Floyd Mayweather danced with a ring girl during a boxing exhibition in the Middle East
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Floyd Mayweather danced with a ring girl during a boxing exhibition that took place Saturday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
It was supposed to be held May 14 on the helipad that straddles Dubai’s Burj al Arab, but the death of UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan delayed the event by a week.
It was Mayweather’s third unofficial bout since retiring from pro boxing with a flawless record of 50-0, having beaten the former two-weight UFC champion Conor McGregor in a landmark bout five years ago.
But despite making Tenshin Nasukawa cry in 2018, then going eight rounds with Logan Paul in 2021, his exhibition with his old sparring partner Don Moore was arguably his most fun.
Mayweather looked at ease in the ring.
The 45-year-old smiled from the very first round, boxed more aggressively in the second, and was picking Moore apart with his jab alone through the third.
At one point in the exhibition, someone in the crowd demanded a knockout from Mayweather, who paused a barrage of shots to scream back, “Nope,” according to The National reporter John McAuley who was on press row at the time.
Mayweather’s joviality increased round-by-round as he was able to land whatever shot he threw. When the commentators praised his mental warfare in the middle of round six, he shouted back at them: “I do that.”
And, if that wasn’t enough, he then imitated the ring girl by carrying her “7” card, before dancing with her before the seventh could begin.
Mayweather punctuated his virtuoso exhibition bout with a knockdown in the eighth, and even pursued the finish but Moore survived the distance.
“I told the fans I’m here to entertain, have fun,” said Mayweather after eight rounds of fun. “Don Moore, he’s undefeated, a great fighter. He’ll always be a champion in my heart.”
Mayweather then said he’ll “bring” another bout to Abu Dhabi before the end of 2022, confirming he’ll “absolutely” be returning to the UAE.
“It’s a secret,” the Hall of Fame fighter said. “I don’t want to let the cat out the bag right now but we have an opponent.”