‘Mr. Lucky’ Mayweather finally has a bout with slammer

The boxing world knows Floyd Mayweather Jr. as "Money," but maybe they should start calling him "Mr. Lucky."

As he packs his toothbrush and prepares to report Friday to the Clark County Detention Center to begin serving his sentence after pleading guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to a pair of harassment counts, Mayweather should consider himself a most fortunate fellow.

At 35, he's boxing's biggest earner and flashiest star. Undefeated in the ring, he's a physical marvel and a master of sweet science savvy. His fights are graduate seminars with Mayweather in the role of professor.

It's when Mayweather splits the ropes and leaves the gym that his intelligence quotient tends to slip from Mensa to mope. And so, despite great talent and all his millions, he's on his way to the local slammer to serve the better part of the 90-day sentence he received in December following a most fortuitous plea deal in a case that stemmed from a September 2010 argument with ex-girlfriend Josie Harris. Mayweather threatened to make Harris "disappear" and admitted punching her, twisting her arm and pulling her hair. The incident was witnessed by the former couple's two small children.

At sentencing, Mayweather received three days of credit for time served. He also was ordered to pay a $2,500 fine, complete 100 hours of community service and complete a domestic violence counseling program.

He originally faced charges that could have netted him up to 34 years in prison. He was 34 at the time.

The justice system barely laid a glove on him.

Although Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa acknowledged the seriousness of the crime and was informed by Clark County Deputy District Attorney Elissa Luzaich of a half dozen previous domestic violence incidents involving the professional boxer, the judge trimmed a six-month sentence in half. Saragosa admitted, "Things could have gotten more out of hand than they did."

Of course they could have. Mayweather's history reads like a typical domestic violence script that eventually ends in tragedy.

But a few weeks later, the judge cut Mayweather an even bigger break by moving his reporting date from January to June 1 to enable his May 5 fight against Miguel Cotto to go off on schedule. Mayweather's contract called for a guaranteed $32 million payday. (It also gave a boost to the Las Vegas economy.)

See what I mean? Mayweather is Mr. Lucky.

He's also listening to good legal advice from his defense attorney, Karen Winckler. While there was speculation that Mayweather might appeal an element of his sentence, that hasn't happened. Instead of procrastinating and tweaking the nose of the local court system, he's tending to his community service and domestic violence counseling responsibilities.

"He's got everything either completed or on time," Winckler said Tuesday. "He's doing what he needs to do in order to handle this matter."

But I am still left to wonder whether Mayweather will be treated just like any other girlfriend beater when he trades his tailored attire for a jailhouse jumpsuit. It's doubtful. Although it's hard for me to imagine someone being dumb enough to challenge him to a fight, he's a celebrity. That alone might make him a target.

The detention center segregates inmates for many reasons, but I don't think "free fight tickets" is on the list.

For her part, Winckler said she's unaware of the specifics of her client's upcoming accommodations. The county jail isn't the Ritz, and he will have to get creative if he wants to keep up his high-rolling sports betting action with M Resort. Inmates aren't allowed cellphones.

"I just want him to be safe," Winckler said.

Although Mayweather has hinted at retirement, that's unlikely. His iron-bar vacation will give him a chance to plan for his next eight-figure payday while his less fortunate CCDC neighbors stare into the hyena's mouth of serious hard time.

In a few weeks we'll learn whether Floyd Mayweather Jr. realizes just how lucky he really is.

John L. Smith's column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Email him at Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. He also blogs at lvrj.com/blogs/smith. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.