ONTD Political

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. arrives outside the Regional Justice Center downtown Friday, June 1, 2012, to begin his 90-day jail sentence after pleading guilty to charges in a September 2010 domestic battery incident.

By Tovin Lapan
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 | 1:55 p.m.


Attorneys for Floyd Mayweather Jr. have filed a motion requesting the boxing champion be allowed to serve out the remainder of his 90-day sentence at home. The request comes 12 days into Mayweather’s incarceration at the Clark County Detention Center.

Citing lack of exercise, poor nutrition and the special conditions under which Mayweather is being held due to his celebrity status, the boxer’s attorney, Richard Wright, argues his client may never fight again if he is forced to remain in jail for the full term.

An advocate for victims of domestic violence counters the fighter should have thought about those consequences before battering his girlfriend.

In the motion, Wright argues it is “inhumane” for Mayweather to be housed with felons, as he was convicted on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. Mayweather, because of his celebrity, is held in lockdown 23 hours a day.

According to the motion, Mayweather had requested to be with the general population, but jail administrators have refused because of his celebrity.

“Whether Mr. Mayweather will be able to box again is dependent on his continued conditioning,” Wright states in the motion. “(Clark County Detention Center's) conduct may cause, not just huge financial harm to Mr. Mayweather, but also huge emotional harm if he is no longer able to pursue his boxing career because of the deconditioning he has suffered with CCDC.”

The motion also included an affidavit from Mayweather’s physician Dr. Robert Voy, who argues that Mayweather’s lack of exercise and quality food is delivering a knockout to his career. Voy conducted a physical on Mayweather on June 8, seven days after the boxer first entered jail. Voy observed diminished muscle tone and weight loss in examining Mayweather.

Voy’s report expresses concern over Mayweather’s mental state, saying he is anxious and upset and unable to “dissipate” those frustrations through exercise, as he is accustomed.

“At age 35, Floyd will struggle to regain his health,” Voy states. “The longer Floyd is held to the current regimen of no exercise and jail food, the more damage that will be done to Floyd’s physique. Floyd’s body is his business and his life’s work. Because of his age, the recovery time form the results of this jail detention will get longer and longer. And, he may not be able to physically recover entirely.”

Mayweather’s co-manager Leonard Ellerbe also submitted an affidavit with the motion in which he details the boxer’s training regimen and dedication to staying fit. Ellerbe says Mayweather will do three hours of boxing-related training per day and has his meals prepared by a live-in chef to ensure proper nutrition.

As an inmate under administrative segregation, Mayweather is not allowed access to the exercise area or gym, and his cell is too small for exercise, the motion says.

Wright argues in the motion that since the Clark County Detention Center will not house Mayweather with the general population, alternative sites for incarceration have been rejected, and he is being unfairly isolated, he should be allowed to spend the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Rebecca Ferreira, who runs Safe Faith United an advocacy organization for victims of domestic violence, protested when Mayweather’s jail time was delayed so he could fight Miguel Cotto in May. Ferreira says if the motion is granted, it will be sending the wrong message to both victims and abusers.

“That’s not right,” Ferreira said. “This is part of his punishment. If he doesn’t like the food, too bad; he should have thought of that before laying hands on his girlfriend. He needs to take this like a man. Even people with medical conditions stay in jail. This guy is healthy. He has no medical condition. He should stay in jail.”

Ferreira said it is short notice to rally a protest, but she plans to go to the hearing Thursday when the motion will be heard.

“First they let them him go because of the fight, and we weren’t happy about that,” Ferreira said. “And now they are going to let him go because he is losing weight? Give me a break. They shouldn’t let him go because that will send the wrong message to victims. Other victims won’t come forward because they’ll see the justice system does not take the crime seriously.”

In addition to the 90-day jail sentence, Mayweather was ordered to pay $2,500 in fines, attend a yearlong domestic violence counseling class and perform 100 hours of community service. His attorneys noted Mayweather already had paid the fine, completed 45 hours of community service and attended 21 of the counseling classes.

Source: Las Vegas Sun



What isn't mentioned: The guy has a history of battery charges (domestic and not; see Domestic Violence Cases section of his Wikipedia entry, which is missing a charge against a security guard) that he kept winging suspended sentences for, and the misdemeanor conviction and 90 day sentence are the result of a plea bargain to avoid prosecution for felony battery (source [TW: domestic violence against woman, threats to child witnesses])

Not really confident his request will be shut down considering the bullshit sentence delay to accommodate his career to "provide an economic boost to Las Vegas" (and earn him ~$32m).

Yeah, domestic violence is taken seriously. Suuuuuure.