Boxer Mayweather charged with domestic battery

American Floyd Mayweather Jr was charged with four felonies, including domestic violence, on Thursday over accusations by his ex-girlfriend that he beat her and threatened their three children.

Mayweather, 33, who is undefeated in 41 bouts and widely regarded as the best defensive fighter of his generation, was arrested last Friday over an altercation at the home of his former girlfriend, Josie Harris.

The boxer, who is free on $3,000 bail, was charged with battery constituting domestic violence, robbery, grand larceny, coercion and harassment. He could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all of the charges.

Mayweather's lawyer, Richard Wright, could not immediately be reached for comment, but told the Las Vegas Review-Journal newspaper that "if (the charges) are based on the same incidents in the (police) report, its kind of a bombastic characterisation".

Harris alleged in the police report that Mayweather had assaulted her after she found him in her house early last Friday. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment of minor facial injuries and a sore left arm.

Mayweather, who lives in Las Vegas, fought his latest welterweight bout in May against compatriot Shane Mosley, registering a unanimous points victory that improved his career record to 41-0, including 25 knockouts.

According to a 2010 list of the highest-paid US athletes compiled by Sports Illustrated magazine, Mayweather ranks third with total earnings of $60.3 million, behind golfers Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.