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Mayweather faces trouble, Buffett steps aside

That odd-couple relationship between billionaire Warren Buffett and boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. might be on ice for a while.

With reports surfacing of a rift between Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe, the longtime CEO of Mayweather Promotions, the boxer appeared to be turning to Buffett for financial advice.

Buffett entered the picture in late August at Mayweather’s camp as he prepared for last Saturday’s rematch with Argentina’s Marcos Maidana at the MGM Grand Garden.

Mayweather, who made $32 million on the Maidana fight, hinted in August that he was getting financial advice from the 84-year-old investment mogul.

“I had a great meeting with the $66.9 billion dollar man, Mr. Warren Buffett,” Mayweather wrote on Instagram. “We talked about how we could turn $100 million into a billion. Mr. Warren Buffett is the orginal founder of The Money Team, he’s just one of my billionaire buddies.”

Then Buffett not only showed up for the fight and visited the champ’s dressing room but he reportedly agreed to walk into the arena with Mayweather and join him in the ring.

That would have been one of boxing’s all-time, jaw-dropping entrances.

But, according to TMZSports.com, Buffett’s advisers vetoed the plan after seeing Mayweather in a video that showed his female entourage rolling and smoking what appeared to be marijuana joints in Mayweather’s “All-Access” reality show that aired in advance of the fight.

Mayweather was not shown smoking and/or handling the marijuana.

But where there’s smoke, his advisers saw a potential bonfire of bad publicity, and it appears they made the right call after the Nevada Athletic Commission on Thursday summoned Mayweather to appear before the five-member panel on Tuesday.

The NAC not only wants some questions answered about the marijuana but about concerns about fighter safety at Mayweather’s gym.

That issue arose during the “All-Access” episode when two fighters battled for more than 30 minutes in one round, with Mayweather calling it “dog house rules.”

With the camera rolling, Mayweather explained, “Guys fight to the death. It’s not right, but it’s dog house rules.”

‘MAGIC MIKE’ TO VEGAS?

Superstar Channing Tatum is hinting that a “Magic Mike” stage production is in the works with the Hard Rock Hotel.

Tatum, who has been working on “Magic Mike XXL,” the sequel, tweeted this teaser on Monday: “In Vegas … plotting the revolution. Heehee Who wants in? #magicmikelive.”

Tatum was in Las Vegas for a long weekend, in the company of what appeared to be executives. He was spotted having lunch with a group on Monday at Spago inside the Forum Shops at Caesars.

Then the plot thickened when he showed up Monday at the Hard Rock, with men in suits and, according to a spy, a top Hard Rock executive.

I hear Tatum’s camp has been shopping the show to Las Vegas casinos since earlier this year.

The global success of “Magic Mike” was certain to create spinoffs, and where better than Las Vegas to launch a show based on the male stripper franchise?

“Magic Mike” was a global hit, grossing $167 million on a $7 million budget. It was directed by Steven Soderbergh. The sequel is being directed by Gregory Jacobs.

Most of the orginal cast — Tatum, Matt Bomer, Joe Manganielllo and Alex Pettyfer — are reportedly returning. Matthew McConaughey is not, according to reports.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb is adding his voice to those who think NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s days are numbered. McNabb, during an interview on KSNV-TV, Channel 3’s “Waking Up with the Wagners,” predicted Goodell will step down or maybe suspend himself” due to growing pressure from sponsors who are asking questions. If they don’t get answers “you’ll see ’em start to pull out and with that I think the owners will make the decision.” …

A half-dozen Chippendales alumni will be incorporated into Saturday’s 35th anniversary show at the Rio. Among them will be Tor Kristiansen from the original club in Los Angeles in 1979 and franchise spokesman Michael Rapp, known as “Mr. Perfect.” About 100 alumni will pose for a class reunion-style photo.

SIGHTINGS

Singing star Luis Miguel, spotted at Fizz (Caesars Palace) on Monday. … Mexican superstar singer Alejandro Fernandez, celebrating Mexican Independence Day at XS (Wynn) on Saturday near One Direction’s Niall Horan.

THE PUNCH LINE

“Problems for the NFL continue. Last week, Nike suspended Ray Rice’s contract and today they suspended Adrian Peterson’s contract. So now Nike is down to Oscar Pistorius and Kim Jong-un.” — Conan O’Brien

Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more at normclarke.com. Follow @Norm_Clarke on Twitter. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas” airs Thursdays on the “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Channel 13.

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