Floyd Mayweather, the undefeated boxing legend, faced off against John Gotti III in a much-anticipated exhibition rematch on Saturday night in Mexico City. Despite the excitement surrounding the event, the fight left the 22,000 spectators at Arena Ciudad de Mexico largely unimpressed, as Mayweather outclassed Gotti from start to finish in a chaotic bout filled with confusion and controversy.
From the opening bell, Mayweather, 47, demonstrated his superior skills, landing sharp rights to Gotti’s head while the 31-year-old Gotti, grandson of notorious New York crime boss John Gotti, struggled to mount any meaningful offense. The first round set the tone, with Gotti focusing more on defense than on delivering any real challenge to Mayweather.
However, the fight was marred by bizarre incidents that baffled both fighters and their fans. In the first round, the bell failed to ring after two minutes, leading to continued action until protests from Gotti’s corner halted the fight. In the second round, the situation became even more chaotic when Panamanian referee Hector Afu suddenly left the ring following an infraction by Mayweather. This led to Mexican referee Alfredo Uruzquieta taking over the officiating responsibilities.
Despite these disruptions, Mayweather continued to dominate, with Gotti offering little resistance. The crowd, initially eager for an exciting contest, grew increasingly frustrated as Gotti’s lack of aggression became apparent. By the sixth and seventh rounds, Mayweather was landing punches at will, while Gotti seemed content to survive rather than fight back, drawing boos from the disappointed audience.
The final round saw Mayweather cornering Gotti, but despite the barrage of punches, Gotti managed to hold on until the end. As an exhibition match, there was no official winner, though it was clear to everyone in attendance that Mayweather had thoroughly outclassed his opponent once again.
This rematch comes after a previous exhibition in South Florida in June 2023, which ended in chaos when a brawl erupted between the fighters’ camps. Despite retiring from professional boxing in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record, Mayweather continues to participate in exhibition matches, showcasing his unmatched boxing prowess against various opponents, including MMA fighters and YouTube personalities.
While the fight in Mexico City was another demonstration of Mayweather’s enduring skill, the disorganization and lackluster performance from Gotti left many fans questioning the value of these exhibitions. Nonetheless, Mayweather’s name continues to draw crowds, even if the spectacle falls short of expectations.
