“RIP”: Mayweather Promotions’ CEO Pays Tribute to “Good Friend” While Reliving ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd’s Sensational Knockout

Sometimes, all it needs is a spark to offset a long, dormant memory. Early today, Leonard Ellerbe discovered footage shared by Dan Canobbio, which triggered a long-dormant flashback. Yesterday was the eighteenth anniversary of Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s fantastic win over Sharmba Mitchell. To most die-hards, the undefeated champion was still ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd at the time. He won via technical knockout after forcing an early stoppage in the sixth round.

While celebrating Mayweather Jr.’s accomplishment, Leonard Ellerbe couldn’t help but remember Dan Goossen. The promoter who helped Team Mayweather after they went their separate ways from Top Rank. It was with his help that some of the fights, such as the one with Sharmba Mitchell and later Carlos Baldomir, came through. The head of Mayweather Promotions reflected on their time together and said a prayer for the departed soul.

Boxing legend Dan Goossen: Leonard Ellerbe remembers

Wishing for his soul to rest in peace, Ellerbe wrote that in preparation for the Sharmba Mitchell fight, he collaborated with his close friend, Dan Goossen. He said, “We worked with my good friend Dan Goossen for this fight. May he RIP Great times!” He had tagged Dan Canobbio’s tweet. The Jomboy Media‘s host had mentioned how many fans and followers forgot Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking the initiative in a fight and thereafter strolling down his opponents.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. became WBC light welterweight champion on June 25, 2005, after defeating legend Arturo Gatti. Five months later, he was back in the ring. He fought a non-title bout against former WBA light welterweight champion Sharmba Mitchell on November 19, 2005. Right from the word go, ‘Pretty Boy’ had the match under his control. With a straight right, he knocked down Mitchell in the third round.

During the sixth round, another straight right from Mayweather Jr., this time to the body, forced the southpaw to sit down. Eventually, he couldn’t beat the referee’s countdown and lost. A year later, Sharmba Mitchell retired from boxing.

Propelling countless careers

On September 29, 2014, after battling liver cancer, Dan Goossen passed away. He was 64 at the time. The founder of Ten Goose Boxing, Goossen, was responsible for the careers of Gabriel and Rafael Ruelas. Both the brothers went on to become world champions. There were several other boxers whom he promoted. Prominent among them were David Tua, Chris Arreola, James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, and Mike Tyson. Dan Goossen was known for promoting André Ward throughout his professional career. However, sadly, it was the legal dispute between the two that gained notoriety.

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