Celebrity-struck fans had a long glimpse of undisputed boxing champ Floyd Mayweather on Wednesday, Sept. 28, as he cut the ribbon of the new three-story Frontrow International headquarters in Quezon City which will be known as the Mayweather Building.
Mayweather also held a media conference where he treated guests to some interesting snippets about his life, such as his coming documentary in 2023 and being a grandfather recently.
"I feel like the Philippines is my adopted home. I feel like family when I come here. You guys embrace me with open arms. You guys treat me so well," he declared.
Frontrow founders Raymond "RS" Francisco and party list Rep. Sam Versoza are hosting Mayweather during his four-day trip to the Philippines. The top athlete will be mostly busy with his official activities as endorser of the networking company and its charity arm, Frontrow Cares. He will also be relaxing in an undisclosed beach resort before flying out.
Although Filipinos know him mostly as the arch-rival of another boxing great Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather couldn't help but unintentionally make a pitch for Philippine tourism when he said at the press conference: "Anyone that's watching right now, you should travel to the Philippines. Cool place. Cool people. Nice atmosphere. I love it."
He also said good things about Pacquiao who he reunited with in Tokyo before his Sept. 24 fight with Mikuru Asakura. "He's such a great champion and he represents the Filipino culture like no other. I'm very proud of Manny as well as the country."
However, Mayweather replied "absolutely not" to the possibility of a rematch or even an exhibition fight with Pacquiao. He said that he had his "hard fights" from 1987 to 2017.
"Everything now is about entertaining people and having fun," he said, adding that "I know my lane and I want to stay in my lane."
Asked about who he is away from the cameras, Mayweather replied: "Am a family man. A person who loves his children, a person who loves his mother and his father. Am a person who loves to go skating, go to the movies, and spend time with my loved ones. That's who I am."
Mayweather revealed that he closed a "huge deal" on a documentary about his life which will be shown in 2023. He said the series will contain all behind-the-scenes of his life for the last 26 years - his family, his travels and of course, his boxing matches.
It was learned that Mayweather got connected to Frontrow through his assistant and right-hand person Kitchie who is a Filipino. He liked the idea of helping people and making a difference in their lives.
According to Frontrow president RS Francisco, Mayweather is the "perfect fit" for them because he is "the greatest champion of all time and Frontrow is the greatest company of all time."
She said that every time she talks to Mayweather, "it's always about how to reach more people and how to touch people's lives."
"Am not a boxing fan. Mayweather has a badass image as a boxer but when I met him, I saw the sweetest, kindest, normal person," Francisco added.