The rematch between (autotag)Floyd Mayweather(/autotag) and (autotag)John Gotti III(/autotag) didn’t feature any fighting, just more Mayweather dominance.
And boos.
The crowd expressed its displeasure after the eight-round exhibition in Mexico City.
There were no falls, no glassy eyes, no staggering.
Because the fight was an exhibition, it was not officially scored. But Mayweather, 47, dominated Gotti, 31, the grandson of the late mob boss John Gotti. Mayweather was able to batter Gotti with relative ease and landed plenty of punches, but he never wobbled his opponent.
“Gotti is tough as nails,” Mayweather said after the fight.
Mayweather praised Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., who was present as part of the broadcast team, and then said: “Mexico City, I love you guys. Thanks for coming.”
The fans applauded.
The first fight between Mayweather and Gotti, in June 2023, ended in a brawl after the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round due to excessive swearing and grabbing. Gotti maneuvered around the referee and threw punches at Mayweather, and members of the fighters’ camps flooded the ring as a brawl broke out.
There were tense moments on Saturday. Gotti became nervous when the rounds, which were supposed to last two minutes, stretched out. And Mayweather became angry when the referee warned him about the blows to the back of Gotti’s head. In fact, a new referee entered the ring.
But it was largely peaceful — more peaceful than the crowd expected, apparently — and ended with Mayweather and Gotti hugging.
“He’s my man,” Mayweather said of Gotti, with his arm around his opponent. “But we had to put on a show for the people. And I want to thank Gotti for being a man of his word and for beating him twice.”
Gotti said Mayweather “hit hard.”
“He’s still got it,” Gotti said.
What’s next for Floyd Mayweather?
It is not an exhibition with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr.
During a post-fight ringside interview, Mayweather hugged Chavez, 62.
“He’s one of the legends I look up to and he paved the way for me,” Mayweather said.
But what about the two who get into the ring to box? “He’s older now and if I put on an exhibition with him, it’s not going to go well for me,” Mayweather said.
Earlier this week, Mayweather said he had been offered a deal for three more exhibitions, but did not provide additional details.
“We just got a call about a three-fight deal and it’s a crazy amount… so we don’t know,” Mayweather said.
More boxing!
Photos: Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III exhibition in Mexico City
John Gotti III: Victory over Floyd Mayweather would be historic, with or without an exhibition
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Floyd Mayweather dominates John Gotti III in exhibition that includes bizarre referee change