When it comes down to why Ronda Rousey vs. Floyd Mayweather is getting so much play in the media, it’s all down to UFC promotional interest. At least, that’s what Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions is saying in a recent interview with Sports Illustrated. Ahead of Mayweather’s upcoming fight against Andre Berto and September 12th, Ellerbe talked about just how Floyd Mayweather views Ronda Rousey.
“He doesn’t. That’s just been a very good job that the UFC have done with promoting her. She’s an outstanding fighter. She’s young and upcoming, and that’s just them promoting their fighter. And I know Dana personally. They’ve done a very good job with trying to align her using Floyd’s name. And it’s just promotion from their part. But, Floyd has nothing bad to really say about her, because he doesn’t really know her, he doesn’t follow the UFC. They’ve been able to do an outstanding job with building their brand and we have been too. And the two have been able to co-exist because they do what they do and we do what they [sic] do.”
Asked if there was any chance of the two fighters meeting up for some kind of public spectacle, Ellerbe was firm in Floyd’s disinterest:
No, no, no. I mean you know, he has the utmost respect for what they do and they respect what he’s been able to accomplish and there’s no hard feelings. There’s just promotion on their part, that’s all.
It’s hardly a surprise to anyone that’s followed the war of words between the two stars and sports and promotions. The whole thing has been largely one-way traffic with Rousey and the UFC taking shots at Mayweather for anything from his multiple domestic violence convictions to his reputation for being a less than thrilling boxer in the ring. You can check out the video of the brief interview below.
About the author
