“When I leave, I will be known as TBE, and that’s The Best Ever,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. summed up his legacy. These words proved to be prophetic, as he is almost always the first name on fans’ and pros’ GOAT lists. While his hard work, skills, and dedication helped him reach the pinnacle of boxing, he had the backing of others too. Fans remember how Roger Mayweather forged a world champion out of his nephew, but very few credit the man who put him inside the ring-Bob Arum.

Gareth A. Davies gave credit where it was due when he sat down for a conversation with Matt Lenihan on Boxing Social. The boxing journalist expressed his candid opinion about when Arum, 92, and Mayweather Jr., 47, made an appearance together this past weekend. It was a rare occurrence, even if it were for a promotion event. The British-educated journalist then shed limelight on how people had forgotten about the Top Rank lynchpin’s role in building Mayweather Jr. He also pointed out Oscar De La Hoya also had a share in it.

Davies said, “You had Floyd Mayweather with Bob Arum who promoted him. Then you had those guys back together again and kind of talking around each other, just for that promotion. Obviously, they don’t talk. But people forget that Bob helped to build Floyd, you know. They really do forget that, and Oscar, by the way.”

Notably, Mayweather Jr. fought under the Top Rank banner for a large part of his professional career. He even won his first world title while fighting under Top Rank’s banner. This association lasted till 2006, when ‘Money’ left Arum’s stable and carved out his separate path with Mayweather Promotions. It also paved the way for other boxers to embrace their free-agent tag.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the era of free-floating boxers

Mayweather Jr.’s self-promotion resulted in many high-paying fights, including the ones with Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor. In addition, as he was not paying any promoter, all the profits went straight into his pocket. Davies continued, “He really did become himself, and that’s when he really made the mega box. He shifted the paradigm, you know, in many ways for a lot of boxers who became self-promoted.”

The former five-division champion racked up more than $400 million from his last three professional fights and retired as one of the most successful fighters, both inside and outside the boxing ring. It’s the same model that has ensured the likes of Devin Haney have remained free agents and pick fights while also getting into shorter and flexible contracts based on their ambitions.

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