Floyd Mayweather has announced that he’ll fight for the first time in the UK – although it will be the latest in a string of exhibitions for the retired professional.
Since hanging up the gloves officially in 2017, Mayweather has continued to stay active in the sport through entertainment bouts with big names from other fields.
He has faced two Japanese MMA stars in Mikuru Asakura and Tenshin Nasukawa, as well as YouTubers Logan Paul and Deji.
Off the back of his most recent outing in Dubai, he has now revealed to the Sunday Telegraph he will likely be lacing up in Great Britain as early as next month.
“A bout is planned in the UK for 2023. In February we’re looking forward to coming here and putting on an exhibition for the fans in the UK, because I’ve never had a chance to come over here and fight when I was actively boxing as a professional – so hopefully in February I’ll come over and do an exhibition if it’s possible.”
In terms of an opponent, it really could be anyone – such is the nature of exhibitions. There’s no level of experience or skill required to put on a show with Floyd, only having a name and an audience.
There are certain people who should be able to be ruled out, though, given the lack of promotion. Conor McGregor, for example, who faced Mayweather in 2017 in one of the biggest money-making events in the sport, would be an opponent worthy of a press tour and months of build up.
There has been criticism of ‘Money’ Mayweather’s fondness of these uncompetitive bouts in the past, with some claiming that he is tarnishing his legacy as a professional fighter.
Others have said that the contest with YouTubers et al point to financial difficulty. Following his fight with UK content creator, Deji, the American argued against both of those points.
“A lot of time people say, ‘Oh, Floyd have to do exhibitions.’ My philosophy is never stop getting [money]. Currency over legacy. Currency over legacy. Believe me, if I don’t ever do another exhibition in my life, I can live a great life.”