The highly anticipated exhibition bout between boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III in Mexico City turned out to be largely predictable and uneventful, mirroring expectations for such a matchup. While Mayweather dominated the inexperienced Gotti over eight scheduled two-minute rounds, the most memorable moment wasn’t a knockout punch, but rather Mayweather seemingly firing the referee mid-fight.
The fight, held on Saturday night, offered little in terms of thrilling boxing action. Mayweather, as expected, controlled the pace and dictated the terms against Gotti, who appeared outmatched and awkward in the ring. No knockdowns occurred, and the fight lacked any significant highlights in terms of boxing skill or excitement.
However, the second round injected unexpected drama when Mayweather, visibly annoyed, instructed the referee to leave the ring, effectively ejecting him from the fight. This unusual incident stemmed from the referee’s interventions, particularly regarding punches landing on the back of the head, which Mayweather felt were unwarranted. Displeased with a reprimand, Mayweather’s frustration boiled over, leading to the abrupt removal of the referee. Observers noted the bizarre situation, reminiscent of post-fight antics from their previous encounter, as Mayweather gestured and vocalized for the referee to “move out the way,” resulting in an immediate replacement by a new official.
The referee change, while generating buzz, did little to alter the course of the fight. Mayweather continued his methodical approach, focusing on body shots, jabs, and uppercuts against Gotti. Despite Mayweather’s consistent offense, Gotti absorbed the punches without appearing significantly hurt. However, Gotti’s performance was widely considered even less polished than in their initial fight, reinforcing his amateurish status in comparison to Mayweather’s legendary skill.
By the sixth round, the Mexico City crowd voiced their displeasure with loud boos, attempting to drown out Mayweather’s post-fight interview, a clear indication of their disappointment with the exhibition’s lack of competitive action.
Following the bout, Mayweather addressed rumors about a potential future exhibition against Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., who was present at the event. While Mayweather showed respect to the Mexican boxing icon with an embrace, he seemed to dismiss the likelihood of Chavez Sr. being his next opponent. This raises the question of who Mayweather will face next in his exhibition circuit.
Given Mayweather’s pattern of lucrative exhibition fights, speculation turns to opponents who can draw attention and generate revenue. Drawing parallels to Jake Paul’s successful model of facing personalities with varying combat sports backgrounds, potential opponents for Mayweather could include figures from outside traditional boxing. The names of influencers like Cash Nasty, Duke Dennis, or Troydan have been mentioned, and the possibility of a rematch with Conor McGregor, a proven money-spinner, always looms. Regardless of his choice, Mayweather’s next exhibition is sure to be a financially rewarding endeavor.
On the undercard, Curmel Moton, a highly regarded prospect under Mayweather’s mentorship, delivered a swift knockout victory against Victor Vazquez. Moton secured the win within 55 seconds of the first round, further solidifying his burgeoning reputation. Improving his professional record to 5-0 with four knockouts at just 18 years old, Moton exhibits promising potential. Comparisons to Gervonta Davis, due to his size and power, have emerged, suggesting Moton is a talent to watch as he progresses towards tougher challenges in the coming years.
