FLOYD MAYWEATHER has opened up on the reason why he paid for the funeral of his boxing idol and former foe Genaro Hernandez in 2011.
The 43-year-old picked up the first of his 15 world titles in 1998 when he beat his American compatriot for the WBC super-featherweight belt in Las Vegas.
Hernandez – a two-time world champion – suffered defeat just twice in his 41 fights, with Oscar De La Hoya stopping him in 1995 for the WBO lightweight strap.
And Mayweather has revealed how Hernandez – who died nine years ago after battling cancer – was his hero during his teenage years.
Speaking on Fat Joe’s Instagram live video, he said: “When I was 16, I had a poster on my wall, because you remember, when we were young, we used to have posters on our wall. Young kids don’t do that anymore.
“I had a poster, right above my head, Genaro ‘Chicanito’ Hernandez.
“And I used to watch him on TV fight and I said nobody will beat that guy. I was 16.
CLASSY FLOYD
“Five years later I was across from that guy, fighting for the championship.
“And then he ended up passing away, I ended up taking care of his funeral, and still communicating with his family because he’s the first guy that gave me my chance.
“I was ranked No8 and he was a world champion and he didn’t have to give me a shot.
“But fighting me was at that particular time was his big money fight so we made it happen.”
Mayweather also sent a £70,000 cheque to pay for George Floyd’s funeral costs, following his death in police custody.
Commenting on why he felt the need to foot the funeral bills, he said: “The thing is this, you do different things different ways, so we’re giving back like that, our team.
“I’m basically saying it’s coming from all of us, because we’re all a team. So we’re giving back.
“He’s having three funerals, probably even four, but I’m taking care of all of them.”
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