Mayweather-Logan Paul boxing exhibition goes the distance

MANILA, Philippines – Social media sensation Logan Paul went the full eight rounds against Floyd Mayweather Jr. — arguably the best boxer of this generation — in their boxing exhibition at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Sunday (Monday, Manila time).

Paul’s size advantage — the YouTube star stands 6-foot-2 — was hardly a factor against the 5 foot-8 Mayweather, who often walked down the bigger and heavier Paul and forced his young opponent to be on the defensive for the second half of the fight.

Mayweather, who weighed in at 155 lbs with his opponent tipping the scales at 189.5 lbs, produced a typically slick performance much to the delight of a substantial crowd at the home of the Miami Dolphins.

With the likes of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield watching on from ringside, internet sensation Paul, 26, produced a few moments of menace yet no way near enough to trouble Mayweather, who brought an end to his boxing career in 2017 with a record of 50-0 after beating UFC star Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.

“I'm not 21 anymore... I just love testing my skill against young fighters,” said the 44-year-old Mayweather. “I was just having fun."

This was declared an exhibition rather than a licensed, professional bout, which meant there were no judges and the only way to triumph was to stop or knock out the opponent within the eight scheduled three-minute rounds.

But neither a knockout nor a stoppage occurred.

Mayweather started the fight feeling out Paul, whose finest moment came at the end of the opening round when he unleashed a flurry and connected on some blows. But Mayweather’s more accurate hooks and straights to Paul’s head did more damage, and the younger fighter looked gassed in the later rounds.

Paul, who was taking part in his third fight after two encounters against fellow YouTuber KSI, was predictably outclassed by Mayweather, who barely broke sweat and delivered a number of punishing blows to stop his American opponent from making any headway.

In the end, Paul was just happy to survive in the ring against the retired boxing superstar.

“I don't want anyone telling me (that) something is impossible (to achieve) anymore,” he said, adding that Mayweather might have gone easy on him and just let him finish the bout.

“I'm happy I made it out,” Paul added.

“He’s a great young fighter, strong. A tough competitor,” said Mayweather.

Intermittent rain throughout the evening failed to put a damper on Mayweather’s first performance since beating Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in December 2018.

Mayweather and Paul reportedly earned millions in the fight, which was made available on pay-per-view.

Both ended up as big winners. – With a report from AFP