Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul have fought eight rounds in their exhibition boxing match in Miami.
Paul, a YouTube star, gave it a fair crack, but was clearly overmatched and outclassed.
After a cagey opening two rounds, Mayweather was in cruise control, looking for the finish as Paul grew more and more fatigued.
Mayweather was close to stopping the bout at several points over the last four rounds, but Paul hung tough until the final bell.
Because it was an exhibition, no winner was announced. Only a knockout could stop the fight.
"He's strong, tough, he's better than I thought he was," Mayweather said.
"As far as the big guys, the heavyweights, it's going to be hard. It was good action, I was surprised by him.
"I had fun. He knew how to use his weight and tie me up tonight."
Just making the final bell was a victory in itself for Paul.
"I don't want anyone to tell me anything's impossible ever again," he said.
"The fact I'm in here with one of the greatest boxers of all time proves that the odds can be beat.
"Floyd Mayweather, it was an honour. This is one of the greatest moments of my life."
Paul started with a smile on his face and was eager to throw in the first minute and a half, while Mayweather remained out of danger.
Paul had a huge height, weight and reach advantage, but Mayweather landed first with a nice counter jab.
The first round ended with Paul unleashing as Mayweather covered up, but none of the shots landed cleanly.
Mayweather started the second round more aggressively, immediately going on the front foot.
Despite not having a real bout in almost four years, Mayweather's footwork was still top notch, seeing him slide out of trouble whenever Paul attacked.
#MayweatherPaul Logan Paul is big. Floyd Mayweather is fast. pic.twitter.com/dtaagYazNZ
— FIGHTMAG (@fightmag) June 7, 2021
Paul was visibly tired in the third and clinched a lot as Mayweather went to the body.
As the round wore on, Mayweather goaded Paul in and landed some big counters. A left hook to Paul's chin was the best punch of the fight to that point.
Floyd with the BIG shot. Sheesh 😳 #MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/LclJzX1OK3
— BroBible (@BroBible) June 7, 2021
Logan Paul got some hits on Floyd Mayweather 👀#MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/BBVSOHHJ5E
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 7, 2021
Mayweather started the fourth with a lead left hook and was clearly looking for the stoppage.
Paul backed up for most of the round and was limited to throwing a hopeful right uppercut as Mayweather moved in.
It was target practise for the rest of the fourth for Mayweather as Paul retreated to the ropes time and again.
Paul remained in with a puncher's chance (if that) throughout the fifth and sixth, but was exhausted in between rounds. Meanwhile, Mayweather was barely breathing heavily.
Mayweather talked trash through the seventh, possibly a sign of frustration that he couldn't land the knockout.
The crowd booed in the eighth and final round, unhappy at the lack of knockouts or knockdowns.
There was a fair amount of outrage online too.
That was the fight to save Golf. #MayweatherPaul
— MMA Roasted (@MMARoasted) June 7, 2021
The regret and shame is really hitting the timeline right now
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 7, 2021
Okay I'm done. That card was a shitshow and the two best moments were Chad Johnson getting knocked down and the Arias-Hurd slugfest that was twice interrupted by heavy rain. This is @mookiealexander signing off. We'll have proper stuff to talk about next week at #UFC263.
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) June 7, 2021
That fight was disappointing. I waited up 4 hours just to see them hug each other the majority of the time 🙄 #MayweatherPaul
— Ashleigh Munnelly (@Ash134xox) June 7, 2021
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 7, 2021
— solomon hill (@solohill) June 7, 2021
Final Punch Stats for #MayweatherPaul:
— Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) June 7, 2021
• Mayweather averaged just 5 of 13 per round
• Paul landed 13% of his total punches
• I have nothing left to say here pic.twitter.com/sAY2DOPH0A
Earlier -
For his walkout, Paul wore a Charizard Pokemon card that he paid (US) $150,000 for.
Logan Paul wearing the Charizard he paid $150,000 for on a necklace. pic.twitter.com/bafXSDFLck
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 7, 2021
Logan Paul really made his ring walk with a Charizard card chain around his neck.pic.twitter.com/a6Qa1LYWae
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 7, 2021
Mayweather's ring walk.
SHOWTIME 💰 💰@FloydMayweather rolling up to the ring. #MayweatherPaul pic.twitter.com/t4zg7HofOD
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) June 7, 2021