Mayweather camp: rematch clause was only a business decision

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The lead advisor to Floyd Mayweather Jr. rejects speculation by Shane Mosley‘s camp that the rematch clause inserted into the fighters’ contract could affect Mayweather’s effort in their May 1 super-bout.

‘It was only put in there [by Mayweather’s manager] because it’s good business, Floyd didn’t even know it was there until later,’ Mayweather advisor Leonard Ellerbe told The Times.

Mosley’s trainer, Naazim Richardson, told The Times recently in Big Bear that the rematch clause may enter Mayweather’s mind if Mosley starts winning the early rounds of the pay-per-view fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather is fiercely protective of his unbeaten record -- he’s 40-0.

A rematch with Mosley would still generate another likely eight-figure paycheck.

Yet Ellerbe, echoing comments by Mayweather’s uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, that their fighter intends to showcase his superb boxing skills and win again, explained he and Mayweather’s manager pushed for the rematch clause in the case of an accidental ending.

‘There could be a cut, a slip, a head butt, a no-contest called,’ Ellerbe said. ‘Those things have happened before in boxing. If they do, we’re covered. We’ll get another fight. That’s the only reason it was put in there, not because Floyd was thinking about a loss. He didn’t even know it was in there until we told him.’

Mayweather is scheduled to conduct his media day with reporters Wednesday at his boxing gym in Las Vegas, and The Times will be there. Check back at latimes.com/sports later Wednesday for full coverage and follow events as they happen on my Twitter account: Twitter.com/latimespugmire.

--Lance Pugmire