I’m living my dream in boxer Mayweather’s ‘Money Team’

He has been described as the greatest pound-for-pound boxer, and lives a flashy lifestyle true to his worth as one of the world’s highest paid sportsmen. And when early this month Floyd Mayweather Jnr chalked up his 46th win in professional boxing, beating Argentina’s resilient World Boxing Association welterweight champion Marcos Maidana on points, the American not only boosted his image of invincibility but also certified his “Money” nickname.

The bout at the famous MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas earned the 37-year-old Mayweather a cool $32 million (Sh2.7 billion) and he expects to bank a further $38 million (Sh3.2 billion) from pay-per-view television revenues, increasing his mind-boggling earnings to a massive Sh6 billion!

This translates to $14,815 (Sh1.27 million) per second from the 12-round fight, or $888,889 (Sh76.4 million) per minute, or $2,666,667 (Sh229.3 million) per round.

That means that from one 36-minute fight, Mayweather can comfortably run Taita Taveta and Laikipia counties for one year with some pocket change to spare!

“Money” was the highest paid sportsman last year raking in an estimated $73 million (Sh6.2bn) from his two wins against Robert Guerrero and Canelo Alvarez. His salary was one-and-a-half times more than the year’s second highest earner, Real Madrid’s Portugal footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Part of the boxer’s success story is down to his staff — known as The Money Team — that works closely with Mayweather Promotions and the boxer’s other affiliate companies. It is this exclusive team that a Kenyan woman has been part of, alongside US celebrities and professionals from around the world, to make sure the legendary boxer is in tip-top shape inside and outside the ring.

Grace Nabwire Haukwa, who is a professional dancer and entertainment consultant involved in the promotion of African culture in Las Vegas, says she is proud to be part of the team that ensures the endurance of her “nice friend” Mayweather.

“He is hardworking and a very big fan of Africa,” Nabwire told Lifestyle in a telephone interview from the US.

Born in Naivasha but tracing her roots to Busia, Nabwire’s fortuitous meeting with Mayweather was in 2011 when she visited the boxer’s gym alongside Kassim Ouma, a Ugandan professional boxer, to watch a sparring session. The American was busy training ahead of his fight against his Mexican-born counterpart Victor Ortiz.

So impressed was she with the boxer’s determination that she talked with him after the training and offered to be part of his team. She has never regretted the decision and was present to cheer on Mayweather to victory in the May 3 tough fight against the Argentinian.

Nabwire continues running her private businesses, but her current core roles in The Money Team are fight promotions and working on Mayweather’s charity projects that include the construction of a boxing gym in South Africa.

TYPICAL ROUTINE

“A lot goes on during fight week. For example, we meet fans on a Monday, welcome the opponent and his team on a Tuesday and make sure all goes well at the official press conference on Wednesday,” she says about her typical routine ahead of a weekend fight.

Nabwire explains that the week continues with a media work-out session on Thursday and weighing-in on Friday before D-Day on Saturday.

“In between, Floyd will have to sign autographs for thousands of fans,” she says.

Nabwire, who went to Olkaria’s Mvuke Primary School in Naivasha, was mostly raised in Busia and moved to USA in 1994 with her family.

Her father, Dr Charles Haukwa, was an engineer with KenGen in Olkaria.

“My father went to the University of California at Berkeley for his doctorate and, at the time, my sister also suffered from sickle cell anaemia and the US was a good place for her to get treatment. That’s why we moved,” she recalls.

Her sister died in 2010, three years after giving birth to a baby girl, Isabella, who Nabwire is bringing up.

“Isabella is a miracle kid because the doctors had told my sister that she would not be able to get a baby owing to her condition,” says Nabwire.

She explains that she made her foray into show business after winning a 2004 dance hall reggae dancing competition in California. Nabwire then moved to Las Vegas and set up a professional dancing troupe, Nabtry Dancers, providing back-up dancers for prominent musicians including the Jacksons, Awilo Longomba and 50 Cent.

“We have done back-up dancing for many artistes and I’m happy about this as it gives us a chance to showcase African culture,” she says. “Las Vegas is the capital city of live music and entertainment.”

Besides managing her group, Nabwire works for African Beat, an entertainment magazine, and is also involved in organising concerts for African musicians.

Recently, her organisation invited Kenyan gospel artiste Willy Paul for a series of live performances and has also lined up Wyre for an upcoming tour.

“We are making great in-roads in USA as Kenyans,” says Nabwire whose mother, Phanice, teaches at a Nevada school. “People here, of course, know the origin of President Barack Obama; and Lupita Nyong’o winning an Oscar has also made Kenyans very proud here. People listen to us these days.”

Nabwire says Mayweather has shown interest in visiting Kenya, and there are plans for a tour that may also include pop star Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s brother.

“Mayweather is not just about fighting. He’s also about helping the needy,” Nabwire says. “He’s been feeding the homeless through the Mayweather Junior Foundation that helps underprivileged people in Las Vegas.”

She adds that Jermaine believes the origins of the Jacksons are in Kenya among the Maasai ethnic group, and he looks forward to visiting again decades after his 1987 tour. Nabwire is involved in promoting Jermaine’s Vita mineral water and an energy drink.

“Through Vita water, we plan to build several water wells in Africa and I have lined up one in Busia,” says Nabwire, who is also involved in other charity initiatives for the disabled and underpivileged in America.

The Kenyan is philosophical about her interactions with the rich and famous. “If you surround yourself with great people who support your work, then there is no such thing as impossible.”

Despite the privilege of working closely with one of the world’s most famous boxers, Nabwire and others in The Money Team are aware of criticism against Mayweather’s handling of his staff.

“Ramifications like the loss of self, and questioning whether this level of subservience is what you sought in your life’s work,” journalist David Mayo wrote last September ahead of Mayweather’s fight against Alvarez.

“In truth, they (Mayweather’s employees) often find themselves individually analysing precisely those issues as they wield spit buckets, or mop sweat on demand, or smear petroleum jelly into the champion’s nostrils, or cook his food, or place his wagers, or carry his championship belts into the ring.”

The journalist noted that apart from celebrities, the team includes computer experts, college graduates, photographers and businessmen. There are also “massive bodyguards” earning $150,000 (Sh12.7 million) a year and boxing insiders who are sometimes awarded with diamond-studded platinum watches as bonuses.

“They are Mayweather’s family members, like his uncle John Sinclair, the camp masseur. They are his specialised employees, like James “P-Reala” Mcnair, the CEO of Mayweather’s Philthy Rich Records. They are his old friends like assistant trainer Nate Jones, Mayweather’s 1996 US Olympic team-mate,” the journalist wrote.

Last September, an article in UK’s Daily Mail noted that the boxer’s entourage “typically includes at least 20 associates who spend most of their time waiting for Mayweather to determine what happens next”.

“We don’t know what we’re doing until we do it,” one of his assistants told the British paper.

Reacting to Mayo’s comment, Mayweather maintained that he had close affiliation with his employees who “would go to war for me.”

“And it’s just like any other business. I’ve got disgruntled employees, people that are upset, and when they leave the company they’ve got something negative to say, or make up lies,” he said.

Nabwire agrees with Mayweather and denies that the boxing superstar would treat her or the rest of The Money Team in a condescending manner.

CANCER CHARITY

“Mayweather is a great guy to work for and he has a big heart. Before the fight against Maidana, for instance, he donated $50,000 (Sh4.3 million) to a cancer charity,” she says.

She explains that the star has people from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and many other nationalities working for him because he wants to reach out to Africa.

“He’s gonna retire as the best ever boxer and I’m extremely proud to be part of his team,” she says.

She adds that nobody around Mayweather can ever be sad as he works hard to make everyone happy.

Nonetheless, Mayweather remains a colourful figure, making headlines for his lavish lifestyle, legal challenges and controversial comments.

Nabwire believes she could not have achieved much in America without the support of her family. Her elder sister, Betty, for example, is a registered nurse but is also involved in show business.

“She helped me get into entertainment through her husband DJ Burt. They bring artistes to USA and they are currently working on Wyre’s tour here,” she says.

Besides show business, Nabwire loves fishing, a hobby she took up while living in Kenya’s flood-prone Budalang’i.

“I love fishing and I love the life that I led in Budalang’i as I also used to go to Lake Victoria a lot. Even here in the US, when I’m bored, I go out fishing,” says Nabwire, who also enjoys playing basketball and bowling.

A teetotaller, Nabwire’s advice to Kenyan youths is to dream big and chase their dreams.

“We have great talent in Kenya and in Africa. I’ve been dancing since I was in my mummy’s tummy and I’m proud of where this has taken me so far.”