By Ryan Maquiñana
Floyd Mayweather has recently been spotted with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza -- an occurrence that has raised speculation that the two are working together since the latter’s exit from Marcos Maidana’s team.
Ariza, who rose to boxing prominence for his work with Mayweather archrival Manny Pacquiao, was last seen overseeing the fitness of Maidana -- Floyd's last and current opponent.
Ahead of his Sept. 13 rematch with Maidana, Mayweather fielded once such question in a Wednesday conference call regarding Ariza’s role, if any, on “The Money Team.”
“He happens to a be strength and conditioning coach that showed me some stretches,” Mayweather said. “Only thing I can answer is that he's a strength and conditioning coach that showed me some stretches. Has he ever received a check from me? Absolutely not.
“Just because a guy comes to the boxing gym and watches me train, or a guy go eat with us, that doesn't mean he's my strength and conditioning coach.”
Ryan Maquiñana is the Boxing Insider at Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the Editor-in-Chief of Norcalboxing.com. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Follow him on Twitter @RMaq28 or email him at rmaquinana@gmail.com.
