Backstage at Mayweather-Marquez weigh-in

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In an effort to get Juan Manuel Marquez’s response to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s four-pound weigh-in advantage, I was granted some backstage access Friday and was able to witness and hear some interesting conversations.

One scene was a lengthy hug shared between Mayweather and his ailing father, Floyd Sr.

The pair were estranged last time Floyd Jr. fought, 21 months ago with a knockout of England’s Ricky Hatton.

‘It’s beautiful now,’ Floyd Sr. said of the reunion.

Floyd Jr. remains trained by his uncle, Roger Mayweather, but Floyd Sr.’s training success with Oscar De La Hoya and others means he has provided some boxing counsel to his son.

‘The main thing I got him going on was I felt he needed work on his jab more,’ Mayweather Sr. said. ‘The jab opens up everything: you can beat a guy up with it and keep him away. You can hook, uppercut, throw a right, split-jab, go up and down and down and up with it. He’s got to use it.’

--Lance Pugmire