Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul fight results, takeaways: Boxing is just fine despite a most likely outcome

On Sunday night time in Miami Gardens, Florida, Floyd Mayweather outboxed Logan Paul over eight rounds in an exhibition bout that, by rule, had no official winner. For all of the expectations of a wild conflict between the boxing legend and the YouTube star, the battle appeared like most of Mayweather’s fights have: Mayweather proving his elite expertise can overcome any problem positioned in entrance of him.

Paul, to his credit score, survived some clear pictures and even bought in a couple of punches of his personal whereas managing to go 24 minutes with one of many best boxers within the historical past of the game. To that finish, it was a victory of types for the 26-year-old.

A lot was made earlier than the battle of what, if any, that means the competition had in a bigger context. Did it converse to boxing’s place in 2021? Are YouTubers the way forward for the game? And are Mayweather exhibitions a staple of the close to way forward for fight?

Let’s check out three massive takeaways popping out of the exhibition between Mayweather and Paul from Arduous Rock Stadium.

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Essentially the most possible final result

Spend sufficient time pondering, speaking or writing about any battle and you might have moments the place you start to imagine within the least seemingly outcomes. Some might have had temporary flirtations with the concept of Mayweather going all out and blitzing the Vine-turned-YouTube star to attain an emphatic knockout, and even daydreaming of an internet-breaking knockout win for Paul. Stepping again from the madness of the scenario and the media onslaught of the week, the battle going eight rounds was all the time the factor that made essentially the most sense.

Listening to Mayweather because the battle approached offered loads of clues as to what to anticipate. Floyd by no means went overboard in his guarantees heading into the battle. Mayweather mentioned, “That is legalized financial institution theft. It is a not an actual battle for me, it is an actual battle for him.” And he made it clear that, “It is leisure.”

Mayweather was by no means an in-ring threat taker. Sure, he fought nice fighters. However he beat these males by means of elite protection and the power to do higher, cleaner work whereas not placing himself — or his excellent file — in danger. Why would issues be any completely different in opposition to a person who dwarfed him within the ring? Floyd Mayweather did what Floyd Mayweather does by minimizing threat and making statements within the secure areas in between.

Mayweather was all the time clear about what he was promoting, even when it wasn’t what the general public believed they have been shopping for.

Boxing is okay

Or, somewhat, boxing is as wonderful because it has been within the trendy period. The inflow of “superstar fights” has been touted by many — most who exist outdoors the boxing “bubble” — as some type of signal of a flailing desperation for consideration throughout the game. The fact is, there is no important crossover between the viewers for the Paul brothers or the YouTube vs. TikTok card and people who eagerly anticipated the junior welterweight unification bout between Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez. These two audiences aren’t going to construct a significant funding within the different, regardless of how a lot boxing promoters might need it could.

No sport can match the pure thrill of a fantastic boxing match on a begin to end stage. Luka Doncic hitting an insane game-winning 3-point floater is a second, Patrick Mahomes rolling out and throwing a dime throughout his physique for an unbelievable first down is one play that takes mere seconds, however Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo, Micky Ward vs. Arturo Gatti or Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire are relentless shows of sustained motion. Those that recognize this haven’t misplaced appreciation for the center of what boxing is as a result of Jake Paul knocked out Ben Askren or Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather fought a considerably lackluster exhibition.

Boxing is a sport in want of an even bigger viewers, sure, however it isn’t underneath siege by influencers and part-timers. They’re merely visiting as a result of the game’s core attraction of two individuals punching one another within the face is easy to understand and a wild concept for a era grown on the idea of influencers and media stunts.

Overlook Floyd Mayweather vs. Jake Paul

Even earlier than the notorious “gotcha hat” second the place Jake Paul stole Floyd Mayweather’s hat and took an uppercut for his bother, there was a line of pondering that Mayweather vs. Logan was merely a set-up for Mayweather vs. Jake down the highway. It is a foolish concept and one which ought to be left to die.

If there’s anybody man from the “social media influencer” inflow which will have the chops to be something close to a legit fighter, it is Jake Paul. He is gone by means of a YouTuber, a retired NBA participant and a retired UFC fighter with dangerous placing in fast, brutal succession. Now, Jake is lined as much as face Tyron Woodley, one other former UFC fighter, albeit one with extra harmful placing later this summer season. If Jake manages to beat Woodley, the stress intensifies to face a “actual boxer” and show the place he actually sits within the sport. To money that out for an exhibition with Mayweather doesn’t do him any good, nor does it profit Mayweather — aside from the heaps of cash each males would stand to make.

Mayweather confronted Logan Paul and proved he might deal with an even bigger, wildly much less expert fighter on Sunday night time. Doing that once more would not show a lot and would seemingly seem like an solely barely higher model of this battle whereas ending any actual mystique for Jake.

If Mayweather is as severe a couple of rematch with Conor McGregor as he and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe mentioned they’re, that is the battle to make. The curiosity remains to be there, particularly as some have clung to the concept McGregor was ever accountable for their 2017 assembly. Be “Cash” and make the true cash battle if the spectacle of post-retirement Mayweather should proceed.

Or, as Mayweather advised he was able to do on the post-fight press convention, merely stroll away from boxing competitors, exhibition or in any other case.