Roger Mayweather, a former two-division titleholder who went on to train nephew Floyd Mayweather, has died at 58, according to multiple reports.
Mayweather had been in declining health for years but no cause of death has been cited.
Mayweather, a skillful, powerful boxer, won his first title by stopping junior lightweight beltholder Samuel Serrano in eight rounds in January 1983 in Serrano’s home country of Puerto Rico.
The new champ successfully defended his title two times before Rocky Lockridge took it from him by a first-round knockout in February 1984.
Mayweather won his next four bouts to a earn a shot at future Hall of Famer Julio Cesar Chavez’s 130-pound title but lost by a second-round TKO in July 1985.
After that, he lost by knockout to Freddie Pendleton and by decision to Pernell Whitaker but continued to battle. Finally, in November 1987, he stopped Rene Arredondo in six rounds to win a junior welterweight title.
Mayweather successfully defended four times before he lost his belt in a rematch against Chavez, who won by 10th-round stoppage in May 1989.
He fought once more for a major title but lost a unanimous decision to 140-pound champ Kostya Tszu in June 1995. He last fought in May 1999.
Mayweather later built a reputation as one of the best trainers in the business. He worked his nephew’s corner for the bulk of his career, helping to mold arguably the greatest fighter of the past three decades.
Roger Mayweather retreated from the pubic in recent years, presumably as his health issues became more acute. His nephew said his boxing career took a toll on him, according to TMZ.
“My uncle Roger Mayweather has lost a lot of memory from the sport of boxing,” Floyd Mayweather said. “ … He’s only in his 50s, but it seems like he’s an old man in his 80s.”