Mayweather Shows His Class With Deji Stoppage

It still feels like we’re in an alternate universe when it comes to this side of our sport. Floyd Mayweather is a boxing icon, and arguably the pioneer of a modern era inflated by money and ego. Deji is a YouTuber, himself a pioneer, but of a world more renowned for pranks than punches.

Seeing the two worlds combine has thrown boxing into a mixing bowl of optimism and uncertainty. There will always be the argument of the ‘new audience’, which is backed up enough by numbers. KSI’s double-header in August saw him become the first ‘fighter’ to sell out London’s O2 Arena in three years.

You also must protect the sport and its values. The storylines that surrounded this fight week in Dubai were more fitting of WWE than boxing.

And yes, boxing fans aren’t entitled to tell anyone whether they can or can’t dip their fingers into the sport. Especially when these ‘influencers’ are evoking more interest than 95% of current professionals.

So, to Dubai it was, and a card that featured a spattering of combat sport names and those from the celebrity world. Let’s start with ex-Tommy Fury foe Anthony Taylor and 2018 Love Island winner Jack Fincham.

What was pencilled in as a professional debut for Fincham was soon pigeonholed for an exhibition bout after failure to weigh within the contracted limit. This was still the least eventful thing to happen between the two on fight week after Taylor tried to wrestle Fincham at the open workout…

It has to be said that for an ex-MMA fighter, not being able to successfully grapple a British TV personality isn’t quite the best look.

Let’s also not forget Taylor’s fight day outburst which nobody, including himself, seemed to know the reason behind.

Regardless, the fight went ahead, and Taylor dominated the four exhibition rounds. He flew out of the blocks from the bell and nailed Fincham early, it was a pattern that would continue for the remainder of the fight. To his credit Fincham showed an impressive chin, but it was a reality check above all else on his unofficial ring debut. 

It was a forgettable week for Team Fury as Tommy’s ring return was met with jeers from the Dubai crowd. 

Despite standing on the scales in tremendous shape, Tommy weighed-in seven pounds above celebrity PT-turned-boxer Paul Bamba. In a bizarre turn of events, Tommy claimed that he and Bamba had both received different contracts and so as far as he was aware, he was clear to fight. 

Bamba didn’t agree, and the fight was pulled leaving Fury in the lurch with barely seven hours until fight night. 

So, in came replacement Rolly Lambert, a 15-1 WBC ranked career-cruiserweight who himself resides in Dubai. The fight would have marked a considerable step-up for Tommy, and mild excitement brewed online.

Until the news broke that it would follow the rest of the card in being an exhibition…

To the ring now where six two-minute rounds lay ahead of us and with Jake Paul on commentary, it seemed as if we could be in for a fairly entertaining 12 minutes. 

But we really weren’t. 

So much so that I am struggling to write even a sentence based on the action. Little was thrown and little was landed as both men laboured through the clock to a non-result. 

A sentence I never thought I would say - Thank god for Jake Paul on commentary. 
 

Beyond all of this, it was the aftermath that caught the headlines, as a shirtless John Fury went for Jake Paul.

Whether we ever see this Fury-Paul rivalry conclude, I am not sure. With two pull-outs to the Fury name, and Paul seemingly creeping into some minds as the favourite, it is without doubt a fight that piques interest. 

However, for now, the soap drama clashes and social media verbals seem to be doing just enough to keep the usual audience hooked.

With the undercard done and dusted, it was time to see Mayweather and Deji.

A straightforward fight week did seem too good to be true, as a pre-fight glove dispute kept the Dubai crowd waiting until 1:30am local time for their glimpse of TBE.

And when they did get their glimpse, it was of a Mayweather who laughed his way through a nonsensical six rounds before stopping Deji.

In between rounds, Mayweather sat in his opposite’s corner, went through his famed pad routine and even danced for the surprisingly pro-Deji crowd. In the rounds, Floyd feinted and moved away from an out-of-his-depth Deji.

The YouTuber did have his moment in the fourth, however, as he landed a shot below the left-eye of Mayweather. Prior to the fight, Deji did claim he was out to land just once on Floyd. Fair play to him for doing so.

But it was in the sixth round that Floyd decided to end the contest.

At the first sign of Deji’s discomfort, referee Kenny Bayless stepped in, saving him from any further punishment, and simultaneously bringing the curtain down on a chaotic week in the Middle East.

Whatever next.