In a promotional video released on Memorial Day, Floyd Mayweather Jr. guaranteed that his boxing match against Logan Paul will end before the final bell rings.
The fight between Mayweather and Paul, scheduled for this Sunday on Showtime pay-per-view, is an exhibition boxing match where rules allow for a maximum of eight rounds. However, Mayweather warned viewers not to expect a complete, eight-round bout.
"This fight will not go the distance, I promise. Bet on it," Mayweather said in an exclusive interview with sportsbook BetOnline.
Mayweather made a handful of predictions in the video, stemming from prop bets BetOnline.ag, a gambling website, is offering ahead of the fight.
The future Hall of Fame boxer also stated with conviction that he will not be knocked down during the match, but that Paul will touch the mat with something other than his feet.
"Will Logan Paul hit the canvas? Absolutely, bet all of your money on it," said Mayweather.
Whether or not these expectations come to fruition remains to be seen, but it's clear that Mayweather is focused and not taking his opponent lightly. The five-division champ is a massive -1400 favorite against Paul, which means a bettor would have to risk $1,400 just to return $100 for a victory.
Floyd Mayweather is no stranger to these unorthodox matchups, as the man they call “Money” famously faced off against the UFC’s Conor McGregor in 2017. Floyd followed up with another cross-sport bout, this time an exhibition fight against Japan’s undefeated kick boxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
Money doesn’t lie, and the fan hype and revenue brought in by his fight with McGregor undoubtedly played into the recent run of unconventional boxing headliners.
COVID shutdowns put an end to most athletic competitions, but the combat sports world found a way to safely advance with events. The UFC and boxing promotions found themselves as the only show in town for much of 2020, and legends of the sport and celebrities signed on in hopes of cashing in on the sport’s resurgence.
Oddly enough, this run saw a pair of unlikely newcomers take the spotlight. Brothers Logan and Jake Paul, best known for their Youtube stardom, have made it their mission to prove to the world that they are serious with their ambitions to become forces in the sport.
With Jake Paul’s vicious knockout of NBA legend Nate Robinson becoming the meme of the year, and his recent 1st round TKO of MMA Champion Ben Askren, Jake is looking to face stiffer competition to show that he is more than just a novelty item.
Brother Logan, who oddly enough has no victories in his short boxing career, is taking the biggest step forward in facing a man many call the greatest the sort has ever seen.
Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Mayweather told Forbes that he not only approves of boxing’s new direction, but also that he feels his involvement is the only this ‘super fight’ super.
“It’s good for the sport of boxing, but when we’re talkin super fights. There’s only one fighter who takes a professional match or an exhibition to that level. For over 20 years it’s been about will Floyd Mayweather ever lose. The answer is no.”
Mayweather has recently invested in the digital advertising platform Stardam Images, a product that uses licensed clips of celebrities to amplify digital advertising.
Stardam CEO Connor Kroll shared that the hype generated by this unusual pairing is bringing new kinds of sponsorship money to the table.
“This fight brings a new kind of viewer to the sport, and advertisers that have never looked to combat sports in the past are now willing to invest in the unique audience expected to tune in Sunday night. As CEO of Stardam we feel we are at the forefront of efficiency in influencer marketing. It has been incredible to see the millions of dollars brands are funneling in to capture the massive web traffic associated to these streamed exhibitions.”
Sponsors from a wide range of industries are working with Stardam in advance of this fight. Brands working directly with the Mayweather camp include the aforementioned sports betting site BetOnline, OnlyFans, Snow teeth whitening, Nerf competitor Gel Blasters, and TAAT, a hemp based cigarette brand offering a healthy alternative to nicotine.
“Mayweather has established an esteemed reputation as both an athlete and a celebrity personality defined by greatness achieved through hard work,” stated TAAT CEO Setti Coscarella. “This aligns with our approach to delivering a great experience to smokers aged 21+ with no tobacco or nicotine.”
“We are excited to see the engagement it creates among smokers aged 21+ who are watching the fight this weekend.”
As Floyd Mayweather’s moniker suggests, “Money” is on the menu this weekend, and gamblers, sportsbooks and sponsors are all looking to cash in on the uniqueness of Sunday’s main event.
