Floyd Mayweather dominates John Gotti III in uninspiring exhibition fight

Former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather easily outclassed John Gotti III in an exhibition match Saturday night in Mexico City, though the bout failed to impress the 22,000 spectators in attendance. Mayweather, who retired undefeated in 2017 with a 50-0 record, continues to engage in exhibition fights that do not impact his official record.

Gotti, the 31-year-old grandson of infamous New York crime boss John Gotti, entered the ring with a 5-1 MMA record before transitioning to boxing. Despite his pedigree, Gotti struggled throughout the eight-round contest, which featured two-minute rounds and two-minute rest periods.

Mayweather, 47, controlled the fight from the outset, landing rights to Gotti’s head in the first round. Gotti’s lackluster performance drew the ire of the crowd, who grew increasingly restless as the fight progressed. A moment of confusion arose when the bell failed to sound at the end of the first round, leading to a brief continuation until Gotti’s corner protested.

Further bewilderment occurred in the second round when referee Hector Afu left the ring after a questionable punch by Mayweather, prompting Mexican referee Alfredo Uruzquieta to step in. Despite Gotti’s attempt to mount an offense in the fourth round, Mayweather remained in control, landing a flurry of punches in the later rounds as Gotti struggled to defend himself.

The match concluded with Mayweather cornering Gotti in the final round, but as expected, there was no official winner since it was an exhibition bout. This was the second exhibition fight between Mayweather and Gotti, with their first encounter in June 2023 in South Florida ending in a melee due to heated exchanges between the fighters.

(Source: AFP)