Floyd Mayweather enters the ring for his exhibition boxing match against Logan Paul. Photo / Getty Images
Floyd Mayweather enters the ring for his exhibition boxing match against Logan Paul. Photo / Getty Images
Opinion
OPINION:
Although there were no winners in Miami this morning, boxing pundits have agreed there was one big loser.
The blockbuster bout between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul went the distance on Monday morning AEST, with both fighters surviving eight rounds in the exhibition fight.
Fans were left fuming bythe lacklustre affair in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, with the crowd echoing chants of "boo" around the venue.
Logan Paul, left, and Floyd Mayweather fight. Photo / AP
But Mayweather and Paul won't care in the slightest — they walked away with combined earnings of AU$151 million.
Because there were no judges ringside to score the contest, only a knockout or TKO would result in a victory for the undefeated boxer or YouTube star.
Mayweather is one of the most successful athletes in history with a 50-0 career record and 27 KO finishes, so why couldn't he topple a YouTuber who has never registered a professional victory?
For the rest of his life, Paul can boast he held his own against one of the sport's greatest athletes.
Mayweather leaves with a big paycheque and a tainted reputation.
The American summed it up perfectly after the fight: "When the money comes, we'll see who's the real winner."
ESPN reporter Ariel Helwani said: "If you ask me, he (Mayweather) lost.
"You're one of the greatest ever. Play around for a couple rounds and then pour it on. He didn't. He let Logan hang around. Paul surviving is a win for him. He'll claim victory."
Logan Paul does a hand stand after an exhibition boxing match. Photo / AP
Former UFC heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier tweeted: "Hats off to Logan Paul. He went 8 rounds with greatest boxer ever. Not a good look for Floyd."
Floyd Mayweather made a lot for money tonight.
Floyd Mayweather lost a lot of credibility tonight.
Boxing writer Josh Katzowitz posted: "Well, Logan survives. And he's the big winner tonight. He can say he fought the best fighter of the last 50 yrs and didn't get knocked down. Hell, he can say he won since there was no scoring. I don't think Mayweather's rep is tarnished or anything, but it didn't end well for him."
No matter the result, Logan Paul is the true winner here. Not only is he getting a fat paycheck for this fight, but he just proved that a YouTuber with a 0-1 pro record can go a full 8 rounds against one of the greatest boxers of all time in Floyd Mayweather#MayweatherPaul
If it ends the way it’s going, Logan will be the big winner.
Not as far as points, but for showing up as an amateur and not embarrassing himself.
Especially going up against Mayweather!
— Patrick Bet-David (@patrickbetdavid) June 7, 2021
Floyd Mayweather would’ve won an easy decision if there were judges assigned, but make no mistake, Logan Paul is the real winner here. Didn’t get knocked out or even hurt at all and went the full distance. That is a massive win for him. #MayweatherPaul
Logan Paul walks around the ring before the fight. Photo / AP
"Great young fighter, strong, tough, he's better than I thought he was.
"He's a tough, rough competitor.
"I was surprised by him tonight. Oh yes, I had fun."
However, the 44-year-old offered a blunt response when asked whether the fight had damaged his legacy: "At the end of the day, I'm going into the Hall of Fame for boxing. I have nothing to prove."
When it comes to the official numbers, they certainly don't paint a pretty picture — for anyone.
Paul landed seven of 73 jabs (10 per cent) and 21 of his 144 power strikes (15 per cent), and in total connected only a worrying 28 times from 217 attempts (13 per cent).
As for "Money" Mayweather, he threw significantly less punches but with more accuracy. He's never been the most active fighter in the spot, preferring to dance his way around opponents rather than bulldoze his way through them, and it was more of the same against the YouTube sensation.
Mayweather only threw 14 jabs and tagged Paul with seven of them (50 per cent) along with 36 power strikes from 93 thrown (39 per cent), connecting with only 43 punches from 107 (40 per cent).
