In a highly-anticipated contest, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. is set to return to the ring for an exhibition match on June 11. This time, he will be facing off against John Gotti III, the grandson of notorious mafia boss John Gotti. The fight is reportedly set to take place in Sunrise, Florida, US.
Mayweather vs Gotti III Turns Up the Hype
Mayweather retired from official competition after a glorious 27-year career. defeating former UFC champion Conor McGregor in 2017. However, has continued to box in exhibition matches that do not count towards his professional record which is 50 wins, 0 losses, and 0 draws. Same as his amateur record where he lost 9 times. However, he turned professional after his 9th defeat in 1996 and hasn’t lost a match since.
This will be his 7th match after retirement, having previously won against Tenshin Nasukawa, Mikuru Asakura, and Deji Olatunji. Rest of the 3 were non-scored fights against Logan Paul, Don Moore, and Aaron Chalmers.
On the other hand, Gotti III is a professional fighter with experience in both boxing and mixed martial arts. He holds a 5-1 record in MMA and has recently focused his energy on boxing, winning his last two fights. The upcoming bout with Mayweather will be the biggest test of his career so far.
Both men appeared at a news conference to promote the upcoming fight with an unusually calm stare down.
“Last Name Matter”
Both fighters hail from different but illustrious lineages. The event has been dubbed “Last Name Matter” which references the legacy behind surnames “Mayweather” and “Goti”.
John Gotti III is the grandson of John Gotti, who was the boss of the Gambino crime family, one of the most powerful and influential organized crime syndicates in American history. Gotti rose through the ranks and took control of the organization in 1985 and remained its boss until his death in prison in 2002. Gotti’s popularity was partly due to his flamboyant personality. He was known for living a high life with designer suits and expensive cars, which he didn’t hesitate to flaunt while carrying out criminal activities.
Despite his many brushes with the law, Gotti managed to evade conviction for many years, earning him the nickname “Teflon Don” for his ability to dodge charges that would have put lesser criminals behind bars. However, his luck eventually ran out, and he was finally brought to justice in 1992, when he was convicted of murder, racketeering, and several other crimes.
After his incarceration, his son and Gotti III’s father, John Gotti Jr. served as the acting boss of the family. Mayweather said in the press conference that he shared a good friendship with his opponent’s father. The Gambino family is still in operation today, although it has gone through significant changes and challenges.
Mayweather’s father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., was a former professional boxer and trainer. He had a successful career in the ring, winning 28 of his 35 fights, and later went on to train his son, who went to become the undefeated legend of this sport. Mayweather Sr. was known for his defensive boxing style and has trained many notable boxers, including Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.
Mutual Respect
Mayweather’s return to the ring is highly anticipated, given his reputation as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Meanwhile, Gotti would want to use this huge opportunity to make a name for himself by defeating the undefeated. During a press conference, Gotti declared that he’s ready to take on Mayweather, whom he’s been a fan of since childhood. He emphasized that he’s bringing his A-game to the ring and that he’s going to create trouble for the legend.
Till now, Mayweather has mostly facing celebrities and internet personalities in exhibition matches for entertainment. Speaking to the media, he acknowledged that Gotti would be a more formidable opponent than his previous challengers in recent years. The legend also said that he was trying to arrange this fight for two years. Mayweather said that despite retirement he wanted to continue entertaining his fans.
