A Las Vegas judge Wednesday sentenced boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. to 90 days in jail for his role in a 2010 domestic violence case involving two of his children and their mother. Mayweather pled guilty to a reduced domestic violence misdemeanor charge and no contest to two harassment misdemeanor charges in the Clark County (Nev.) courthouse.
The jail sentence complicates, and perhaps scraps, plans for a late-spring fight between Mayweather (42-0) and Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.
“You don’t need to be a genius to count the days,” said an official in Pacquiao’s camp, who was unauthorized to speak publicly.
With Mayweather scheduled to report to jail Jan. 6, his 90-day term would expire in early April. Clark County Court spokeswoman Mary Ann Price clarified that “He will likely spend approximately 65 days in custody,” based on receiving 22 days of “good-time (behavior) credit,” in addition to three other days of credit for time served.
Under that scenario, Mayweather would be released by March 11.
Mayweather had reserved May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his next bout, but he typically requires eight weeks of training. Plus, a fight with his involvement requires an even longer window for a full promotional schedule.
Although negotiations have not begun in earnest to stage the fight, Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, has said he is exploring a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in June at an outdoor 45,000-seat venue on the Las Vegas Strip. Arum on Wednesday declined to comment.
First, Mayweather needed to avoid the repercussions of felony charges that exposed him to multiple years in prison. His plea deal avoided a felony conviction. However, prosecutors still argued for him to serve time in jail.
The case centered on claims by Mayweather’s ex-girlfriend, Josie Harris, that the boxer hit her and threatened two of their children during an argument at her home in September 2010. Harris reportedly had upset Mayweather by telling him she was dating another man.
Prosecutor Lisa Luzaich said Mayweather’s sense of entitlement required real punishment.
“He just continually gets himself into trouble and he is able to get himself out of it as well. Essentially it is because he is who he is and is able to get away with everything,” Luzaich said. “The only thing that’s going to get this man’s attention is incarceration.”
Mayweather, 34, had no reaction when the sentence was imposed by Judge Melissa Saragosa, who also ordered him to complete 100 hours of community service and pay a $2,500 fine.
Mayweather’s attorney, Karen Winckler, said she is considering an appeal.
“Punishment is appropriate,” Saragosa said. “No matter who you are, you have consequences to your actions when they escalate to this level of violence.”
If Mayweather is not available, Pacquiao is likely to pursue a late-spring fight against unbeaten junior-welterweight world champion Timothy Bradley or a fourth bout against Juan Manuel Marquez.
