Gulp? Floyd Mayweather Changes Story After Defending Ray Rice

Undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr. has experienced a swift change of heart after having backlash thrown his way for coming to the defense of suspended NFL player Ray Rice this week.

After defending Rice following an indefinite suspension, Mayweather issued an open apology.

“I was just getting word from people that there was a video out there. I didn’t know because I’m training for a fight,” Mayweather said. 

“If I offended anyone, I apologize.”

Just one problem … when he made his original comments, Floyd said he HAD seen the video. (TMZ)

These remarks turned out to be pretty deadly for Mayweather…

This week, Mayweather said the NFL should not have changed its initial punishment on Rice.

“They had said that they had suspended him for two games. Whether they saw the tape or not, I truly believe a person should stick to their word. If you tell me you’re going to do something, do what you say you’re going to do. But once again, I’m not in the NFL, so I can’t really speak on the situation.” (MLive)

Mayweather also noted Rice’s passion for playing in the NFL.

“I think there’s a lot worse things that go on in other people’s households, also,” he said. “It’s just not caught on video. I know he’s probably going through a lot right now because football is his passion, football is his love. It’s no different than with me being in the fight game, if they told me, ‘Floyd, you’ve got the biggest deal in sports history,’ and then a couple months later, they say, ‘You know what, your deal is taken away from you’ — oh, man. It’s not really just the money, it’s just the love of the sport, the passion.” (MLive)

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest issued a statement on behalf of President Barack Obama Tuesday (September 9).

“The President is the father of two daughters. And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society. Hitting a woman is not something a real man does, and that’s true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors. Stopping domestic violence is something that’s bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it.” (Statement)