(Photo credit: Idris Erba/Mayweather Promotions) By Raj Parmar: Floyd Mayweather (46-0, 26 KO’s) took some time during his open media workout to acknowledge the recent pictures and videos that show him training with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza. It was strange to see Ariza pictured with Floyd as Ariza had trained Mayweather’s upcoming opponent Marcos Maidana (35-4, 31 KO’s) for their first fight a few months ago.
“Alex came and watched me train a couple times, I think he came to see is it really true that I work that hard,” Floyd said to fighthype.com, “Ariza was just showing me different stretches that I can use that’s going to help, he’s not 100% with our camp.”
This confirms the whole Ariza situation was likely just a move Floyd made to get inside the heads of Team Maidana, with Floyd actually not using Ariza for any significant training. For reasons not totally clear, Maidana’s trainer Robert Garcia decided shortly after the Maidana’s first fight with Floyd that he would not require Ariza’s services for any of his fighters. Never one to miss an opportunity for gamesmanship, Floyd capitalized on the friction that may have developed between Garcia and Ariza in order to attempt to psychologically jab at Team Maidana a little bit.
Mayweather has by now his own methods of training and it was totally unreasonable to think he would bring in Ariza or anyone from outside to change his training approach, as he is nearing Rocky Marciano’s undefeated streak with his current training regimen. Floyd also indicated that he has recently sparred 14 rounds at four in the morning as his showdown with Maidana nears.
“I’m learning a lot more about my body as I get older, for the body to be able to go out there and perform like the body should perform, the body must rest,“ Floyd stated, “So I feel good. Actually yesterday, at 4 in the morning, we boxed 14 rounds. Training camp has been tremendous.”
With Maidana looking to significantly increase his work rate for the rematch, it looks like Floyd is also bringing the intensity to his training as well and it looks like Ariza will have little to no part in it.
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