*Floyd Mayweather dismissed referee Hector Afu during his exhibition match against John Gotti III in Mexico City after Afu penalized him for an alleged illegal punch.
Mayweather’s reaction to the penalty led to Afu being replaced by another official. The fight itself was an exhibition with no official winner, leading to fan disappointment and boos. Watch the moment via the X/Twitter clip below.
“Gotti is tough as nails,” Mayweather said after the fight.
“He’s my guy,” Mayweather said of Gotti. “But we had to put on a show for the people. And I want to thank Gotti for being a man of his word and we ran it back twice.”
Gotti said Mayweather “hit hard,” adding, “He’s still got it.”
— Combat (@combat2747) August 25, 2024
Complex reports that the previous fight between Mayweather and Gotti III also ended abruptly due to disqualifications and brawls.
Several boxing fans reacted to Floyd firing the ref mid-fight on Saturday, with one person writing on X, “That was not a behind the head shot, he parried the hit and the glove slipped and hit the side of his head it happens all the time in boxing and they don’t stop it ,if they felt it was behind the head they will pat there head and say keep it in front of you !!”
Another X user commented, “Floyd needs a little lesson in what he did, and the referee I completely agree with.”
“He acts like a damn child. People applaud it because they too have the mind of children,” one user added,
A third person called the moment “Theatrics” while another critic wrote, “Floyd continues to trash the dignity of this sport.”
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