Deontay Wilder has commented on Floyd Mayweather’s most recent exhibition event descending into chaos via a brawl in the ring and countless fan fights outside of it.
Mayweather faced John Gotti III – the grandson former New York crime boss, John Gotti, and a pro fighter with a handful of bouts in MMA and boxing.
It was no surprised that Mayweather was comfortable in the fight, scoring shots at will in the first and cruising from then on. Gotti was warned by referee, Kenny Bayless, for holding, and was getting increasingly frustrated.
Bayless waved it off in the sixth, again after the challenger held on, and chaos erupted. Gotti kept swinging on Mayweather despite the final bell – and was met with a counter right hand for his efforts – as both teams entered the ring to break it up.
The events seemed to spur those in the crowd on to get into fights of their own, with various videos on social media showing dangerous scuffles and disruption.
Speaking to ES News, Wilder branded the event a mess for what it turned into, but seemed to brush it off as a part of the sport.
“I did see it. It was crazy. I thought it was a mess of events that was occurring – but, you know, we live to talk about it and we pray for the next one. We going to live to see another day.”
In the aftermath, Gotti has been suspended by the Florida commission for six months and called Mayweather his ‘enemy.’ For his part, the 50-0 fighting legend seems pleased that he got people talking and made the headlines.
It’s unclear who he faces next on his exhibition world tour, but there’s little doubt that the show goes on.