Floyd Mayweather will get back in the ring for an exhibition in United Arab Emirates
Confirming the statements he made after his last appearance inside a boxing ring, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will again slip into gloves and trunks but not to accentuate on the career accomplishments that made him arguably the best fighter of the past 50 years.
The 45-year-old Mayweather, a part-time Miami resident, will box an eight-round exhibition against Don Moore on May 14 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The eight-round exhibition headlines a card that also features retired UFC champion Anderson Silva, who has transitioned into boxing following a successful career in mixed martial arts.
Mayweather, who is co-promoting the show, announced the event Thursday during a media gathering at the Gabriel Miami Downtown Hotel.
“We’re here again for another explosive event,” Mayweather said. “In the sport of boxing, to be in the pinnacle for so long, being a champion for 20 years, I’m truly blessed. We’re going to have some fun.”
Hype about the show also is centered on its backdrop. Instead of an arena or stadium setting, the bouts will be on a helipad of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai. Digital streaming service LIVENow will broadcast the fights via pay-per-view.
A world champion in five separate divisions, Mayweather retired from competitive fights following his 10th-round technical knockout victory over Conor McGregor in 2017. As he compiled a spotless 50-0 record and multiple titles, Mayweather developed a gift in brand promotion.
“I chose to believe in myself and believe in my skills from day one,” Mayweather said. The most important thing about me is I believed when nobody else believed. Whatever you try to accomplish in life, you have to believe first. I can do anything in life that I set my heart to do.
“Like I always said, there are three ways you can learn —hearing, seeing and doing. What made me so deadly in the sport of boxing is I was able to learn in all three ways.”
While post-boxing business ventures and promoting fighters like current lightweight champion Gervonta Davis occupy most of his time, Mayweather will continue to participate in exhibitions. The event in Dubai is Mayweahter’s third such event since retiring.
Last June, Mayweather and social media personality Logan Paul boxed eight rounds at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Mayweather also traveled to Japan and appeared in an exhibition against kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa.
Mayweather anticipates a different performance than in his experience against Paul. Unlike Paul, Moore (18-0-1, 12 KOs) had a boxing career of undercard-fights that lasted between 1999 and 2016.
“Donald is going to come to fight, whereas, at [Hard Rock Stadium] Logan Paul talked a good game but he didn’t come to fight,” Mayweather said. “He came to hold. If he’s coming to fight, I’m coming to fight. Eight rounds from start to finish.”
As the exhibitions continue, Mayweather again stressed he will not succumb to the comeback bug.
“I talked about this before,” Mayweather said about a return. “Obviously, you guys haven’t done your homework and heard what I said before. Once I’m done I’m done. I’m done competing at the highest fight level.”