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Agence France-Presse

Floyd Mayweather has invited ridicule ahead of his latest return to the boxing ring but the unbeaten American couldn’t care less.
The dubious prospect of Mayweather, the 44-year-old former welterweight world champion who retired with an unblemished record of 50-0, taking on a 26-year-old internet star with just two bouts to his name, has been greeted with disdain in much of the sporting world.
Sunday’s bizarre exhibition bout against Logan Paul, with no judges ringside, is scheduled for eight rounds at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Promoters are hoping the event will generate pay-per-view sales in the two million range, delivering a lucrative payday for its protagonists.
Floyd Mayweather ignites Jake Paul boxing feud and says he wants to face brother Logan and 50 Cent
Jake Paul, Logan’s younger brother, reportedly brought in 1.3 million views and earned around US$75 million for his fight in April against mixed martial artist Ben Askren, so it’s plausible to imagine those numbers could be trumped given Mayweather’s appeal and the social media popularity of his opponent.
Mayweather meanwhile is aware his first foray into the ring since another exhibition fight in Japan on New Year’s Eve in 2018, which ended in the opening round, has left the boxing purists cold.

Yet the American brushes off the criticism of those who believe he is tarnishing his legacy and the sport.
“I don’t really worry about the (pay-per-view) numbers,” Mayweather told AFP on Thursday. “I am just here to have fun and entertain.
Floyd Mayweather, Tyron Woodley recast as heroes as fight fans pray they can shut Jake and Logan Paul up
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I live for Floyd Mayweather and I choose what I want to do. If I want to go out, have some fun and make US$50, US$60, US$70, US$100 million, let me do it. I am not bothering anyone. I am not out robbing or killing. I am doing what I want to do.
“I retired but I didn’t retire from entertaining and making money.”
Mayweather broke the mould in 2017 when he came out of retirement to beat UFC star Conor McGregor in a money-spinning crossover event in Las Vegas which triggered the recent trend of boxers searching for opponents outside of the sport.
With the Paul brothers both garnering huge attention for their respective bouts over the last few years – Jake is 3-0 while Logan’s record is 0-1-1 – promoters and fighters keen to make extra money have become creative.
“We have always thought outside of the box,” Leonard Ellerbe, chief executive of Mayweather Promotions told AFP.
“Floyd has beaten more world champions than anyone but the die-hard fans will never give him the credit he deserves. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and that’s fine. Floyd will live his life how he wants to.”

A chaotic pre-fight media availability on Thursday at the former Miami mansion of murdered fashion icon Gianni Versace suggested interest in the event is high, despite the premise proving unpalatable for many.
Logan Paul, whose first fight against fellow YouTube star KSI in August 2018 generated 1.3 million buys worldwide and made the event in Manchester, England the largest non-professional boxing match of all time, said: “This whole thing is just so crazy, we have already defied the odds. When my manager asked if I wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather, I just laughed.
“I am here to achieve the impossible.”
For Mayweather, however, it’s just another payday and a return to the limelight.
“You know what’s crazy? I am in a no-win situation,” he said.
“If I knock him out in the first round they will say it wasn’t worth it. And then if it carries on for a few rounds, they will say it’s not worth it.
“But it’s always worth it for me. I want to give the people what they want to see and have some fun.
“We chose Sunday because we wanted to do something different – events like the Super Bowl and the Grammys are always on a Sunday. I always like to take chances.
“I am fighting a Youtuber and getting paid crazy money for it. That’s not bad for someone who has retired.”


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Floyd Mayweather

Floyd Mayweather unfazed by critics ahead of Logan Paul exhibition bout

Former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr and YouTube star Logan Paul face off at Villa Casa Casuarina. Photo: USA Today

Logan Paul poses for a photograph during a press event, Thursday, June 3, 2021, in Miami Beach, Fla. Paul will fight Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition boxing match at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. Sunday. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jun 3, 2021; Miami Beach, Florida, USA; Professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks on after the face off with YouTube star Logan Paul at Villa Casa Casuarina. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Floyd Mayweather, Tyron Woodley recast as heroes as fight fans pray they can shut Jake and Logan Paul up

Is this the final denouement of Logan Paul, who is set to take on arguably the greatest boxer of all-time this Sunday in Floyd Mayweather? Photo: Reuters

Floyd Mayweather signs gloves at the opening of the Mayweather Boxing + Fitness gym in Torrance, California, U.S., November 16, 2019. Picture taken November 16, 2019. REUTERS/Rory Carroll

Mar 27, 2021; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Tyron Woodley punches Vicente Luque in their welterweight fight during the UFC 260 event at UFC APEX on March 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

(COMBO) This combination of pictures created on April 27, 2021 shows Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) looks on while taking on Marcos Maidana during their WBC/WBA welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 13, 2014 and Logan Paul (R) mocks and imitates KSI after the official weigh-in at L.A. Live Xbox Plaza on November 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. - Former world welterweight king Floyd Mayweather said April 27 he will face off against YouTube personality Logan Paul in an exhibition bout at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on June 6. "Logan Paul and I are going to fight at Hard Rock Stadium. Mayweather Promotions, Fanmio and Showtime will team up to give you an epic event," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. (Photos by AL BELLO and Victor Decolongon / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

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Floyd Mayweather (left) and Jake Paul pose during a press conference at Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami Gardens, Florida, on May 6, 2021. Photo: AFP

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Boxing


Sunday’s bizarre exhibition bout against Logan Paul, with no judges ringside, is scheduled for eight rounds at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium



Sunday’s bizarre exhibition bout against Logan Paul, with no judges ringside, is scheduled for eight rounds at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.


YouTube and YouTubers

Floyd Mayweather unfazed by critics ahead of Logan Paul exhibition bout

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;} Sunday’s bizarre exhibition bout against Logan Paul, with no judges ringside, is scheduled for eight rounds at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium

Sunday’s bizarre exhibition bout against Logan Paul, with no judges ringside, is scheduled for eight rounds at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium