Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul – What We Know So Far
Are we about to see a ‘Social Media Super-fight’? Floyd Mayweather v Logan Paul has been the hot topic in boxing for the last week since rumours were mentioned by many reputable boxing sources.
Hall of Famer and promoter Floyd Mayweather always knows how to drum up interest in a fight. When we last saw Mayweather, he was carrying Conor McGregor in a highly anticipated fight ending with a 10th round TKO.
Now, rumours are swirling that Floyd Mayweather has been approached regarding a fight with YouTube star Logan Paul. Paul’s fellow YouTube personality, ‘Keemster’, broke the news of the negotiations on social media on September 16, 2020.
Mainstream boxing media has picked up reporting on the story, giving some support that the supposed negotiations are more than conjecture. In fact, veteran sports journalist Mike Feinberg has reported that the pen has been put to paper for the Floyd Mayweather v Logan Paul fight, although other journalists have yet to file similar reports.
The date of the exhibition match has not been confirmed, but many are expecting the fight to take place sometime in 2021.
FLOYD MAYWEATHER V LOGAN PAUL
A Floyd Mayweather v Logan Paul fight would require a great deal of compromise. The sheer difference in the size of the fighters alone must be negotiated. When fighting McGregor, Mayweather agreed to a 154-pound limit.
This would be impossible for Paul, who weighed just shy of 200 pounds for his last fight. However, this disparity in size is exactly what will attract eyes to this fight. In other words, fight fans will be treated to a real-life Thunderlips v Rocky Balboa bout.
In addition, and likely most important to Mayweather, the money must be right. Floyd Mayweather has shown that he will only fight for a large purse.
If Mayweather will not make a large enough sum, Mayweather will not fight. All of Floyd Mayweather’s fight negotiations are evidence of this sentiment. Whoever is leading this negotiation must have sufficient financial backing.
Logan Paul will likely enjoy a nice payday as well, but his take-home will be cents to Floyd Mayweather’s dollars. For fight fans, this also means that we, as the paying public, will be required to pay a pay per view premium for this fight to take place.
This exhibition match follows in line with the Roy Jones, Jr. and Mike Tyson fight scheduled for November. For real boxing fans, these exhibition matches are a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, like the Mayweather v McGregor fight, these exhibition matches draw in thousands, if not millions, of people who would not otherwise watch a boxing match.
In theory, this increased exposure will draw more people to the sweet science and boxing’s popularity will rise. To keep this popularity, promoters will be forced to call upon the days of the ’80s and 90’s when the best in the business routinely faced each other.
On the other hand, exhibition matches involving aged fighters or YouTube celebrities dim the limelight for current and rising stars. While many found the Mayweather v McGregor fight to be close and entertaining, most boxing fans quickly realized that Mayweather could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.
The fight was Mayweather’s choreographed dance, even deciding when to take McGregor out. Nothing indicates that a match-up with Paul would not be a similar farce with an extremely high sticker price.
While Paul has a distinct size and strength advantage, those traits only matter if he is able to hit Mayweather.
Mayweather will no doubt find a way to make the fight seem close in order to justify the high pay-per-view cost, but the fight will be anything but competitive. Exhibition matches certainly have a place in boxing.
However, as boxing fans, we will spend our money on Gervonta Davis v Leo Santa-Cruz every time.
By NSBDale
Also, read: TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS BOXERS OF ALL TIME