Justice

Ronda Rousey Called Out Floyd Mayweather for Domestic Violence

August 7th 2015

During a Thursday appearance on ESPN, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather responded to remarks made at the 2015 ESPYs by UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey—including Rousey's reference to his domestic abuse history.

Rousey took home the ESPY for Best Fighter of the Year. "I wonder how Floyd feels being beaten by a woman for once," she said at the time. "I’d like to see him pretend he doesn’t know who I am now."

Mayweather has a long history of domestic violence and even spent time in jail—a fact that, sadly, many overlook. "According to the sports website Deadspin, Mayweather has had at least seven assaults against five women that resulted in arrest or citations in addition to other episodes in which the police were called but no charges filed," CNN reports.

In the recent ESPN interview, Mayweather finally responded to Rousey's public comments about his history of domestic abuse, and the answer was pathetic.

"I just say that, you know, I have yet to see any MMA fighter or other boxer make over $300 million in 36 minutes," Mayweather said. "You know, when she can do that, then call me."

"Ronda Rousey, she got the ESPY for Best Fighter of the Year," the ESPN host said. "I was curious how upset were you with not winning the award?"

"You know a while back, I never knew who Ronda Rousey was," Mayweather said.

"Yeah she mentioned that," the host jumped in.

"I'm pretty sure she got upset [about that]," Mayweather said. "I want to say congratulations to Ronda ... Ronda Rousey and the UFC. You guys have done a tremendous job and I've won probably six or seven ESPYs for Fight of the Year ... she deserves it."

Rousey recently defeated Bethe Correia to retain her UFC title in a fight that lasted just 34 seconds. She's one of the most popular mixed martial artists in the world, and she even appeared in the Entourage movie this summer.

Mayweather was referencing his recent highly-publicized fight in which he won $300 million after defeating Manny Pacquiao. This year, Mayweather topped Forbes' Celebrity 100 list as the highest paid celebrity of 2015, with Pacquiao coming in second and singer Katy Perry taking third place.

Four years ago, Mayweather served three months in jail after pleading guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge. His ex-girlfriend Josie Harris, with whom Mayweather has three children, accused him of attacking her in her home. At the time, Mayweather's son Koraun released a statement to the police claiming he witnessed his father attack his mother. Last year, 14-year-old Koraun called his dad a "coward" in an interview with USA Today Sports.

During that same interview, Harris said Mayweather frequently uses a jet to transport their shared children over to his home, a relief for her so she doesn't have to have much contact with him.

"(It means) I don't have to take a Xanax before he comes, otherwise I will be sweating bullets," Harris said. "For some reason I still get anxiety when I know that he is on his way. I have no idea why, but I get really overwhelmed when I know that I have to be around him."

According to Safe Horizon, the largest victims’ services agency in the United States, women ages 18 to 34 have the highest risk of falling victim to domestic violence. More than 4 million women are victims of physical assault and rape by their partners, and more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes annually. If you're the victim of domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) to get help.

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