Rapper 50 Cent, Floyd Mayweather at Odds Over Promotion Company?
Floyd Mayweather Jr., undefeated pugilist, and rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson have been vocal about being best friends for years, but now it seems the two are at odds.
Jackson, 37, hinted that there were signs of discord between the two friends in a recent interview on "The Rickey Smiley Show." According to Jackson, his 35-year-old friend changed after being released from jail, where he served over two months for engaging in a domestic dispute with the mother of his children.
"Me and Floyd is always gonna be cool. He is different," the rapper said on "The Rickey Smiley Show." "[There's been] a different side of Floyd coming out of the pen. That's all."
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However, Jackson also admitted that there may be more to the story.
"[The issues between us] really comes from … everybody around him is waiting on the next time he feels generous. And I have a lot [of money], so I don't wait for nobody," the rapper said in the interview. "I'll go do what I gotta do. I don't have to sit around and wait for the next time he feels like giving somebody something."
While the rapper did not detail the origin of the strife with the boxer, several media outlets drew conclusions about the discord stemming from Jackson forming his own boxing promotional company, TMT promotions. In July, the rapper engaged in a disagreement with boxer-turned Golden Boy boxing promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
Since De La Hoya founded the Golden Boy company that co-promotes many of Mayweather's fights, the two exchanged words on Twitter about promoting Jackson's friend.
"Everyone wanting to be a boxing promoter," De La Hoya tweeted in July. "Good luck. Easier said than done."
Jackson responded by guaranteeing that Mayweather would no longer need De La Hoya's services, despite the fact that he was incarcerated at the time of the Twitter exchange.
"@oscardelahoya I don't gamble Floyd do, (sic) but I bet you you won't be promoting Floyd Mayweather no more," Jackson tweeted.
While neither party confirmed whether De La Hoya was at the center of their disagreement, the Golden Boy promoter spoke with DogHouse Boxing about his company's plans to continue to promote Mayweather.
"Floyd Mayweather and my CEO Richard Schaefer, they talk. Richard Schaefer has a tremendous relationship with Floyd," De La Hoya said in response to a question about continuing to promote Mayweather. "I believe in the last year alone Floyd Mayweather was able to make 80 million dollars and we were there to help him. As far as I know Richard Schaefer is very confident that he can make even more money for Mayweather."
While there is no guarantee that Mayweather and Jackson's disagreement stems from the boxer's choice of promotion, fans of the pair expressed shock and disappointment at the notion that the two may no longer be best friends.
"First the Fat Boys break up, now everyday I wake up somebody got a... hold up? 50 Cent & Floyd Mayweather ain't cool no more," one fan tweeted.
Another person thought the possible end of a friendship had bigger implications.
"50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather ain't friends no more," the person questioned. "The world may be coming to an end."
