Floyd Mayweather Jr continued the storied crossover between boxing and wrestling in 2008 when he combined it up with WWE’s Paul “The Massive Present” Wight in a fascinating feud that after once more proved the undefeated boxer’s pay-per-view pull, however whereas tales have circulated about Mayweather genuinely breaking Wight’s nostril, the 50-0 fighter who gained 15 boxing titles has seldom spoke in regards to the incident. So, when M&F sat down with “Cash” Mayweather not too long ago, so as get his suggestions for aspiring athletes, we couldn’t resist revisiting that iconic second to get some clarification greater than fifteen years on.
“Now, what’s loopy is; once I used to observe wrestling with my grandmother as a child, my dad used to all the time say ‘Minimize that off, wrestling is faux,’” stated Mayweather in one in every of his solely interviews on the topic, with Larry King nearly twelve years in the past. “So, once I obtained concerned with the WWE, it was like ‘You and Massive Present gonna have a match.’ I stated, ‘What do you imply?’ They stated, ‘Y’all can combat.’ I stated, ‘What do you imply combat, isn’t it for faux?’ They’re saying no. ‘You swing, y’all combat for actual. I’m like, ‘I assumed wrestling was faux,’” responded a confused Mayweather on the time.
The particular combat that the undefeated boxer is speaking about occurred on February 17, 2008, with a view to arrange an precise match between the 2 athletes only a few weeks later at WrestleMania 24. The storyline known as for Mayweather to hurry to the ring with a view to save the favored grappler Rey Mysterio, who was being attacked by the seven-foot-tall Wight. As Mayweather and the large lastly got here head to head, some trash speaking ensued earlier than Wight obtained to at least one knee with a view to mock the boxer’s peak. Mayweather used that chance to place his cash the place his mouth was, nevertheless, and rained a mixture of blows straight into The Massive Present’s face. “So, once I punched him within the face, you understand, I broke his nostril,” Mayweather informed Larry King. “And I used to be like, ‘Ah, man.’” It was definitely an iconic second that served to arrange a extremely anticipated boxer versus wrestler match, following within the footsteps of the historic bout between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki . And, the WrestleMania match itself was extremely entertaining. Mayweather continued his undefeated streak after nailing Wight with a set of brass knuckles earlier than a purple sizzling crowd of virtually 75,000 in Orlando, Florida.
Did Floyd Mayweather Genuinely Break Paul “The Massive Present” Wight’s Nostril?
With Mayweather returning to his boxing profession, he seldom spoken of his stunning debut in WWE, and followers have lengthy debated whether or not or not the damaged nostril incident was merely particular results within the identify of sports activities leisure. This notion has been quashed a number of instances by Wight himself, nevertheless. In a more moderen interview with talkSPORT, The Massive Present confirmed that he was on board with the concept of constructing their unique scuffle seem as actual as attainable by having Mayweather punch him legitimately. However there was a warning. “I informed [Floyd], ‘Hey if you do that, run, as a result of I’m half-nuts so if I get my arms on you…’” With Mayweather being informed by WWE officers land Paul Wight himself to make it look good, Mayweather delivered huge time on the evening.
“I knew we had one thing particular then!” stated Wight, who was clearly busted open throughout the incident. Nonetheless, those that nonetheless doubt the authenticity of Mayweather’s punches level to the truth that it has largely been the professional wrestling facet that has added gas to the story. To that finish, M&F had been excited to get some clarification from the boxer himself. “That actually occurred,” he informed us. Little question, the swift mixture of pictures employed by one of many best boxers of all time solely served to make the second extra scintillating. “It wasn’t deliberate,” he defined. “However as soon as I stepped within the ring, I introduced the identical depth I all the time do.”
Mayweather’s time in WWE is checked out fondly by professional wrestling followers, and we was reportedly paid a cool 20 million {dollars} for his helpful work. “WWE was a unique type of problem, nevertheless it was a good time,” he informed M&F. “The followers, the showmanship—it was electrical. I respect the athletes in that world, and I used to be glad to offer the group a second they’d always remember.” WWE is now streaming on Netflix whereas Mayweather continues to mentor the subsequent era of boxers and has not too long ago launched a brand new line of dietary supplements.
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