The sport of boxing is no stranger to unusual events. In 1975, former heavyweight champion George Foreman took on five men in one night in Toronto. The following year, Muhammad Ali fought wrestler Antonio Inoki and was kicked in the legs for 15-rounds – that oddball bout was declared a draw. So, a 44-year-old Floyd Mayweather fighting celebrity novice Logan Paul isn’t quite as weird as it might first seem.
On Wednesday, Paul held a public workout at Miami’s historic 5th Street Gym to publicise his exhibition with Mayweather at the Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. The American looked in decent enough shape, but his slow hands and limited skill on the pads underlined what pay-per-viewers can expect on Sunday.
Paul is hoping his youth and bulk will make a difference – in a bout that will have no official winner should it somehow make it to the scorecards. As the fight approaches, the YouTuber can’t quite believe he is on the brink of fighting a boxing legend.
“This whole thing is surreal. Everything about it. I told my manager and we kind of had an inside joke that until I get in the ring with him, I didn’t think this fight was happening. But I think it’s safe to say that I can believe it now,” said Paul, (0-1, 0 KOs). “I think it’s happening. It’s fight week. I can’t imagine Floyd would back out now, but who knows? Old man fakes an injury. Gets scared of the big kid. I’m excited.
“Weight is great and we’re about at 195[lbs]. Energy is great and I feel strong, fast, sharp. I have no complaints. This is the best shape I’ve ever been in. And I need to be because it’s an eight-round fight. It’s the longest fight I’ve ever fought. So I have to be ready.
“I’m not going in there at 155 pounds. I’m not going in there with the fight meaning the entire world to me. I have nothing to lose. This whole thing is going to be fun for me. I’m going to play with Floyd – gonna dog him and hit him hard. I’m going to break him down physically, mentally, everything.”
Main image: Amanda Westcott/Showtime.