The latest ring appearance by Floyd Mayweather Jr tonight in Miami has
been dubbed “a legalised bank robbery” by the fighter himself as he
faces a Youtube personality in Logan Paul in an exhibition bout for
which the American boxing star is guaranteed a minimum of US$30
million against a novice who has lost his only boxing match.
Little wonder Mayweather, the 50-0 undefeated champion in five weight
divisions, runs by the sobriquet of ‘Money’. When the sums are in from
the pay-per-view extravaganza , Mayweather may have earned “between 50
and 100 million” according to the 44-year-old grandfather, who is
eighteen years older, five inches shorter, and 52lbs lighter than his
opponent Paul, who only contest, and defeat was against another
Youtube personality, Olajide Olayinka Williams “JJ” Olatunji, better
known to his fans as ‘KSI’. Eddie Hearn and Matchroom USA promoted
that contest in Los Angeles in November 2019, and it seemed a novel
idea at the time, but the Paul brothers, Logan and Jake, who between
them have over 43 million Youtube subscribers, have leveraged the
fight sport world and are now challenging boxers and mixed martial
artists to fights. Due to their reach, the Paul brothers can guarantee
large numbers buying their events, and the money grab continues.
The event is being shown by major broadcaster of boxing events, on
Showtime Sports in the USA, and on Sky Box Office in the UK, and
highlights the power of Youtube stars, arguably in any firmament.
Contrast that with Scotland’s Josh Taylor’s undisputed super
lightweight contest against American Jose Ramirez for all four world
titles two weeks ago, and there was not a major UK broadcaster in
sight. Questionable on many levels, yet digital media is increasingly
powerful, was are those with a huge following.
The question is, where will this end ? Former world heavyweight Mike
Tyson even chimed in this week, giving his concern that Mayweather
might “kill” his opponent, due to the gulf in ability being immense,
yet even Tyson himself fought legend Roy Jones Jr last year, in a
throwback fight (combined age 106 years), which drew 1.6 million pay
per view buys, generating tens of millions of dollars.
Mayweather, the richest boxer in history, who has reportedly earned
close to one billion dollars, played a part in the development of the
‘entertainment fight’ with the first major boxing/MMA crossover in his
2017 fight against Conor McGregor, for which he earned a reported $200
million. This will be the least risk, for the most reward, that
Mayweather has ever taken in a boxing ring, but it will hardly be an
advert for the sport. Win-win financially, but a lose-lose in terms of
the boxing purists and his legacy. “”My nickname is ‘Money’ for a
reason. I believe in working smarter, not harder. So if it’s something
easy like a legalised bank robbery, I’ve got to do it. This kid
doesn’t have a chance in hell.”
Remember, for me, it’s a win-win but I’m in a no-win because if I
knock him out fast in the first round, they’re going to be like, ‘Aw
man this wasn’t worth it.’ If I let it go a few rounds and drag it
out, they’re gonna be like, ‘Aw man, he let a YouTuber hang in it for
a few rounds’. But, it is what it is. We’re gonna have some fun
Sunday.”
The Florida State Boxing Commission will not officially recognise the
fight, but a vote will be held by the promoters to choose a winner, if
there is not a knockout. Perhaps the more pertinent question is
whether there are any real winners at all, apart from the protagonists
and their bank balances after the freak show fight.
This Article First Appeared On The Telegraph