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TMZ is reporting that Floyd Mayweather suffered the misfortune of witnessing a murder/suicide live via FaceTime.
The site states that Mayweather “was on FaceTime with one of his best friends when the guy pulled out a gun, shot his wife and then killed himself.”
The shooter, Earl Hayes, was a rapper and close friend of the fighter. Hayes’ wife, who TMZ describes as “VH1 star Stephanie Moseley,” appeared on the cable network’s program “Hit The Floor.”
The internet has been abuzz with the news. US Weekly has reported the tragedy at least temporarily “squashed his beef,” between Mayweather and friend turned enemy 50 Cent. Indeed the hip hop star/fight promoter had kind words and an Instagram photo of he and Mayweather posted.
None of this is to say Mayweather is doing well, however. According to TMZ “Floyd will not say how much he saw, but he acknowledges he was a witness and heard everything.” For the record TMZ has reportedly gotten its information from what it calls its “Floyd sources.”
If what the website has reported is to be believed, Hayes reached out to Mayweather via FaceTime and claimed he wanted to kill Mosely because of a rumor she had been unfaithful. “The champ was pleading with him to get a grip,” the website writes, “… to no avail.”
Mayweather has, of course, had his share of tumultuous incidents in the past. Nothing, however, can compare to witnessing a murder. This must be especially true if, as has been reported, the fighter was trying to prevent the situation from becoming as bad as it did.
TMZ goes on to state that Mayweather is currently “is in shock and is having extreme difficulty dealing with the fact that he witnessed a horrifying murder/suicide.”
While it’s undoubtedly true that the flamboyant welterweight is often hard for many to relate to, it’s easy to understand how Mayweather could be profoundly jarred by these events. There’s no doubt that Mayweather is the coolest of cool customers in the ring. A murder/suicide, however, is another situation entirely.
To speculate how all this will affect supposed negotiations with the camp of Manny Pacquiao would be tasteless at this point. It’s fair to wonder, though, what kind of long term repercussions this tragedy will have on the wealthiest athlete on earth.
Some fighters, after all, take violence in stride. Long ago heavyweight champ Bob Fitzimmons reportedly sent two men to the grave while plying his trade, yet was able to keep on fighting. Suffice to say some fighters have emerged from armed combat still fully capable of performing well in the ring.
Other boxers, however, are clearly hit hard by traumatic events. Ray Mancini was arguably never the same after opponent Duk Koo Kim died as a result of their 1982 battle. Likewise, Emile Griffith spent ages being racked with guilt after he beat Benny Perret into a coma – which led to the man’s death – at Madison Square Garden in 1962.
While it’s true Mayweather appears to be in no way responsible for anyone’s death (a luxury foreign to Mancini and Griffith after their infamous contests), such incidents can have a profound effect on a person regardless.
One can only hope Mayweather reacts as well as can be expected and then move on as best he can. He may not be a saint, but no one should have to go through what Mayweather reportedly did on Monday. If the story TMZ has reported is true, the man did his best in a horrific situation.
It was simply one battle he couldn’t win.
