From Mayweather Gym To Zuffa: How An 100-Fight Amateur Became A Pro Problem

A phone call with a rising contender turns into a masterclass on how to build a career the right way. Robert Merriweather III opens up about the Zuffa signing, the full camp behind his latest win, and the viral moment that had a mouthpiece flying while he stayed locked in. From early days roaming the Mayweather gym to a 100-fight amateur slate, he explains how timing, patience, and ring IQ became his edge—and why composure under bright lights isn’t an accident.

We dig into the details fans care about: how far out he knew about the fight, what a real pro camp looks like at his age, and the habits he picked up watching elite preparation up close. He talks through the mechanics of his style—clean head movement, sharp entries, selective volume—and why his Philly roll is more than a look. It’s integrated with footwork, counter triggers, and the kind of defensive awareness that keeps offense alive. If you’ve wondered what separates a highlight from a skill set that scales, this conversation lays it out.

Looking ahead, he’s eyeing March for the next date, with names like Curmel Moton in the mix and a long-term vision that points toward champions such as O’Shaquie Foster. We explore the dynamics of fighting friends, managing expectations, and staying grounded when opportunities arrive fast. The throughline is simple: preparation meets opportunity, and the work shows. If you love smart pressure, calm execution, and prospects with real ceilings, you’ll want to follow Robert’s next move.

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The Boxing Grind 

Transcript

Post-Fight High And Zuffa Deal

SPEAKER_01 0:28

On the phone with Robert Merriweather the third, and you have to make the you have to make the pause in between Merriweather and the third because I know that you love to do that. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:40

I'm great. I'm great. Just uh basking in my win. I'm great.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Yeah, I mean, congratulations on the win, first of all. And I mean, I know that you're feeling great. And what is it, you know, I wanted to ask, uh, because it seemed like the Zufa, it seemed like the card, the fight card came out at the last minute. Like, how far in advance did you know that this fight was happening? And like, how did it even come to be that you got signed with them? Because it seemed like everything happened really quick.

SPEAKER_00 1:09

Yeah, it was it wasn't anything last minute. It was just the the I think the they came out with the actual card, but I knew for at least eight months or so, six months. So I had a full can't uh full camp. It was just uh the announcement was a little late.

SPEAKER_01 1:31

And what was that like? I mean, how did it even happen? Did they just give you a call? Like, how did it even happen? Were you surprised? Were you expecting them to give you a call to sign you?

Viral Moment And Fight Details

SPEAKER_00 1:42

Yeah, I uh you know, I I got a good team around me. So, you know, one of the guys over at Zoofah, they they already said that they had interest in me, and they seen me spar, and you know, they brought me into the UFC facility, and and here we are.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Mm-hmm. So, and now I mean obviously this fight that you just had it really was amazing, and and you know, all around the world that picture was taken. That that picture was taken, you know, with with the mouthpiece falling out. And did I mean you saw the mouthpiece fall out, but it the fight kept on going. Did they eventually they eventually let him put his mouthpiece back in, right? Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 2:26

They needed just a break in the in the fight so they can put it back in.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Okay.

Training Roots And Mayweather Mentorship

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Now, but that being said, so really I I I mean, I looked at some of your other fights, and the fight that really stuck out to me, do you obviously you remember the Victor Lopez fight? And I just have to say, like, your skills are they're off the hook, they're amazing. And I don't mean just in like one area. Uh like I noticed in that Victor Lopez fight, you are really good at staying busy, but not only that, your head movement and the timing that you took to get inside on him, that was remarkable to me because you know it takes a while for a lot of fighters to to really build up their skill set. And I I know that you you actually and I correct me if I'm wrong, obviously, you worked with Mayweather throughout the pandemic. Is that correct?

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Yes, that's that's correct.

SPEAKER_01 3:21

Okay, so what was that like for you? Like, were you expecting to be able to work with him? Like, how did that even come to be?

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Well, I had been around the Mayweather gym since I was around 10 years old. So just being able to be in the gym and then seeing him in camp at the time, it was very it was it was great for a kid just to see that. And then as I got older, he seen me train and he wanted to he wanted me training with him and and I ended up signing with him, and it was just it was like a dream come true for a kid.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Absolutely.

Amateur Pedigree And Turning Pro

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Now, for your amateur career, how many fights did you have before turning pro?

SPEAKER_00 4:04

I had around a hundred. Okay, 90 and 10, but I had stopped fighting amateur when I was 15 after the pandemic, around the pandemic.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Okay, and was that just a decision that you and the team, you know, came just just to say you were ready, or like what was the what was the turning point that said I'm gonna just turn pro?

SPEAKER_00 4:26

I had a lot of people, you know, kind of pulling me into being pro, but you know, at the end of the day, I felt like it was I was ready. I didn't I didn't end up fighting pro it until I was 17. So, you know, it was just a took a little two years to just hone in on my craft and become a better fighter and you know, even hone in on my pros pro level and pros and pro skill. So, you know, here we are.

SPEAKER_01 4:58

Yeah, here you are, because I I mean I have watched you and like I said, you have a complete skill set. It's not, you know, sometimes fighters they have certain things that you could tell that they need to work on, but I have to say, you have an all about like very well-rounded in all aspects of your boxing skills. Like you have a high boxing IQ too, and that usually takes a while for guys, so like you are way ahead of

What’s Next: Dates And Possible Opponents

SPEAKER_01 5:22

the game. And you know, that leads me into like what's next for you with Zufa. I I know, like, as far as matchmaking, was there anybody that they had talked about, or like what do you think's gonna happen next?

SPEAKER_00 5:37

I'm gonna have a fight soon, hopefully in March. So we're looking, we're looking to target that date. I don't know, we don't have an opponent yet. It's just you know, I'm just taking my my days, taking some rest, and I'm back in the gym Monday.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Okay. I I did I did a little bit of investigation and just to see like who might be some top contenders. And I know that the name Carmel Moton keeps coming up. What did you think about that?

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Oh, I mean, that's great. He's a he's a great fighter, you know. Absolutely. We grew up together, so you know, we we we fought in the amateurs, we sparred a million times. So okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Troy Nash also came up on the list, and I know that you're close with him, but how would that that must be a really odd thing too, though, right? Because when you're close with somebody and then you might have to fight them, like what do you what are your thoughts behind that?

SPEAKER_00 6:29

I mean, it's at the end of the day, is that's my guy, so yeah, yeah. Uh we we've already we've talked about stuff like that, and at the end of the day, we just gotta do what what we gotta do.

SPEAKER_01 6:40

Yeah, absolutely. And then of course, you know, looking forward, even for like world title, title fights. I know the name Oshaki Foster had popped up, and I know that might be a little bit down the road for you, but I just see really good things happening for you, and I'm very, very excited to to watch the the you know the journey, and I'm hoping to get out to one of your fights and do the media. I was I was trying to get to the media for that fight, but I was at weigh-ins for a different fight card. So, is there anything that you

Style Talk: Philly Roll And Sign-Off

SPEAKER_01 7:10

want to let the fans and the public know going forward?

SPEAKER_00 7:14

That you know, just tune in. I'm a great fighter, I'm a great boxer. So, you know, like I say, if if you love boxing, you're gonna love me.

SPEAKER_01 7:23

Oh no, we love you already, Robert. Don't don't don't don't get that confused. And and you know what? Oh, another thing that I noticed too, you got that Philly roll. And and that's that is something that I don't care what anybody says, very, very few people are good at that. And it's like one of those things that when people roll into the boxing gym and they start doing that, and you're like, nah, man, you don't got that. But you know what? You got that. You got that, and I just wanted to commend you for that. And I really hope that we get to have uh another interview and in person at one of your fights, okay?

SPEAKER_00 7:56

Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 7:57

Thank you so much. God bless you. Have a great day. Okay, bye bye.