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Boxer Floyd Mayweather has suffered two devastating blows within the past month. First, his longtime ex-girlfriend and mother to three of his children, Josie Harris, was found dead outside of her California home. Just days later, his uncle and legendary boxing great/trainer, Roger Mayweather, also died. As Floyd processes the shocking losses, more details are emerging about his relationship with Harris.

Harris was open about the tumultuous relationship she says she and Floyd had. Now, a friend of Harris is releasing excerpts from a memoir Harris was penning about surviving domestic abuse she claims she suffered at the hands of Floyd. 

Josie Harris’s death

TMZ reported that Harris, 40, was found unresponsive while sitting in her car parked outside of her Valencia, California home. Law enforcement sources told the outlet that they were called to Harris’s home around 9:30 PM and she was pronounced dead on the scene.

Source: Instagram

According to officials, there does not appear to be any foul play involved. The case is being treated as a death investigation as opposed to a homicide and an autopsy will be complete to determine her official cause of death.

Harris shared 3 children with Mayweather and their relationship spanned over 15 years. He posted several tribute photos to her on his Instagram account in the days following her death, calling her his “angel, heart, love, rock, sweetheart, friend and family” among other things.

Source: Instagram

According to Josie Harris, her and Floyd Mayweather’s relationship was riddled with abuse

Harris and Mayweather met in 1995 when she was just 16-years-old and before his boxing career took off. During Harris’s sophomore year in college, she became pregnant with their first child. They shared many happy moments but according to Harris, Mayweather became physically abusive and was a serial cheater, even having children outside of their relationship.

Source: Instagram

According to TMZ, Mayweather was convicted of attacking Harris in a 2010 domestic violence incident. He served 2 months behind bars as a result. Harris alleges that she was abused on six different occasions by Mayweather but the criminal charge was centered around a Sept. 2010 incident.

Harris claimed Floyd entered her Las Vegas home without her permission as she slept, pulled her hair and then attacked her in front of their children. Their eldest son allegedly snuck out of the home and told a security guard to call the police. Harris’s home video security footage was later released and revealed the aftermath of the incident with Harris being taken out by EMT’s. Video footage also shows their children running to security before police were called.

Source: Instagram

Mayweather denied the allegations against him. During an interview with Katie Couric, he accused Harris of being on drugs and claimed that he was not the aggressor in their relationship. Instead, he says he fought her off and defended himself. 

Harris sued Mayweather for more than $20 million for defamation after the interview with Couric aired. At the time of Harris’s death, their case was still ongoing. 

Friends of Josie Harris claim she was writing a tell-all about her allegedly abusive relationship with Floyd Mayweather

Harris later recounted years of alleged abuse on the reality series Sister Wives Confidential. The show aired on TLC for one season in 2014. Harris was also an aspiring model and actress and had a few film credits under her belt.

Source: Instagram

After her death, Harris’s friend spoke to The UK Sun about a memoir Harris was working on that detailed the alleged abuse she suffered. Though Harris claimed she and Mayweather were violent toward each other over the years, excepts in the book recounts escalating beatings from Mayweather that ended in Harris claiming she was fearful of her life.

In regards to the 2010 incident that Mayweather was convicted of, she accused the boxer of forbidding their children from leaving the home or getting their mother help. 

Source: Instagram

Harris had to receive medical attention and was left with brain contusions, a possible concussion, and a sprained left arm. In the excerpt, she describes feelings of embarrassment for her children witnessing the alleged abuse and her life being spread across tabloid headlines.

“I didn’t want to say the things I had to say about Floyd Mayweather,” she writes. “He had hit me before and I had been violent toward him in our relationship. But, I knew this had to be the last beat down.”

Source: Instagram

Harris told USA Today in 2014 that she still suffered from anxiety after dealing with the alleged abuse from Mayweather. Their son, who alerted security during the 2010 incident, called Mayweather a “coward” for what Harris dealt with.