If you haven’t heard, the influencer boxing movement—which has been propelled by bazillion-dollar-making fights featuring YouTubers such as KSI, Logan Paul, and Jake Paul over the past few years—is just boxing now. As of this Sunday, if we haven’t called it already, the movement will crash into mainstream boxing. And like it or not, it isn’t going away anytime soon.
The occasion: Online personality (turned professional boxer, turned Masked Singer monster) Logan Paul will square off against Floyd Mayweather this Sunday, June 6, in an exhibition fight at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It is notable for the obvious: It’s the first time one of these influencer boxers will face a genuine boxing legend. Sure, it’s an exhibition match that’ll pay both men mightily—there won’t be any judges or a final decision, nor will it count against either man’s boxing record—but knockouts will be allowed in this one. So, the big question: Will Mayweather make an example out of Paul? Or will Paul hang with the 50-0 boxer?
Just remember: Both of these guys are world-class entertainers. They know how to put on a show. At a press conference for the event, Logan’s older brother Jake stole Mayweather’s baseball hat and a skirmish broke out, so there may be some genuine animosity there. Or not. Who knows! All is fair in love and influencer boxing. Until you see the event for yourself, you’re better off considering the existential implications of this boxing revolution—which may or may not be turning the sport into one giant meme—as it crosses over fully into a spectacle involving a name as big as Mayweather. There’s no end in sight for this revolution, either, with another fight event on June 12 called “Social Gloves: Battle of the Platforms” promising to bring TikTokkers and YouTubers together for an all-influencer showdown.
Aside from Paul vs. Mayweather, there are a couple other fights this Sunday worth having on your radar. The event, which kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, will also feature two-division world champion Badou Jack brawling with the undefeated Dervin Colina. You’ll see super welterweight champion “Swift” Jarrett Hurd fight Luis Arias. Oh. You remember Chad Johnson? The former NFL player? He’ll make his boxing debut in an exhibition match against Brian Maxwell.
Intrigued? Morbidly so? You can snag a ticket to the PPV either at SHOWTIME.com or FANMIO.com. Enjoy the show, folks.
Source: Read Full Article