Two female reporters claim Mayweather banned them from mega-fight
Money talks, and it appears Floyd "Money" Mayweather doesn't want two female reporters at Saturday's mega fight against Manny Pacquiao.
CNN/TNT reporter Rachel Nichols and ESPN/HBO reporter Michelle Beadle said on Twitter that they have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the mega fight by the Mayweather camp.
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather's team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
Kelly Swanson, owner of Swanson Communications in charge of Mayweather's public relations, contradicted their claims, saying that the two reporters have already received their credentials.
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
But it appears as though cooler heads prevails, at least in Beadle's case. She said later Saturday that after she went home she was told by HBO that her credential had been "re-approved" and also added a dig at Swanson in the process.
My bad. I forgot to hashtag that one...#ActualFacts
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
Nichols has yet to update her status for the fight, but Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix said he's seen a recent seating chart and Nichols is not part of the media area.
SI has obtained a copy of most recent seating chart circulated by promoters. Two CNN talent listed as credentialed. @Rachel__Nichols is not.
— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) May 2, 2015
Nichols and Beadle have been critical in the past and present of Mayweather's numerous run-ins with the law. Nichols asked Mayweather tough questions about his alleged history with domestic violence during an interview in September.
Nichols added these tweets this week.
The company you keep... https://t.co/PX9OODOrJn
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 30, 2015
A smart, thorough look at just how Las Vegas protects Floyd Mayweather, including destroying documents. https://t.co/FDVXJEeJsF
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 1, 2015
Beadle also has been outspoken on Twitter as recently as Friday about Mayweather's previous incidents with women.
Round of boos for Mayweather. #PeopleWhoLoveTheirMoms
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 1, 2015
Nichols and Beadle's colleagues came to their defense once their alleged ban became public.
If there isn't repercussion from media/society for Mayweather camp banning @MichelleDBeadle @Rachel__Nichols from fight, says a lot about us
— Mike Wise (@MikeWiseguy) May 2, 2015
Agree w/@sallyjenx: Boycott sponsors of fight to support journalists @Rachel__Nichols, @MichelleDBeadle. For that matter, boycott the bout.
— Peter King (@SI_PeterKing) May 2, 2015
woman-hater #FloydMayweather just made domestic violence and Rachel Nichols and Michelle Beadle the chief topic for the next 12 hours.
— Sally Jenkins (@sallyjenx) May 2, 2015
Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges in 2011.
Mayweather was found guilty in 2003 of battery for hitting two women who were friends of Josie Harris, the mother of his three children. He received a suspended sentence of one year in jail and ordered to undergo counseling.
In 2005, Mayweather was charged with felony battery when Harris alleged that he punched her, kicked her and dragged her by her hair. Harris later recanted those allegations and Mayweather was found not guilty.
Saturday night's bout is expected to be the richest in boxing history. Mayweather has estimated that he will make around $200 million from the fight.
"All (four) of my kids can get $50 million apiece from just this fight," he said earlier this week.
