LAS VEGAS — Two reporters who have questioned and criticized boxer Floyd Mayweather in the past about his history of domestic violence said they were banned from covering Saturday night’s match in Las Vegas between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
ESPN’s Michelle Beadle and CNN’s Rachel Nichols both tweeted Saturday they had been denied press credentials for Saturday night’s fight at the MGM Grand Arena by Mayweather’s camp.
No fight for me or @MichelleDBeadle. Mayweather's team told my producer the camp was blocking my credential. https://t.co/JTjjXadPp8
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) May 2, 2015
I, along with @Rachel__Nichols, have been banned from the MGM Grand Arena for the fight tonight by the Mayweather camp. #TheFightGame
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
Both reporters have covered Mayweather’s history of domestic violence in the past.
Last September Nichols questioned Mayweather about the accusations against him during an episode of the CNN sports show “Unguarded.”
The website Deadspin later provided a partial transcript of the interview, in which Nichols detailed the evidence against Mayweather.
>> Okay, you are someone with a history of domestic violence yourself. You have even been to jail for it, why should fans root for you with this kind of history?
>> Everything has been allegations. Nothing has been proven. So, you know that’s life.
>> The incident you went to jail for the mother of your three children did show some bruises, a concussion when she went to the hospital, it was your own kids who called the police, gave them a detailed description of the abuse, there has been documentation?
>> Uh-huh. Once again, no pictures. Just hearsay and allegations. And I signed a plea-bargain. Once again, not true.
>> But the website Deadspin detailed seven physical assaults on five women that resulted in arrest or citation, are we supposed to believe all the women are lying including the incidents when there were witnesses like your own kids?
>> Everybody actually, everybody is entitled to their own opinion. When it is all said and done, only God can judge me.
>> We have seen, the public wants domestic abuse in the country addressed would you consider donating any of the $30 million that you will make this weekend to an organization that educates against abuse?
>> This weekend, what I will do with that millions and millions of dollars be saved for my children because my children are who I love and that’s who i care about.
Beadle later tweeted she had gotten her credential reapproved, but she’d already gone home.
After hearing my credential was pulled, I went home. Told this morning that HBO was able to get it re-approved late last night.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) May 2, 2015
Many came to the reporters’ defenses on Twitter, offering their support. Yahoo! editor Greg Wyshynski said it was a “badge of honor” for the women to have been banned. ESPN’s Randy Scott called the Mayweather camp “cowards” for the alleged move.
Badge of honor for @MichelleDBeadle and @Rachel__Nichols, who were denied creds to fight tonight by Camp Domestic Violence, ERRR, Mayweather
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 2, 2015
No coincidence that two women I respect most in sports, @MichelleDBeadle & @Rachel__Nichols, are barred from the fight by Mayweather's camp
— Caitlin Kelly (@caitlin__kelly) May 2, 2015
Floyd Mayweather bans @michelledbeadle & @rachel__nichols from the fight tonight. Proving he, his camp, and his production team are cowards.
— Randy Scott (@RandyScottESPN) May 2, 2015
Meanwhile Kelly Swanson, who according to USA Today handles public relations for Mayweather, is denying the claims.
No one including ME banned @Rachel__Nichols from covering the fight. She is already credentialed. #Facts
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
And @MichelleDBeadle isn't even on the press list. She's credentialed through @HBOboxing. Yes credentialed. #Fact#2
— Kelly Swanson (@kellyswanson1) May 2, 2015
The fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao is expected to start around 10:30 central time and is being lauded as one of the biggest boxing matches in decades.
Journalists who covered Floyd Mayweather's domestic violence history banned from his fight: http://t.co/WyTwykVHqZ pic.twitter.com/C3NAOBItNy
— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) May 2, 2015
