Tag: Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao, Rizin CEO expect Floyd Mayweather rematch in 2024

Manny Pacquiao expects to be fighting Floyd Mayweather in 2024 under the Rizin banner.

It looks like a rematch between boxing legends [autotag]Manny Pacquiao[/autotag] and [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] may be a thing in 2024, and under MMA promotion Rizin Fighting Federation.

On Sunday morning during Rizin 45, Pacquiao along with Rizn CEO [autotag]Nobuyuki Sakakibara[/autotag] said they expect to see a rematch with Mayweather sometime in 2024. No details were shared on a specific date, weight class, or even if it will be an exhibition or professional bout.

“Can you please fight Floyd Mayweather next year?” Sakakibara asked.

“Thank you so much for inviting me here again,” Pacquiao replied. “I’m sorry for the last time that we promised we were going to fight this year, but like Sakakibara explained, this year I will see you here in Japan again with a big fight against Floyd Mayweather. I’m excited for that. Thank you for all the support in Rizin, and thank you Sakakibara.”

Mayweather has fought twice under the Rizin banner in his exhibition career chapter following his retirement from professional boxing. Mayweather competed against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018 and then against MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura in 2022 in boxing exhibitions.

Mayweather, now 46, was last seen in action in June when he fought John Gotti III to a no contest after the fight turned into a brawl involving both teams.

Pacquiao retired from professional boxing in September 2021 after losing his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas. He’s done one exhibition bout since, defeating YouTuber DK Yoo in a decision back in December 2022. Pacquiao was recently in the headlines in the MMA world after UFC star Conor McGregor once again challenged him to a boxing match. Pacquiao is currently signed to Rizin.

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Gifted Floyd Mayweather protégé Curmel Moton on blazing-fast track

Floyd Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is confident that 17-year-old Curmel Moton will be a world champion by the end of next year.

The handlers of almost all gifted prospects are careful to ease them along the road to greatness. And for good reason: One slip up can spoil the best laid plans.

That’s why Floyd Mayweather Promotions’ approach to the young career of 17-year-old junior lightweight Curmel Moton is so striking. They expect the Hall of Famer’s protĂ©gĂ© to accomplish special things in a matter of months, not years.

Moton has only one pro fight under his belt.

“We’ve surveyed the landscape and timing-wise we feel very comfortable saying he’ll be a world champion by the end of [next] year,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told Boxing Junkie.

Moton became one of the U.S.’ top amateurs not long after his father introduced him to boxing at 5 years old and moved the family from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, where he caught Mayweather’s eye and quickly became a mainstay at his famous gym.

The prodigy won 18 national titles and says he finished his amateur career with a record of 144-6, leaving little doubt about his skillset.

He had his first professional test on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he stopped overmatched Ezequiel Flores (4-1, 3 KOs) only 1 minute, 48 seconds into the scheduled six-rounder.

That was enough time see that he was no ordinary rookie, although he acknowledged that he had butterflies before the fight.

“The day of the weigh-in I was nervous,” Moton told Boxing Junkie. “The morning of the fight I was nervous. Then I put on my uniform (matching red-and-white shirt and trunks) and looked at myself in the mirror. I thought, ‘This is fresh!”

“I started feeling like [I belong here].”

The big question is whether Moton will ultimately belong among the best fighters in the world.

Ellerbe and Co. certainly believe so, which is why the company has sponsored him and surrounded him with some of the best fighters in the world since he was a child. They like everything about him, his ability (speed, power, instincts), his work ethic and the way he carries himself outside of the ring.

Ellerbe doesn’t want to compare him directly to Mayweather, which would impose unnecessary pressure on the young man. However, he sees potential greatness in him.

“Young fighters can get sidetracked,” Ellerbe said. “[Moton] just stayed the course and worked really hard to get to this point. I’m just really, really happy about what his future holds. He just has to continue to stay humble. That’s the key.

“As success comes he has to continue to work hard, stay focused, listen to his team. And the sky’s the limit.”

All this is why Moton will be fast-tracked along the lines of two-time Olympic champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, who fought for a major world title in his second professional fight.

He probably won’t emulate the feat of Wilfredo Benitez, who won a world title at 17. However, few in history have turned the trick at 18.

“Me personally and Floyd, we’ve had this conversation a number of times recently,” Ellerbe said. “This kid is special. And we’re going to handle him accordingly. His path is going to be a little different from most fighters his age who are good.

“He’s really, really special.”

Moton appreciates those words.

“I want to be one of the youngest world champions ever,” he said. “I want to make history, do great things in the sport.”

The top fighters in and around Moton’s weight are officially on notice.

Gifted Floyd Mayweather protégé Curmel Moton on blazing-fast track

Floyd Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is confident that 17-year-old Curmel Moton will be a world champion by the end of next year.

The handlers of almost all gifted prospects are careful to ease them along the road to greatness. And for good reason: One slip up can spoil the best laid plans.

That’s why Floyd Mayweather Promotions’ approach to the young career of 17-year-old junior lightweight Curmel Moton is so striking. They expect the Hall of Famer’s protĂ©gĂ© to accomplish special things in a matter of months, not years.

Moton has only one pro fight under his belt.

“We’ve surveyed the landscape and timing-wise we feel very comfortable saying he’ll be a world champion by the end of [next] year,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe told Boxing Junkie.

Moton became one of the U.S.’ top amateurs not long after his father introduced him to boxing at 5 years old and moved the family from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, where he caught Mayweather’s eye and quickly became a mainstay at his famous gym.

The prodigy won 18 national titles and says he finished his amateur career with a record of 144-6, leaving little doubt about his skillset.

He had his first professional test on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card on Sept. 30 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he stopped overmatched Ezequiel Flores (4-1, 3 KOs) only 1 minute, 48 seconds into the scheduled six-rounder.

That was enough time see that he was no ordinary rookie, although he acknowledged that he had butterflies before the fight.

“The day of the weigh-in I was nervous,” Moton told Boxing Junkie. “The morning of the fight I was nervous. Then I put on my uniform (matching red-and-white shirt and trunks) and looked at myself in the mirror. I thought, ‘This is fresh!”

“I started feeling like [I belong here].”

The big question is whether Moton will ultimately belong among the best fighters in the world.

Ellerbe and Co. certainly believe so, which is why the company has sponsored him and surrounded him with some of the best fighters in the world since he was a child. They like everything about him, his ability (speed, power, instincts), his work ethic and the way he carries himself outside of the ring.

Ellerbe doesn’t want to compare him directly to Mayweather, which would impose unnecessary pressure on the young man. However, he sees potential greatness in him.

“Young fighters can get sidetracked,” Ellerbe said. “[Moton] just stayed the course and worked really hard to get to this point. I’m just really, really happy about what his future holds. He just has to continue to stay humble. That’s the key.

“As success comes he has to continue to work hard, stay focused, listen to his team. And the sky’s the limit.”

All this is why Moton will be fast-tracked along the lines of two-time Olympic champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, who fought for a major world title in his second professional fight.

He probably won’t emulate the feat of Wilfredo Benitez, who won a world title at 17. However, few in history have turned the trick at 18.

“Me personally and Floyd, we’ve had this conversation a number of times recently,” Ellerbe said. “This kid is special. And we’re going to handle him accordingly. His path is going to be a little different from most fighters his age who are good.

“He’s really, really special.”

Moton appreciates those words.

“I want to be one of the youngest world champions ever,” he said. “I want to make history, do great things in the sport.”

The top fighters in and around Moton’s weight are officially on notice.

Video: Are MMA vs. boxing fights the future of combat sports?

Our “Spinning Back Clique” debates if MMA fighters meeting boxers on their turf will be the future of combat sports.

For some top-level MMA fighters, especially those with a large enough following, getting to test their skills in the boxing ring has become a new career goal.

MMA superstars are drawn to the world of pro boxing not primarily for their aspiration to attain legitimate championship status, but due to the substantially larger financial rewards awaiting them in the boxing ring as opposed to the octagon.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] opened the door for [autotag]Francis Ngannou[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Tyson Fury[/autotag]. The former proved MMA vs. boxing crossover events could be very lucrative, while the latter proved there is a case for competitive success inside the ropes.

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While it’s unlikely that there will be a flood of these events in the future, as public interest has only grown with the right mix of superstar talent and personality, there is a question to be asked about the future of these events, especially considering Saudi Arabia’s willingness to invest heaps of cash.

We asked our “Spinning Back Clique” panel of Mike Bohn, Danny Segura and Brian “Goze” Garcia to look at the potential future for MMA vs. boxing events with host “Gorgeous” George Garcia.

You can watch their discussion in the video above and check out this week’s full episode on YouTube or in podcast form below.

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For more on the matchup, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Fury vs. Ngannou.

Canelo Alvarez has owned American opponents. Will Jermell Charlo be different?

Will Jermell Charlo be just another one of Canelo Alvarez’s American victims?

Will Jermell Charlo be just another American victim of Canelo Alvarez?

The Mexican star, who is scheduled to defend his 168-pound championship against Charlo on pay-per-view Saturday in Las Vegas, has fought 13 opponents from the United States and has beaten all but one of them, Floyd Mayweather.

Alvarez has faced more fellow Mexicans (22-0-1) than those from any other country. However, his dominance over Americans – as well as Britons (8-0) – has shaped his legacy.

The then-23-year-old 154-pound titleholder took a big risk when he decided to fight Mayweather, already an all-time great at the time, but none of “Money’s” countrymen have been able to take him down.

Alvarez fought a few obscure Americans early in his career but three consecutive victories over elite Yanks in 2012 and 2013 helped lift him to star status, a one-sided decision over future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley, a fifth-round knockout of Josesito Lopez and a clear decision over then-unbeaten Austin Trout.

Trout was impressed, saying, “He was better than me. I have no excuses.”

Then came the setback against Mayweather, who outclassed his young foe. Judge C.J. Ross went off the rails, scoring the one-sided fight 114-114. The other two cards came closer to reflecting reality, 117-111 and 116-112 for Mayweather.

Alvarez’s first loss hurt his pride but he came to look back at it as a valuable learning experience.

“That fight really helped me to improve and move forward in my career. So I keep looking ahead,” he told ESPN Deportes a few years after the fight.

The next American he faced became the victim of arguably his most spectacular knockout, James Kirkland. Alvarez put him down three times, twice in Round 3, before knocking him unconscious with a vicious straight right in that round in 2015.

That stoppage and his one-punch stoppage of Englishman Amir Khan are the best examples of Alvarez’s destructive power.

He next faced an opponent from the U.S. four years later, when he battled the capable Daniel Jacobs in a 160-pound title-unification fight. Alvarez didn’t dominate Jacobs but he won a clear unanimous decision, one of his most impressive victories in recent years given Jacobs’ ability.

His final American opponent was Caleb Plant in November 2021, his last fight before his stunning unanimous decision loss to talented 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol and perceived decline.

The slick Plant boxed well much of the fight but Alvarez gradually closed the distance on him, wore him down and stopped him in the 11th round, which turned out to be the superstar’s most recent knockout.

Could Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) be Alvarez’s 40th stoppage victim?

If Alvarez’s subpar performances in his recent fights can be attributed to injuries and he’s healthy now, as he claims, Charlo could be in trouble. If he struggled because he has simply lost a step, Charlo could join Mayweather as the only Americans to take down the face of boxing.

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Canelo Alvarez has owned American opponents. Will Jermell Charlo be different?

Will Jermell Charlo be just another one of Canelo Alvarez’s American victims?

Will Jermell Charlo be just another American victim of Canelo Alvarez?

The Mexican star, who is scheduled to defend his 168-pound championship against Charlo on pay-per-view Saturday in Las Vegas, has fought 13 opponents from the United States and has beaten all but one of them, Floyd Mayweather.

Alvarez has faced more fellow Mexicans (22-0-1) than those from any other country. However, his dominance over Americans – as well as Britons (8-0) – has shaped his legacy.

The then-23-year-old 154-pound titleholder took a big risk when he decided to fight Mayweather, already an all-time great at the time, but none of “Money’s” countrymen have been able to take him down.

Alvarez fought a few obscure Americans early in his career but three consecutive victories over elite Yanks in 2012 and 2013 helped lift him to star status, a one-sided decision over future Hall of Famer Shane Mosley, a fifth-round knockout of Josesito Lopez and a clear decision over then-unbeaten Austin Trout.

Trout was impressed, saying, “He was better than me. I have no excuses.”

Then came the setback against Mayweather, who outclassed his young foe. Judge C.J. Ross went off the rails, scoring the one-sided fight 114-114. The other two cards came closer to reflecting reality, 117-111 and 116-112 for Mayweather.

Alvarez’s first loss hurt his pride but he came to look back at it as a valuable learning experience.

“That fight really helped me to improve and move forward in my career. So I keep looking ahead,” he told ESPN Deportes a few years after the fight.

The next American he faced became the victim of arguably his most spectacular knockout, James Kirkland. Alvarez put him down three times, twice in Round 3, before knocking him unconscious with a vicious straight right in that round in 2015.

That stoppage and his one-punch stoppage of Englishman Amir Khan are the best examples of Alvarez’s destructive power.

He next faced an opponent from the U.S. four years later, when he battled the capable Daniel Jacobs in a 160-pound title-unification fight. Alvarez didn’t dominate Jacobs but he won a clear unanimous decision, one of his most impressive victories in recent years given Jacobs’ ability.

His final American opponent was Caleb Plant in November 2021, his last fight before his stunning unanimous decision loss to talented 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol and perceived decline.

The slick Plant boxed well much of the fight but Alvarez gradually closed the distance on him, wore him down and stopped him in the 11th round, which turned out to be the superstar’s most recent knockout.

Could Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) be Alvarez’s 40th stoppage victim?

If Alvarez’s subpar performances in his recent fights can be attributed to injuries and he’s healthy now, as he claims, Charlo could be in trouble. If he struggled because he has simply lost a step, Charlo could join Mayweather as the only Americans to take down the face of boxing.

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Conor McGregor questions Floyd Mayweather after post-fight mayhem with John Gotti III: ‘No meaning behind the bouts’

Conor McGregor wonders what’s even the point of all these Floyd Mayweather exhibition boxing matches.

[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] doesn’t see the value in [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag]’s exhibition boxing matches.

Mayweather’s most recent fight with John Gotti III, the grandson of an infamous New York mobster, ended in a disqualification, causing a brawl to breakout this past Sunday at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Fla.

Mayweather, 46, has not competed in a professional bout since stopping McGregor by 10th-round TKO in August 2017. McGregor repeatedly has said he’d be open to a rematch, poking fun at Mayweather’s recent bouts.

“I wasn’t that impressed to be honest with you,” McGregor told TMZ. “We’ll have a go up if he wants. I don’t know where he’s at. There’s no meaning behind it. He’s just here and there. There’s no meaning behind the bouts. There’s nothing to it. I enjoyed the brawl afterward more than I did the actual bout.”

Midway through the sixth of a scheduled eight-round exhibition, Gotti was disqualified by referee Kenny Bayless for repeatedly grabbing Mayweather. A fired-up Gotti shoved the referee aside and charged at Mayweather with punches. Mayweather’s bout vs. Gotti marked his seventh exhibition match, as he’s previously fought the likes of Logan Paul, Deji Olatunji, and Aaron Chalmers.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) recently wrapped up filming Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite fellow coach Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC). The show airs Tuesdays on ESPN and ESPN+ through Aug. 15, and the coaches are expected to fight after the conclusion of the show, but a date is yet to be announced.

“The Notorious” hasn’t competed since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

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Watch it: Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition erupts into chaos

Watch it: Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition erupted into chaos on Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

The best action Sunday at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, occurred after the Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition.

The retired Hall of Famer toyed with his far less-experienced opponent for five rounds, fighting with his hands down, playing to the crowd and doing a lot of talking.

Then, in Round 6, the trash talk led to chaos. Referee Kenny Bayless, evidently tired of the fighters’ clinching and non-stop verbal exchanges, suddenly stopped the fight.

The move enraged the grandson of reputed gangster John Gotti, who wanted to continue and refused to stop throwing punches. He even pushed Bayless out of the way so he could get at Mayweather.

All that triggered a full-blown brawl inside the ring involving members of the fighters’ teams.

Both of the fighters evidently were able to get out of the ring unscathed after the chaos erupted. It’s not clear whether anyone else was injured during the melee.

It was the 46-year-old Mayweather’s seventh exhibition since he last took part in a sanctioned bout in 2017, when he stopped Conor McGregor.

Gotti, 30, has minimal experience in both boxing and mixed martial arts.

Watch it: Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition erupts into chaos

Watch it: Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition erupted into chaos on Saturday in Sunrise, Florida.

The best action Sunday at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, occurred after the Floyd Mayweather-John Gotti III exhibition.

The retired Hall of Famer toyed with his far less-experienced opponent for five rounds, fighting with his hands down, playing to the crowd and doing a lot of talking.

Then, in Round 6, the trash talk led to chaos. Referee Kenny Bayless, evidently tired of the fighters’ clinching and non-stop verbal exchanges, suddenly stopped the fight.

The move enraged the grandson of reputed gangster John Gotti, who wanted to continue and refused to stop throwing punches. He even pushed Bayless out of the way so he could get at Mayweather.

All that triggered a full-blown brawl inside the ring involving members of the fighters’ teams.

Both of the fighters evidently were able to get out of the ring unscathed after the chaos erupted. It’s not clear whether anyone else was injured during the melee.

It was the 46-year-old Mayweather’s seventh exhibition since he last took part in a sanctioned bout in 2017, when he stopped Conor McGregor.

Gotti, 30, has minimal experience in both boxing and mixed martial arts.

Video: Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III ends in mayhem after disqualification

Watch all hell break loose as Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti trade blows after the fight was waved off – and their entourages rush the ring.

All hell broke loose Sunday upon the conclusion of an exhibition match between boxing legend [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] and the grandson of an infamous New York mobster, [autotag]John Gotti III[/autotag], in Sunrise, Fla.

Midway through Round 6 of 8, Gotti was disqualified by referee Kenny Bayless for repeatedly grabbing Mayweather. The decision fired up Gotti, who shoved the referee aside and charged Mayweather as he through punches.

Both Mayweather and Gotti roll deep with entourages, who rushed the ring and created a chaotic scene as each combatant was shoved seemingly every which way.

Prior to the stoppage at FLA Live Arena, Mayweather played to the crowd as he taunted and showboated his way through the first five rounds. Despite the unfortunate ending, Mayweather pockets another exhibition win.

Mayweather, 46, has not competed in a professional bout since August 2017. However, the bout vs. Gotti marked his seventh exhibition match. Other exhibition opponents have included Logan Paul, Deji Olatunji, and Aaron Chalmers.

Gotti, 30, is a 2-0 professional boxer, who also compiled a 5-1 pro MMA record from 2017 to 2020.