Floyd Mayweather is returning to boxing … in virtual form.
The future Hall of Famer has agreed to allow his digital likeness to fight other boxing stars in simulated bouts, according to a Reuters report.
Mayweather, the streaming platform fuboTV and virtual entertainment company FaceBank entered into the joint venture, which will allow for matchups that otherwise could never have taken place.
“Resembling short films, these precise, real-time simulations will feature top-secret results based on a modeling computer that will make incremental relationships between actual performance, velocity of punches, speed of reaction, strategy and stamina,” a news release stated.
“These unprecedented virtual boxing matches will be exclusive to live TV streaming platform fuboTV and pay-per-view partners to be announced.”
Mayweather will work with FaceBank on photographic, filmed and mathematical representations of his face and body to develop an accurate computer-generated digital likeness of him.
Agreements between FaceBank and other noted boxers are expected to follow.