MIAMI GARDENS, Fla., June 7 (UPI) — Floyd Mayweather Jr. said early Monday that he sought to provide entertainment, while YouTube star Logan Paul fought to “survive” in their eight-round exhibition boxing bout in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Paul stunned fans by going the distance Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The fight between the retired undefeated (50-0) boxing champion and the social media star did not feature judges and a winner was not declared.
Mayweather, 44, landed 34 of 107 punches thrown (40%). Paul, 26, landed 28 of his 217 punches (13%).
“I was surprised by him,” Mayweather said of Paul. “I’m not 21 anymore, but it’s good to move around with these young guys, test my skills and have some fun.”
Former boxing champion Evander Holyfield, NFL legend Terrell Owens, former NBA star Paul Pierce and rappers Fat Joe and Migos were among the celebrities in attendance.
Many thought Mayweather would knock out Paul in an early round, but Paul managed to fend off melees until the final bell.
“I don’t want anyone to tell me anything is impossible ever again,” Paul said. “The fact that I was in there with one of the greatest boxers of all time proves that the odds can be beat.”
Paul, who weighs 35 pounds more and stands six inches taller than Mayweather, used his larger frame to crowd his much more experienced counterpart.
Mayweather, one of the best defensive boxers in history, held his gloves in front of his face to block barrages from Paul. He used a deceptive right hook out of those blocks to deliver devastating blows.
Paul’s defense weakened as he fatigued in the later rounds. Mayweather used the openings to deliver lightning-quick combinations of jabs and uppercuts to Paul’s midsection and left eye, which swelled after the fight.
Trading blows in round 4 ?? #MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/jrAn0Vzo9R
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 7, 2021
Mayweather’s last official bout was his 2017 win over former UFC star Conor McGregor. Paul lost his lone official bout against fellow YouTuber KSI in 2019.
“His whole goal wasn’t to come out here and knock me out,” Mayweather said of Paul. “His whole goal was to survive. That was a win for him.”
Fighters throughout the night complained about the slippery canvas, wet from rain that poured down around the temporary ring, placed near midfield at the Miami Dolphins‘ home facility.
The main card started with an exhibition between former NFL wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Brian Maxwell.
Johnson started the four-round bout with great energy and footwork for an early edge. He continued his shifty defense in the second round, but lowered his hands down the stretch.
Maxwell was the more aggressive fighter for the final two rounds. He drilled Johnson in the face with a heavy right hook in the final round. Johnson fell to the ground due to the blow.
Johnson landed 31% of his punches in the exhibition. Maxwell landed 25% of his punches.
“I had fun two months to get ready for this,” Johnson said. “My life is about taking chances, doing crazy stuff and doing stuff on my bucket list. This was a message for people scared to live and take chances. Don’t be scared to fail.
“I don’t box. I’m a little sloppy. It was fun. I think I’m ready for [Conor] McGregor.”
Luis Arias (19-2-1) upset former middleweight champion Jarrett Hurd (24-2) by split decision in the second bout of the main card. Arias was the more aggressive fighter throughout the 10-round bout.
Arias landed 34% of his punches, compared to Hurd’s 30% landed punches. The loss gives Hurd two setbacks in his last three fights. He was 23-0 from 2012 through 2018.
“He fought a great fight,” Arias said. “He could have had me. I was definitely buzzed. If he would have found a way i could have went down.”
Badou Jack (23-3) pushed his record to 24-3 with a technical knockout win over Dervin Colina (15-1) in a light heavyweight bout, the last fight before the main event.
“It was a little sloppy,” Jack said. “It wasn’t my best fight, but it got the job done.”
Jack, one of the best body-punchers in boxing, put Colina on the canvas in the fourth round with his third knockdown of the bout to end the fight.
Jack landed 42 of 161 punches in what was scheduled to be a 10-round bout. Colina landed 17 of 99 punches in the loss.
Mayweather didn’t rule out another exhibition fight, but said he won’t fight in another official bout. Paul said he plans to continue training and continue his boxing career.
Logan’s brother, fellow YouTube star Jake Paul (3-0), will fight former UFC champion Tyron Woodley (0-0) in another boxing bout on Aug. 28.
Jake beat Ben Askren in his last fight on April 17.
