In Mexico City this week, Floyd Mayweather Jr. sat next to John Gotti III, the grandson of the New York crime boss, in a room full of boxing officials, dignitaries and inquiring minds.
“Why did you decide to come out from retirement?’’ a reporter asked.
Mayweather, 47, grinned.
“This is retirement for me,’’ he said.
This Floyd Mayweather Jr. Exhibition Tour – now on stop No. 8, a rematch vs. Gotti, is scheduled for eight rounds Saturday night. The billionaire boxer still is throwing punches and cashing sizable checks.
Though Mayweather ended his professional boxing career in 2017 with a 10th-round TKO of Conor McGregor, his gloves never had time to collect dust. Mayweather has fought in seven exhibitions, including one against Logan Paul, and proven to be as savvy a businessman as a boxer.
Case in point: John Gotti Jr. said it was Mayweather who reached out to them years ago after Mayweather learned the grandson of the late mobster was competing in MMA. Mayweather, who’s as skilled at selling a fight as winning one, offered Gotti III a chance to fight him in the boxing ring, according to Gotti Jr.
In what sounded like an appeal to PPV customers, he said, “If youse know anything about the Gotti family, you know we’re fighting son bitches,’’ John Gotti Jr. said earlier this week. “We fight the government. We fight anybody that wants to fight us.’’
On rolls the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Exhibition Tour.
Arlenn Sanchez vs. Cecilia Rodriguez, light flyweight
Round 1: Arlenn Sanchez steps into the ring less than a week after taking the fight. She stays busy with body shots, but Cecilia Rodriguez capitalizes on her reach advantage. Rodriguez 10, Sanchez 9.
Round 2: Sanchez unloading punches, but not with much force and she already looks fatigued. Rodriguez lands enough clean shots to win the round. Rodriguez 20, Sanchez 18.
Round 3: Sanchez might as well put pillows on the end of her boxing gloves. Rodriguez showing no fear of her punches and she’s landing a barrage of clean shots, including several uppercuts. Rodriguez 30, Sanchez 27.
Round 4: Sanchez out with more authority. Spirited exchanges commence. Sanchez leaning in and finding more power. Rodriguez answers with a solid left, but Sanchez dictated most of the action. Rodriguez 39, Sanchez 37.
Round 5: Sanchez the aggressor and again leaning in. Rodriguez connecting with the left but struggling to slow Sanchez. Rodriguez 48, Sanchez 47.
When is Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III fight?
The main card starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III fight is expected to begin at about midnight ET.