The highly anticipated rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III has concluded, with Mayweather once again dominating the fight from start to finish.
However, as an exhibition bout, no official scores were kept, and the fight lacked any true highlight moments or knockdowns.
Despite the tension that surrounded the event, this time, both camps managed to avoid the brawl that marred their first encounter. Still, the atmosphere in the ring was far from calm, with controversies erupting in the early rounds.
Controversy seemed to follow this rematch just as it did in the first fight between Mayweather and Gotti. From the opening round, the tension was palpable. Mayweather, known for his showboating style, was able to land shots on Gotti with ease. But things took a turn when the round extended beyond the expected two minutes, frustrating Gotti, who voiced his displeasure to the referee.
The real drama began in round two when the referee warned Mayweather for what appeared to be a behind-the-head shot on Gotti. Mayweather, visibly annoyed, pushed the referee out of the way, signaling his frustration. The situation escalated further when a member of Gottiâs team entered the ring after the referee intervened to prevent Gotti from continuing his engagement with Mayweather. This chaos led to a shocking turn of eventsâthe referee was dismissed, and a new one was brought in to officiate the rest of the fight.
This unprecedented mid-fight referee swap left many in the combat sports world stunned. WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who was watching the fight, expressed his disbelief on social media, saying, âI never seen a ref get kicked out, Floyd the Goat for sure.â
As if the referee swap wasnât enough, the fight was also plagued by timekeeping errors. Jed I. Goodman, a well-known combat sports insider, pointed out that the timekeeper forgot to signal the end of the first round to the referee, further adding to the confusion in the ring.
The chaotic nature of the bout seemed to reinforce the idea that when Floyd Mayweather is involved, anything can happen. As Shakur Stevenson put it, âIt is Floyd Mayweatherâs world, and we are all living in it.â The decision to replace the referee mid-fight appeared to be a demonstration of Mayweatherâs influence and control over the event, leaving many viewers both shocked and amused.
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Despite the drama, the fight ultimately concluded without further incident. While the bout may not have delivered the high-octane action that fans were hoping for, it certainly provided plenty of theatrics and talking points.
What do you think of the controversy and drama that unfolded during the Gotti-Mayweather exhibition bout? Let us know in the comment section below!