For me, it was a choice to leave. I always try to put my best foot forward and I’m all about family, and up until his like 10th fight, I never took a dime from Floyd Jr. I’m a modest person, I don’t need the fame. In my heart, I know what I have done. That’s good enough for me. One day, when we were doing a radio show in Vegas, he shows up with James Prince. Myself or Roger didn’t know anything about this guy, but Floyd wanted him there. Floyd was the one whom put him on the fight scene, that’s how he got Winky Wright and Diego Corrales, Mark "Too Sharp” Johnson and also former IBF Jr Lightweight Champion, Steve "Two Pound" Forbes. I think he just took him to Houston and showed him the big houses, the nice cars and many other things as well. He also promised Floyd that he can establish his own rap label. Soon after, Floyd would act like he wanted to be a thug or something, he didn’t have any real life struggles or lived in the projects or did anything to give him any street credibility. He grew up with a loving family in which we all did our part to help him reach his dreams. He never even worked a job growing up.
It was more suburb than urban where we lived in Grand Rapids. It’s like with Roy Jones Jr.; Floyd’s following after him. Roy Jones grew up on a farm in the South, one minute he speaks to youngsters saying he’s never done drugs or alcohol and the next minute he’s making these rap songs instigating that he has. It’s the colour of the money, but it’s not genuine. Floyd never missed a day at Ottawa Hills (High School), he was an A (grade) student and his friends were A students or sports fanatics. He only left (school) early because there was the World (Amateur) Championships in Russia and he was selected, and if he did well there we were looking at Olympic Games or professional contracts. It was 50/50 whether we were going or not, but in the end we did and Floyd dropped out (of school) purely because of that. Floyd got love from every quarter; his grandparents, his aunties, his uncles, his mother’s side, his father’s side. I mean Floyd got love from everyone. Maybe too much. Him and Floyd - (my) brother Floyd - they were unseperatable. He adored his dad, and his dad adored him.
unseparateable......what a great word. think he meant inseparable.
interesting stuff.
A grade student, sounds as tho' Floyd has got something up top. I've always thought personally that at the higher levels "ring intelligence" is often the difference between success and failure.
