The Resurgence of Brutality in Boxing: Mayweather vs. Gotti III Ends in Ugly Brawl Between Fighters and Fans.

Mayweather vs. Gotti III Ends in Ugly Brawl Between Fighters and Camps, Near Riot

In a Sunday night exhibition fight, the five division world champion Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III – the grandson of John Gotti, an organized crime icon – squared off in the ring. Scheduled for eight two-minute rounds, the fight quickly turned into a complete mismatch with Mayweather landing whatever he wanted from all angles. Gotti was pinned against the ropes and covering up, and not throwing much of anything in return. Because the fight was sanctioned as an exhibition, no official winner was announced, and no judges were assigned to score the fight.

Mayweather‘s Retirement and Exhibition Fights

After stopping UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a cross-sport clash, Mayweather retired from the sport in 2017. Since retiring, he has taken part in numerous exhibition fights, the most high-profile of which was a clash with social media star Logan Paul in 2021.

The Fight Before the Brawl

Before the fight began, there was a loud ‘Gotti‘ chant from the crowd. There was a big delay before the start of the first round, because there was a mob of people in Mayweather‘s corner that security and others had to clear out. Once the first round started, Mayweather was toying with Gotti and began to unload with punches from the start. Mayweather was dancing, trash talking, and having fun in the ring as Gotti was too slow with his punches to connect. Referee Kenny Bayless warned both men for their continued trash talking and antics in the ring before the sixth round.

The Brawl

Once the fight was waved off, Gotti lost it and went after Mayweather, and they began to brawl. Both camps stormed the ring, punches were thrown by both sides, and there was an ugly mob scene that lasted for some time as the entire ring was filled with bodies. Even after Gotti and Mayweather were escorted out of the ring, fights erupted inside the ring between both camps, and the craziness continued outside of the ring.

Advice for the Boxing Community

Violence is never the answer, especially in sports where it can reflect poorly on the entire sporting community. Boxing is a combat sport, and it is essential to respect the rules of the game and the opponents in the ring. Brawls and riots are unacceptable, and we must urge the fans and the fighters to respect each other in the future. Boxing officials, camps, and fighters should be held accountable for their behavior inside and outside the ring, and this kind of violence must not be tolerated in any sporting event. Violence detracts from the beauty of the sport, and it is our responsibility as fans and journalists always to promote peace and respect.