Mike Tyson reportedly can’t stand Floyd Mayweather, and now we have some clarity on the issue from a former Tyson confidant.
Leading up to the highly anticipated Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight — Tyson ripped the pound-for-pound king — calling the undefeated boxer “delusional” and a “very small, scared man.”
According to USA Today, the feud dates back to a 2001 police raid on Tyson’s Vegas home.
A longtime friend of Mike Tyson said the retired heavyweight champion’s critical comments about Floyd Mayweather Jr. stem in part from Tyson being told by several people that it was Mayweather who instructed a woman in 2001 to falsely report to police that Tyson had kidnapped her and sexually assaulted her — allegations that prompted police to raid his home.
Darryl Francis, a former Tyson assistant who says he was living with him at the time of the 2001 raid, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday that he thinks the incident was a factor in the shots Tyson has taken at Mayweather, who faces Pacquiao on Saturday at Garden Arena.
Tyson confirmed Thursday to USA TODAY Sports that he had been told Mayweather was involved in the 2001 matter. “Some serious people said it,” he said, adding he does not have evidence to prove the allegation. “I’m good with it now. … You can forgive, but you have to remember.”
When asked about Mayweather during the final press conference for the big fight, Tyson looked in the direction of Mayweather and said, “I try to stay as far away from dirt as possible.”
