The truth about Floyd Mayweather’s Showtime reality series

LAS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather escaped his appearance in front of the Nevada Athletic Commission on Tuesday with no damage.

Such, however, wasn't the case for the reputation of Showtime's reality series, "All Access," which is regularly used to promote the network’s pay-per-view boxing matches.

The reason Mayweather appeared before the regulatory body was because of scenes in an "All Access" episode in which fighters fought a 31-minute continuous round. Also, there was a scene in that same episode in which women were shown smoking marijuana while Mayweather urged an assistant to go buy more rolling paper.

There's reality and then there is "All Access," which a soft-spoken Mayweather admitted wasn't so real.

The marijuana his girlfriends were smoking?

Fake, Mayweather said Tuesday.

The 31-minute round in "the doghouse" at his Mayweather Boxing Club designed to show how tough training conditions are?

Bogus, too.

As was, he said, the gambling on that supposedly 31-minute sparring session between Hasim Rahman Jr. and Donovan Cameron.

And the young fighter who was wobbled in the ring? On the show, Mayweather is shown in the ring mocking him, but he said Tuesday that was all a stunt for the cameras.

Most reality television isn't real, but this is a bit too much. None of it is real, if Mayweather is to be believed.

These reality series, which began in 2007 on HBO when Mayweather challenged Oscar De La Hoya, are tired and well-worn.

"All Access" shows surrounding Mayweather fights are always the same: He shows his money; he flaunts his bling; there are plenty of girls; there are plenty of luxury cars.

It's all bogus, Mayweather said Tuesday, hopefully ending forever these monotonous series that are about as real as a $3 bill.

Though Rahman Jr. has done interviews with several boxing websites in which he's insisted the 31-minute round was not the magic of TV editing, Mayweather contradicted him.

Mayweather said the 31-minute session included several "five- or six-minute breaks."

He wouldn't, he said, risk doing something as crazy as having two guys spar that long.

"Safety is very important in boxing," Mayweather said.

As he left with his team – noticeably absent were his massive bodyguards – he showed little interest in speaking to reporters.

I asked him as he got onto an elevator why anyone should watch "All Access" anymore if it's all bogus.

"You guys do a great job," Mayweather said, grinning.

The doors to the elevator closed and he was off, potentially to begin scripting for the next "All Access" surrounding his May 2015 fight.

Mayweather said the show was done to increase pay-per-view buys among the younger audience.

"We're promoting to a new, younger generation," Mayweather said. "We believe in going outside just boxing and doing things differently. Because we did things differently, we got better numbers this time around."

Using "All Access" in the future might get harder.

That's a good thing. "All Access" and HBO's "24/7" have long since worn out their welcomes. It's not fun seeing boxers and their entourages try to act, because it's painfully obvious they can't.

Someone needs to come up with a better concept, and fast.