New York: Former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has offered to pay for George Floyd's funeral and memorial services, and the family has accepted the offer.
Mayweather personally has been in touch with the family, according to Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions. He will handle costs for the funeral on June 9 in Floyd's hometown of Houston, as well as other expenses.
Floyd, a black man, died on May 25 after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck while he was handcuffed and saying that he couldn't breathe.
His death sparked protests in Minneapolis and around the country, some of which became violent.
Meanwhile, the officer who pressed his knee on Floyd's neck has been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
He and three other officers have been fired from the force as well after the video of Floyd's death emerged.
TMZ originally reported Mayweather's offer, and said he will also pay for services in Minnesota and North Carolina.
"He'll probably get mad at me for saying that, but yes, he is definitely paying for the funeral," Ellerbe told a website on Monday.
Mayweather, who lives in Las Vegas, has not met the Floyd family. Mayweather, who retired undefeated after 50 fights, winning five division titles, also paid for the funeral of an opponent.
Mayweather won his first world championship when he stopped Genaro Hernandez for the WBC super featherweight title in 1998. Hernandez died 13 years later of cancer, and Mayweather handled funeral expenses.
Mayweather is considered one of the best boxers of his generation. Among the champion boxers he defeated before retiring in 2017, are Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, Oscar de la Hoya and Miguel Cotto.
