Floyd Mayweather, Logan Paul go the distance in Miami exhibition bout

MIAMI — Floyd Mayweather Jr. graced an American boxing ring for the primary time in 4 years Sunday, although his eight spherical bout with social media celebrity Logan Paul was something however an official professional boxing occasion.

Paul, 26, weighed almost 35 kilos heavier than the 44-year-old Mayweather (189.5 kilos to 155 kilos), however all the dimensions and bulk he had over Mayweather solely served to maintain him standing following one-sided boxing motion on the Arduous Rock Stadium.

Mayweather was credited with touchdown 43 of his 107 punch makes an attempt within the exhibition, adequate for a 40 p.c join fee. Paul, whose solely earlier professional boxing expertise was a cut up choice loss to a fellow YouTuber named KSI in November of 2019, landed 28 of 217 makes an attempt for a 13 p.c fee.

Simply as in his 2017 bludgeoning of professional boxing debutant Conor McGregor, Mayweather began slowly, permitting the bigger Paul to throw his finest punches within the first two rounds. Paul excited the group on the finish of the primary spherical, throwing every little thing he had at Mayweather’s gloves to little impact. From that time, it was all Mayweather.

The 5-division champion, who was inducted into the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame this 12 months, used the 6-foot-2 Paul’s physique and head as a canvas on which to color. Mayweather dusted off an outdated trick in spherical three, popping his jab downstairs to freeze the taller man. Mayweather uncorked his first critical punch in that jab, touchdown a left hook on Paul as he tried for a counter uppercut.

SHEESH 😳 #MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/Xi7DvJbBcD

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 7, 2021

Paul landed his last punch of observe within the fourth, a clubbing proper hand that made a loud noise however did nothing to discourage Mayweather.

Paul, who had advised that he’d be sufficiently big to harm Mayweather, saying earlier than the battle that there are weight courses for a purpose, ended the fifth spherical by operating away from the advancing Mayweather. Mayweather landed a proper hand after the bell, seemingly simply because he may.

As Paul drained, he tried to make use of his dimension to lean on and put on down Mayweather, although it did little to decelerate the punishment. Paul obtained in a single final taunt on the last bell, pointing to the clock as if to brag about going the space with a dwelling legend.

Mayweather, who had participated in aspect exhibits exterior of professional boxing, together with a wrestling match in opposition to WWE star The Huge Present at WrestleMania, and a blowout of Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018, stated he would proceed to placed on exhibitions sooner or later.

“You’ve obtained to understand, I’m not 21 anymore nevertheless it’s good to maneuver round with these younger guys, check my expertise simply to have some enjoyable,” stated Mayweather, who added that Paul was “higher than I assumed he was.”

For a battle titled “Bragging Rights,” that might serve to be the one in-ring accomplishment Paul must brag about. Nonetheless, Paul was proud of the end result and expertise.

“I don’t need anybody to inform me something is inconceivable ever once more. The truth that I obtained in right here with one of many best boxers of all time, it proves the chances might be beat. Anybody can beat the chances and do nice issues in life,” stated Paul.

“This is without doubt one of the best nights of my life, I’m glad.”

The exhibition headlined a Showtime pay-per-view card.