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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Floyd Mayweather Jr. stands in the ring before Errol Spence Jr takes on Mikey Garcia in an IBF World Welterweight Championship bout at AT&T Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Floyd Mayweather Jr. stands in the ring before Errol Spence Jr takes on Mikey Garcia in an IBF World Welterweight Championship bout at AT&T Stadium on March 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Floyd Mayweather is set to step into the ring once again for an exhibition bout, this time against John Gotti III. The matchup has generated buzz and controversy, as Gotti III, grandson of notorious mafia boss John Gotti, tipped the scales considerably towards Mayweather. The weigh-in drama added an extra layer of intrigue to an already highly anticipated event.
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Money’s recent run of exhibition fights has drawn attention and criticism, with some questioning the legitimacy of these matchups. Moreover amidst the build-up to the fight, a comparison between Mayweather’s previous opponent Arturo Gatti and his current opponent John Gotti III also emerged, only adding fuel to the fire.
Floyd Mayweather angers John Gotti III for comparing him with his previous opponent
During the weigh-ins, Mayweather engaged in banter with his opponent, playfully mentioning the boxing legends he faced. In addition, he mentioned Arturo Gatti, whose name sounds very familiar to John.
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“Any time you go to the Olympics and face the best, or go in there and face guys like Manny Pacquiao and Canelo. I fought Gatti before but it was Arturo Gatti. He brought the thunder, and I’m sure this one will bring the thunder.” said Mayweather.
However, this remark seemed to irk Gotti III, who quickly corrected Mayweather, asserting that the only Gotti he would be facing in the ring is himself. “There’s only one Gotti,” he said. This led to the crowd cheering for the young New Yorker with chants of “You never fought no Gotti.” coming from the crowd. Gotti III already warned ‘TBE’ to be prepared for war in the fight and does seem to have every intention of fighting. However, this didn’t seem to affect the former champion who has played the role of the villain for the better part of his career.
Mayweather warns fans ahead of the upcoming exhibition
The chants didn’t seem to sit too well with Mayweather. He made it clear that when he steps into the ring, it’s all about the fighters and not the crowd. Refusing to be swayed by the chants, Money emphasized that his performance will speak for itself.
“They can scream, they can holler, they can shout but this is what I do,” Mayweather said.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 26: Floyd Mayweather Jr. walks to his corner while taking on Conor McGregor. August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
While the outcome of the bout remains to be seen, one thing is certain. Mayweather’s exhibitions continue to captivate the attention of boxing fans. Whether he can once again prove his boxing prowess or be defeated by Gotti III, only time will tell.
What did you think about Gotti III firing back at Mayweather for his joke? Let us know in the comments.
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Arijit Saha