BOXING: MAYWEATHER'S TOUGHEST FOE - HIMSELF.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Boxing

Only a few years ago, the boxing world was as excited about the future of immensely talented Floyd Mayweather Jr. as that of any other young fighter. Today, many would like to see him get his head knocked off.

What changed? Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Some of those close to the WBC super featherweight champion will point to two decisions he made and shake their heads: His rejection of a multi-million-dollar contract offer from HBO - which he called ``slave wages'' - and the hiring of rap promoter Jay Prince to replace his father/trainer, Floyd Sr., as his manager. The latter is part of what has caused a heavyweight feud in one of boxing's first families.

Mayweather, 23, counters by saying he's a grown man and is only trying to make the right business decisions.

Whichever is most accurate, a once-happy camp is now in turmoil.

`'He's out of control,'' said Jeff Mayweather, Floyd Jr.'s uncle and former member of his team.

The boxing world was disgusted when Mayweather turned down a six-fight, $11.5 million contract extension with HBO, which would've made him one of the highest-paid fighters in the world, and his use of the term ``slave wages'' certainly cost him fans.

Things got so bad at one point that HBO officials refused to speak with him.

The offer remains on the table but Mayweather - whose title defense against Goyo Vargas on Saturday is his last under contract - has yet to accept it and won't say whether he plans to do so. He'll leave that up to Prince.

However, Mayweather did defend himself.

He insists he was misquoted. He claims he said something along the lines of, ``Compared to Prince (Naseem) Hamed's contract, this is a slave contract'' and doesn't regret saying it. He simply believes he should be paid the kind of money earned by the likes of Hamed, Roy Jones Jr. and Oscar De La Hoya, and he is not inclined to accept anything less.

``I'm up there with those guys,'' he said. ``I feel I should get closer to what they get.

``. . . I was seen as a good guy when I did everything everyone asked. Then, when I didn't want to accept the contract, I'm a bad guy. It doesn't even bother me. I feel good about my career.''

Of course, he shouldn't earn the same as Hamed and Co. Mayweather, while as talented as anyone, does not have the drawing power of any of the above. At least, not yet.

Chances are Jay Prince will have Mayweather fix the immediate problem by accepting HBO's offer and continuing to build his name by winning fights in spectacular fashion. Normally, that's how it's done in this business.

Whether he can fix the damage done to his personal relationships is another story.

Jeff Mayweather, a former fighter who worked in tandem with Floyd Sr. guiding Floyd Jr.'s career, took the biggest hit: He was fired by his nephew and now the two barely speak.

The result, Jeff said, is a rift between the fighter and several members of his extended family that might never be rectified.

``He's burned so many bridges,'' Jeff said. ``He's turned everyone off, everyone in the family.''

Floyd Jr. said he realized that his uncle doesn't have the expertise to handle his business affairs and asked himself: Why am I paying this guy? He also claims that Jeff stole money from him, an accusation his uncle denies.

Floyd Sr., who remains as trainer, seems to be the most hurt.

Jeff Mayweather said his nephew and brother ``no longer have a father- and-son relationship. It's strictly business now.'' That might be an exaggeration but there's some truth to it.

That's sad. The former fighter had to watch from prison as his son fought in the 1996 Olympics but was released in time to take over his son' training early in his professional career. The two comprised a winning and vibrant team and seemed to be tight.

Then Floyd Jr. refused the HBO offer - against his father's advice. Floyd senior refused to comment in detail. But it's clear he feels he was betrayed.

``If someone has done something wrong to an individual, I feel that person should apologize,'' he said. ``Sometimes apologies do mend things, sometimes you can be forgiven for things.''

He went on: ``I'm a true believer in God and there is one thing I'm sure about: You gotta be good to your parents. That's the way life is.''

Floyd Jr. has no regrets about letting his uncle go. However, he is committed to his father and tried to explain hsi position.

He went to Price, the successful founder of Rap-A-Lot Records in Houston, because he wanted a businessman with a track record to handle his money. In a way, he feels his team failed him because they did not stay behind him when it came time to make a tough decision.

No matter what happens, he wants his father to remain at his side as trainer - assuming that's what Floyd Sr. also wants.

``I love my father,'' said Floyd Jr. ``And he's the best trainer in the world, he really is. If he doesn't want to train me, he can go. It's not like I have handcuffs on him. If he is not happy, he should leave.

``To be honest, if my dad left me it would hurt me, it would take a piece of my heart. Everyone else can leave but not my dad. If it takes stress off him, then that's what he should do.''

Floyd Sr. won't say what he plans to do. He only hinted that the difficult situation will be rectified soon without providing details.