Money in trouble?

Mayweather's manager dismisses reports of tax problems for fighter

Last updated: 3rd July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Money in trouble?

Mayweather: Money trouble?

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Floyd Mayweather Jr's manager has hit out at reports that the unbeaten fighter is in some financial strife, with reported tax debts of around $6.4million.

Public records obtained by the Associated Press show Mayweather was hit with a lien for $6.17m in unpaid taxes from 2007, according to the Clark County Recorder in Las Vegas.

The five-weight world champion also has other debts, with a New Jersey Superior Court saying that he owes $193,000 in state taxes there which have not been paid, while he also owes three homeowners associations $9,400.

Mayweather's manager Leonard Ellerbe, though, has dismissed the reports, saying that his man has no financial problems.

"Floyd Mayweather does not have a problem with the IRS," Ellerbe told the AP. "He doesn't owe the IRS $6.1m, I don't (care) what a lien says."

Snipes example

Ellerbe cited actor Wesley Snipes, who is appealing tax convictions and a three-year sentence, saying that if Mayweather was in serious financial trouble he too would be behind bars.

"When you have a problem with them, you ain't hard to find - ask Wesley Snipes. You go to jail, they come take your (stuff). He doesn't have a problem," he said.

"(Mayweather) is free to move and do anything and everything he wants to do with no problems at all. None whatsoever."

Mayweather has been hit with liens before and paid them off though, so matters may not be as serious as suggested, with previous $6.3m bills in unpaid taxes eventually paid off in previous years.

Some point to Mayweather's possible financial problems as a reason behind his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez in September, with the original fight postponed due to a rib injury picked up by Mayweather.

Mayweather has always been quick to showcase his earning power, even swapping his 'Pretty Boy' nickname for 'Money' as his fortune grew, and publicly he has not shown any signs of suffering from his own credit crunch.

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