a lot of growing up to do and is willing to help him do so. He also wants Broner to know that what he says and does can always come back to haunt them.
“Like I said before, I wouldn’t even be proud to say that I’m a champion. I like Paulie Malignaggi, and the fight between you and Paulie Malignaggi was tit for tat. And then the first guy you fought for a world title, once again, it was in your hometown. I mean, you are there taking shots at Bruce Jenner. When it’s all said and done, let Bruce Jenner live his life the way he wanna live his life. Bruce Jenner don’t even know who Adrien Broner is, but Adrien Broner do know who Bruce Jenner is.
You gotta watch what you say because you don’t never know who you may need in life or who you may bump into in life. You got to realize this, I mean, I feel like Adrien Broner still has a lot of growing up to do. He has a lot of growing up to do. If these fighters want to learn something, you know, come to Las Vegas, look me up, and we can sit down and I’ll go over the blueprint with you.”
