An exhibition bout between the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and mob grandson John Gotti III devolved into brawls in and out of the ring when one competitor refused to stop after getting disqualified.
Having retired from professional boxing in 2017 with a record of 50-0 capped with the defeat of MMA fighter Conor McGregor, Mayweather faced Gotti in his seventh exhibition fight at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Slated for eight rounds, referee Kenny Bayless had warned the grandson of New York City mob boss John Gotti in the fourth that holding was not allowed. With a 2-0 boxing record, the trash-talking fighter leaned into his 5-1 MMA record and got called for holding again in the sixth leading to the end of the match, and that’s when the chaos began.
Weaving past the referee, Gotti closed on Mayweather and then began exchanging punches only to have a rush of men from opposing sides flood the ring, forcing the competitors back their corners as a scrum ensued.
Altercation breaks out during Floyd Mayweather vs John Gotti III exhibition match pic.twitter.com/ZiVXD7C2mN
— Crown Nation Sports (@cnation_sports) June 12, 2023
While no injuries were reported from that altercation, the same couldn’t be said as entourages exited the arena and a prolonged scrap between the groups featured shoving, pummeling to the back of the head, at least one headlock and several attempted knee strikes.
Brawls everywhere at the Floyd fight pic.twitter.com/91zisRIq72
— $️®️€〽️€ (@SupremeCzyz) June 12, 2023
The best fights happens after the fight at Floyd mayweather fight #floydmayweather
KennysellsMiami on ig pic.twitter.com/qf09Dgcc4C
— H.B (@ganjababy305) June 12, 2023
Ladies from the respective entourages also got in on the action as one appeared to use her high heel as a weapon before getting locked up before the pair could be separated.
ANGLE 2 – Members of Floyd Mayweather’s entourage get in brawls backstage after the fight pic.twitter.com/SBBfxhqgIp
— The NPC Show (@TheNPCShow) June 12, 2023
If that weren’t enough, the conflict made its way onto social media where Gotti took to calling Mayweather a “punk b*tch” and asserted the boxer was his, “Enemy for life. Never put me down or stopped me. It was DQ for no reason.”
His sister Nicolette Gotti joined the action with threats to Mayweather’s family on her private account that read, “@floydmayweather your daughter was ran through by a animal with 12 different baby mamas — your little circus animal — your all a pack of zoo animals. I swear on my kids I’m coming for your daughter it may be 2 years or 3 years from now but I’m coming c**t.”
Prior to the fight, Mayweather had said, “I’m all about bringing the biggest and best events to the people, and Sunday, June 11 is going to be like nothing else you’ve seen in the sports and entertainment world. This is all about combining the entertainment of top-flight musical performances with top-flight skills in the ring. I love the fans in South Florida, and I know they’re going to appreciate this premier event we’re going to bring them.”
Meanwhile, Gotti had said, “I grew up idolizing Floyd, and I’m honored to have this chance to step into the ring against him. He’s one of the greatest boxers of all time, and he’s the reason I got into the fight game. But on June 11, I’m gonna punish him.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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