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Floyd Mayweather Jr. is making the transition from fighter to filmmaker.
The Hall of Fame boxer has signed a rights deal with Hidden Empire Films to chronicle his life and career in a docuseries.
Mayweather will be granting access to his personal library of never-before-seen footage totaling hundreds of hours of video and audio in order for the project to come to light. The docuseries will begin filming in 2023, and a distribution deal is still in the works.
Hidden Empire Films’ Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor will be leading the project, and they’re alluding to following the format of the ESPN Films-Netflix series “The Last Dance,” which showcased the 1997-1998 NBA world champion Chicago Bulls team led by Michael Jordan with interviews and new footage.
“Now is the perfect time to share my story with the world and let viewers in on my journey from early days of hardships to overcoming adversity to become the athlete and entrepreneur I am today,” said Mayweather in a statement announcing the project. “As someone who owns his own brand, I can’t think of better partners than Deon, Roxanne, Robert F. Smith — the wealthiest African American in the world — and Hidden Empire Films, a prolific Black-owned production company. This is going to be incredibly special.”
Mayweather further elaborated on the project in an interview with TMZ Sports.
“I just feel the world should see a different part of Floyd Mayweather. I think the people should see a different part of me,” he said.
“I want to be able to tell my story in my way. The good, the bad, the ugly. I don’t want the people to think I take certain pieces out and it’s all glory. There’s a lot of ups and downs in life every day. And there’s a lot of struggles. Not just with myself but with my loved ones. People gonna love it. Believe me.
“Since the beginning of my professional career in 1996, I’ve been asked, ‘Floyd, let’s do a documentary on your amateur career. How your dad went to prison. How your grandmother was cleaning hotel rooms and offices to take care of you. And how you was living in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Seven of us in a one-bedroom.’ The story is just so amazing. Like I said before the people are going to love it.”
“Partnering with Deon and his team. We sat down at a roundtable, and we came up with a hell of a game plan. He said, ‘Floyd let the world hear about you. The world want to know your story.’ I said, ‘let’s do it.'”
“Money” Mayweather retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a record of 50-0 (27 KOs) and won championships across five weight divisions beating some of the best fighters of his generation to become the highest-earning athlete on the planet.
The Michigan-bred Mayweather, now 45 years old, has competed in highly lucrative exhibition matches during retirement.
For the docuseries, Mayweather has assembled an all-star team.
Added Deon Taylor: “As a Black filmmaker, it is beyond an honor to have the opportunity to assist in telling the world one of the most iconic boxing stories we have ever heard. Floyd truly is the G.O.A.T. and we are so blessed to share his amazing path to becoming one of the most polarizing figures in all of sports today. Our entire Hidden Empire team is excited for audiences to witness the chapters of his life.”
Added Roxanne Taylor: “I feel extremely blessed to work on bringing such an incredible project to life. As a producer, I live to find stories like this. The fact that Floyd’s story has never been told before to a broader audience makes it that much more special.”
Added Robert F. Smith: “Watching Floyd Mayweather control his own destiny to become one of the greatest fighters of all time and more importantly one of the most brilliant minds in the business of pro boxing has been amazing to watch. Inspiration, passion, and willingness to overcome are all traits of this icon and we are extremely honored to be a small part in telling Floyd’s incredible life story for all the world to see.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.