IBBY’S IN ‘THE MONEY’ WITH BOXER FLOYD
ONE minute you’re serving coffees at a Cardiff branch of Starbucks, the next you’re rubbing shoulders with celebrities, being jetted out to Las Vegas and being treated like a VIP.
Barista Ibby Tarafdar spends two days a week serving hot drinks to commuters and office workers.
But after randomly being plucked from obscurity by one of the world’s richest stars the 26-year-old also finds himself as a member of The Money Team, sport’s most extravagant entourage.
The passionate graphic designer’s world was turned upside down after he contacted Floyd Mayweather – one of the greatest boxers of all time – and was offered a job!
University of South Wales graduate, Ibby, from Gabalfa, said: “In 2016 Mayweather was doing a tour and one of the dates was supposed to be in Cardiff.
“I was a bit disappointed with the advertising of the event, so I got in touch with his team.
“I helped put a few posters up, nothing much, but then a few days before it was due to happen the event got cancelled.
“So I messaged his best friend on social media and I explained to him, and said how much more expensive it was to go and see him in London – and he just said come to London.
“So we went and we met him and he took us to the club. They blocked the whole road off when we were there. I didn’t speak to Floyd at that point but that was the first time I was introduced to his team.”
Mayweather is widely considered to be one of the greatest poundfor-pound boxers of all time and is undefeated in his professional career.
The fifteen-time world champion stunned the boxing world this week after announcing a fight with Mixed Martial Arts star Conor McGregor.
The bout could earn both fighters in excess of $100m.
In addition “Money” Mayweather is well known for being one of the most lucrative earners in any sport, worth approximately £270m with career earnings of around £550m.
He topped the Forbes list of highest paid athletes in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was ranked number 34 in a list of America’s richest entrepreneurs under 40 last year.
Outside the ring he heads The Money Team, a network of business ventures in fashion, music, sport and entertainment, run by a huge entourage of employees, contributors and partners.
After his initial meeting with members of The Money Team, Ibby was briefly introduced to up-andcoming boxer Gervonta Davis, whom Mayweather has described as the “future of boxing”.
During the meeting he proposed to create a logo for the undefeated 22-year-old’s next fight.
The finished design was eventually approved and used on merchandise and fight gear with sportswear brand Under Armour.
Ibby said: “We met him earlier again this year and we were invited to his [Gervonta Davis’] press conference. That was super cool.”
The design was worn by Davis and his team during his first IBF junior lightweight champion defence fight against Liam Walsh in May 2017, which was watched by millions of people across the world.
Ibby said: “The first time I saw the design on the team was just incredible.
“Even when Floyd saw it you could just tell that he was impressed.
“His best friend even said to me, ‘Where is Floyd’s T-shirt?’” Despite his success taking him around the world to socialise with boxing stars, Ibby still holds down a day job.
He said: “I work two days a week in Starbucks still. “I think working there is what keeps me grounded and seeing normal people come in and they think everything is impossible and they can’t do anything.
“But really you can do anything, as long as you put in the work and you have your raw talent.
“I graduated in 2014. I had no idea I would end up doing this.
“I have always been ambitious, I always wanted to be top of the class and the fastest in the race, but I didn’t know how things would work out.”
He added: “I remember last time I was with him [Mayweather] I was in a room with just him and his security and I was just thinking, ‘How did all this happen?’
“It just shows that if you put in the work and show your talents then great things can happen.”
Ibby credits his girlfriend Jade Robinson as a big part of his success and describes themselves as a “team”.
He said: “I asked Floyd’s team why they picked me, and they said it was because I was always with my girlfriend and that shows loyalty.”
Despite his nature in the ring, Ibby described Mayweather as kind natured.
Ibby said: “Floyd is so nice, he’s kind and he’s generous. He looks after everyone.
“He makes sure that everyone is looked after and he’s very attentive, he always listens to people.
“And just the way he manages things, it’s so impressive.
“Even being with them for a week and having all the cameras and paparazzi drains you, but you just learn from how he deals with it.
“I’m always learning and I’d say he’s very inspirational.”
Ibby has freelanced in graphic design since 2014, and has also worked with the boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux, who is signed to Jay Z’s management company Rocnation.
He said: “I don’t have any big plans, but I’m just flowing with the opportunities and making the effort to grow. I do want to have a successful design agency.”
The design used by Gervonta’s team will eventually be released on general sale by Under Armour.
Ali Abdi, a community organiser and mentor of Ibby, said: “I am really pleased to see Ibby’s creative talents being recognised internationally by global icons in sport.
“It doesn’t get much bigger than Floyd Mayweather. It wasn’t long ago I was mentoring him at Cathays High School and now he’s flying off to Vegas and LA to pursue his dreams and connect with superstars – exciting stuff.”