Anyone who believes Logan Paul’s natural size may cause Floyd Mayweather issues in their curiosity match on Sunday should think again.
Surprisingly, 0-1 novice Paul is only an 11/2 outsider for the exhibition at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. To put that into context, IBF No.1 contender George Kambosos is a 7-1 shot against undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez 13 days later.
It seems some bettors really are banking on YouTuber Paul’s 18-year advantage in youth; size (seven inches) and weight (up to 30lbs) to upset arguably the finest fighter of the last 25 years.
WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence, a former sparring partner of Mayweather, says no-one should read too much into Floyd’s lack of stoppages as his serious pro career drew to a close in 2015. The snapping power of Mayweather’s youth never went away, he merely chose to preserve his damaged hands.
“I’ve seen him stop guys in the gym with 16-ounce gloves. Bigger guys. He just beats them up,” Spence told ESPN.com. “In his young career, you saw how he was knocking guys out. But now he’s got hand problems, so he’s not turning with it all the way, not putting 100 percent power into his punches.
“But he can punch hard. That’s why a lot of guys, when he hits them, they start backing up or go on defence. They’re not just walking through his punches. You haven’t seen anybody who’s walking through his punches. Even Marcos Maidana started backing up when Floyd started coming forward.”
Of course, Mayweather may well choose to ‘carry’ Paul for a number of rounds to extend the spectacle.