Floyd Mayweather Jr. entered the ring for his rematch against John Gotti III on Saturday night in Mexico City alongside a member of basketball’s elite.
Los Angeles Lakers center Anthony Davis walked next to Mayweather on the way to the ring while listening to the song “El Toro Encartado” by Natanael Cano.
Davis was instrumental in helping the U.S. men’s basketball team win gold at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, averaging 8.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and two assists per game.
Almost seven years to the day after his victory over UFC star Conor McGregor, Mayweather returned to the boxing ring, completing his perfect 50-0 career as a professional.
Since retiring, Mayweather has competed in several exhibition fights, including a fight against Gotti in June 2023 that was stopped in the sixth round by referee Kenny Bayless. After the fight, Gotti and Mayweather exchanged blows that escalated into a brawl between both camps, resulting in Gotti being suspended for six months by the Florida State Athletic Commission. Mayweather received no penalty for the post-fight brawl.
Mayweather won the rematch on Saturday, although the highlight of the event had little to do with the actual fight. After referee Hector Afu penalized Mayweather for an illegal punch in the second round, Mayweather got into a verbal altercation with Afu and appeared to throw him out of the ring. After Afu left the ring, a new referee came in to officiate the rest of the fight, which was organized by Mayweather’s promotional company.
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