Floyd Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters to ever lace up a pair of gloves. But away from the limelight, brother Justin Mayweather revealed the hardship he faced growing up.
His younger sibling, born Justin Jones, quietly carved out his own boxing story after a DNA test proved he was Floyd Mayweather Sr.’s son, and then parked his career at 7-0.
Justin’s beginnings are rooted not in luxury or success as Floyd has become synonymous with, but in hardship, survival, and the long road to recognition.
A Troubled Path for Justin Jones
Speaking candidly about his upbringing on a Mayweather Channel video as his career progressed, Justin revealed the shocking conditions he endured while growing up.
“I came from roaches and rats to finding out the truth about who my family really was,” he revealed. “I’ve been shot, I’ve had my face split open, and I’m still here, still strong.
“There is a lot of stuff going on with me, so the story is not over yet.”
The journey took a remarkable turn in his teenage years when he first discovered his connection to the Mayweather dynasty.
“Was there ever a time when I thought I did look like them? Maybe. But when I was 15 or 16, my older sister told me they were my family, but I didn’t get the DNA test until I was 19.
“The only reason she told me was because I was bigging Floyd up so much.
Becoming a Mayweather
“I watched him fight a couple of times, and I was saying, ‘This dude is going to be like Muhammad Ali’. Then my sister, who is 12 years older than me, just said, ‘Why are you talking about your brother like that?’
“I was totally lost and confused because I already had two brothers on my mother’s side. It was very weird for me.”
That revelation set him on a course filled with identity struggles, resilience, and an ambition to prove himself under the shadow of boxing’s biggest star.
Today, he maintains a relationship with his father but admits it will never mirror Floyd’s bond.
“Yes, I have a good relationship with my dad right now. I actually live with my dad. But you can’t get certain things back. I don’t think we will ever be like him and Floyd or him and my sister, because he knew them from the ground up. It just is what it is.”
While Floyd Mayweather built an undefeated empire, his brother’s story is one of scars, survival, and a fight to be heard in a family where the spotlight is already blinding.
At 38, there’s little time left to continue the boxing journey as Floyd’s career hurtles towards a conclusion after years of exhibitions.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.