American superstar Floyd "Money" Mayweather this week boosted a fundraising drive for sports minister Fikile Mbalula's 'Reawakening the Giant' project to resuscitate South African boxing.
An auction of Mayweather memorabilia at a gala dinner at a hotel on Friday night raised more than R800000 for the Baby Jake Matlala Boxing Academy in Soweto, which was renamed from the Dube Boxing Club during a visit there by Mayweather and Mbalula on Thursday.
The ostentatious Mayweather, accompanied by an entourage of 16, including two of his own bodyguards, faced criticism for failing to stick to schedules during his visit, especially regarding planned interviews with the media. SuperSport scrapped a sit-down interview with him - to have been done in another room of the plush hotel in Sandton in which he was staying - after he twice failed to show up.
Mayweather also pulled out of a radio interview at the last minute on Thursday because he wanted to go shopping - even after the luxury vehicle he was travelling in had entered the SABC's parking basement.
"The problem is that Mayweather is the boss," said one source. "There is nobody who can tell him what to do."
Mayweather, who promotes his own fights, is the world's top-earning boxer.
He pocketed in excess of $80-million for his last bout against Mexican Saul Alvarez.
But, despite irking some South Africans this week, Mayweather turned on the charm for others. He was mobbed by crowds in Soweto and again by the nearly 1000 guests at the black-tie dinner on Friday.
Organisers said about half of them had paid for seats that cost R1500 each.
Mayweather appeared the most relaxed during a visit to an exclusive lodge in a North West game reserve.
He hopped off the vehicle to dance with staff who sang to greet him, then he took trays of drinks meant for himself and his party and handed them to the singers. He was animated during the game drive, where he got to see lion, zebra and giraffe.
"I'm gonna bring my children here one day to see this . Man, this is beautiful."
After spotting impala, he commented: "I know for a fact that those animals have children faster than other animals because everybody preys on them. They're common. They're on every block."
When a warthog was pointed out to him, he instructed his own cameraman to film the animal, before asking the ranger: "Who does a war'hog eat?"
Back at the lodge, the Mayweather party took a wrong turn while walking to the main reception area. The boxer immediately switched paths and announced loudly: "I may talk s***, but I follow directions."
- isaacsond@thetimes.co.za