Floyd Mayweather recently stepped into the ring for what many are calling his final exhibition bout, facing off against John Gotti III on August 24, 2024, in Mexico City. This fight was not officially scored, but is till drew attention from boxing fans worldwide.
The bout itself was somewhat uneventful, with no knockdowns and a lot of boos from the crowd. Mayweather, now 47, showcased his usual defensive prowess and landed numerous punches on Gotti, who is the grandson of the infamous crime boss John Gotti. Despite the lack of official scoring, it was clear Mayweather dominated the fight, hitting Gotti with ease.
Oscar De La Hoya, a long-time rival of Mayweather, did not hold back his opinions and thoughts on Mayweather’s latest exhibition. De La Hoya, who faced Mayweather in a highly publicized bout in 2007, has been vocal about his disapproval of these exhibition matches. He urged Mayweather to stop participating in what he described as “embarrassing “exhibition bouts.
“In the middle of the second round Floyd literally had the referee swapped out,” De La Hoya said on Instagram. “He didn’t like that the referee told him to stop hitting behind the head. Floyd is used to having the refs do whatever he wants and he wasn’t getting his way this time. It was so embarrassing.”
He also stated, “You’re a legend in this sport. I’ve stood up for you in countless interviews, including Shannon Sharpe’s podcast last week. But you have to stop embarrassing yourself with these exhibitions. I know life is hard, I know life is expensive, but come on, put your legacy first. Nobody wants to remember you like this.”
The fight ended in a massive brawl between the two fighters.
Oscar De La Hoya with a message for Floyd Mayweather on Instagram today: “You have to stop embarrassing yourself with these exhibitions.”
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— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) August 31, 2024
Floyd Mayweather’s exhibition fight with John Gotti III ends in massive brawl ???????? pic.twitter.com/dsfE5Mn4Oi
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) June 12, 2023
Mayweather hasn’t fought professionally since beating UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017. He has remained active through exhibitions.
Mayweather’s latest fight against John Gotti may not have been the most thrilling bout, but it continues to add to the narrative of his post-retirement career. As for De La Hoya, his comments highlight the ongoing debate about the value and impact of exhibition fights in the world of boxing. If Mayweather continues with more exhibitions remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Floyd Mayweather continues to be a polarizing figure in the boxing world.
Floyd Mayweather image
© Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
What are your thoughts on Mayweather’s exhibition bouts? Do you agree with De La Hoya’s opinions ?
