Floyd Mayweather Jr. reportedly inked a partnership deal with strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, which could confirm earlier reports that the pound-for-pound king will have a completely different team in his next fight.
Ariza said in an interview with BoxingScene and Manila Standard Today reporter Ronnie Nathanielsz that he inked a two-year deal to become Mayweather's next strength and conditioning coach.
"I signed an official contract for two years to serve as Floyd's strength and conditioning coach," said Ariza, who added that the unbeaten champion told him that he needs him.
Ariza previously worked with fighters trained by Robert Garcia after parting ways with Manny Pacquiao, whom he trained for several years before a well-publicized falling out between him and Freddie Roach.
Ariza's signing is expected to be one of the many changes on Mayweather's camp as reports indicated that Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is also on his way out of the company with sources saying that Richard Schaefer could take his place.
Jeff Mayweather said that Floyd Jr. has every reason to part ways with Mayweather, saying that the CEO and the unbeaten American are "outgrowing" each other.
"If Floyd feels that he needs to make a change, he's got reasons. He's probably been needing a change. But at the same time, it's just that he decided to make a decision," Jeff Mayweather said via BoxingScene. "He's the boss. They had a system that they was using in which everything had to go through him. Once things stop going through you and you're the boss and got to make the final say, probably is time for some heads to roll."
Cutman Rafael Garcia also confirmed recently that he will not be on Mayweather's corner when he returns to the ring next year with reports indicating that Bob Ware will take his place.
"I gave him thanks to him after the fight because I quit boxing, but thanks to him I am where I am," Garcia said. "I was to accompany Mickey Bey in the fight against Vazquez, but when I returned and [Ware was] bandaging him, I did not object, because the person who steps in there to fight is him, not me."
