Here's Why Jen Welter Will Walk Floyd Mayweather Jr. to the Ring
50 Cent, Lil Wayne and Justin Bieber are among the privileged few who have had the honor of walking Floyd Mayweather Jr., to the ring before one of his big fights.
Well, Money will be introducing a new face to his ringside entourage when he enters the ring on Saturday to fight Andre Berto. TMZ is reporting that the former Arizona Cardinals assistant coach Jen Welter—who was the first female coach of any kind in the NFL—will walk Mayweather out to the ring for his 49th and final fight.
Last week it was reported that Mayweather was so impressed with Welter that he's giving her ringside seats to the fight. Now, according to the celebrity news website, Mayweather asked Welter to walk with his entourage she considered it an honor. Despite her excitement, the news of Welter's budding friendship with the undefeated champion was met with plenty of backlash, considering Mayweather's history of domestic violence. UFC women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey even took shots at Mayweather for his past before.
Yet, Welter explained her decision to accept Mayweather's invitation to USA TODAY Sports.
“I am very anti-domestic violence, and the spotlight that is shown on domestic violence through sports creates a possibility where we can say, ‘No this isn’t ok and we can change it,’" Welter said. "Me accepting this ticket does not mean I support his past, but hopefully it is a way to be an instrument for change in the future. What I do know is I certainly can’t do anything good by rejecting what seems to be an olive branch.”
Welter's coaching internship with the Cardinals started in late July before ending on August 30. Prior to that, Welter, 37, had played linebacker for 14 years in women’s football leagues. She also played running back and coached linebackers for the Texas Revolution, a professional men's indoor football team, last season.
Mayweather, 38, insisted that this will be his last fight during a media conference call last week.
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(Photos from left: Norm Hall/Getty Images, Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
