Picture this: A retired boxing legend, unbeaten in his career, squares off against the grandson of an infamous crime boss in an exhibition match. The prize? Not just the typical bragging rights, but a custom-made, Juneteenth-themed belt from the World Boxing Council (WBC). An odd commemoration for a match that isn’t part of the formal boxing canon, wouldn’t you agree?

Two strikingly different figures are brought together for the first of Floyd’s 5 exhibition matches. Floyd Mayweather Jr., an undeniable legend in the sport of boxing, is on one side of the ring. Mayweather has solidified his reputation as one of the best boxers of all time with a perfect 50-0 record. The opponent on the opposite side is John Gotti III, a professional boxer with a notable past but not a lot of experience. The famed mafia leader John Gotti’s grandson, Gotti, has a 2-0 boxing record and a 5-1 MMA record.

This is precisely the spectacle set to unfold as Floyd Mayweather prepares to step into the ring against John Gotti III. Amidst the fanfare and hype, however, the announcement of this unique award has set off an unexpected firestorm in the world of boxing fans. So, why are fans so unhappy about it?

The Prize That’s Stirring Up the Fans: Floyd Mayweather vs. Gotti III

The Juneteenth-themed WBC belt has been specially designed as a tribute to the national holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It’s a one-of-a-kind keepsake, intended to be awarded to the winner of the exhibition match between Mayweather and Gotti III. The choice to tie in such a significant cultural symbol with this match has certainly ruffled some feathers.

Jimmy Reading’s take was notably harsher, labeling the belt as “an unearned belt to someone who is an absolute embarrassment of a human being.”

Marco Gonzalez, seemingly baffled by the decision, queried, “Why? It’s not a sanctioned belt fight. Horrible.”

Scotty Tucker Jr. shared his frustration, saying, “What an absolute joke this is. They are hyping up a bout between a retired legend who’s 50-0 and some kid who got a 2–0 boxing record and a 5-1 MMA record… It’s stupid! It’s a MONEY GRAB!”

Meanwhile, David Ortega offered a lighter perspective, jesting, “What if he loses?” And then there was Paul Schmidt, who could only laugh at the entire situation, commenting, “Hysterical!! Lmaolololololololololololololololololololol.”