YouTube sensation Logan Paul went the distance with boxing icon Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition bout that had no judges to give a final verdict.
The rule set for the exhibition meant that a winner would not be declared and the only way there would be a clear one was through a knockout or technical knockout.
Despite Mayweather’s 50-0 professional boxing record the 44-year-old was unable to cause a stoppage inside the eight rounds of combat.
Paul weighed in just under the 86kg weight limit and Mayweather’s career-heaviest weigh-in of 70kg was still 15kg lighter than his opponent.
The social influencer who has over 22.6m subscribers on YouTube made up for his lack of experience in the ring by utilising his significant height, weight and reach advantage to clinch in moments of trouble and stifle the boxing veteran’s attacks.
Mayweather was clearly the superior of the two fighters and the 44-year-old landed a total of 43 punches in the eight rounds with a 40 per cent punch accuracy on the night.
Comparatively, Paul threw 217 punches on the night but only landed 28 which translated to a 13 per cent punch accuracy.
Despite having 27 KO’s in his professional career Mayweather was unable to force a stoppage and Paul was delighted with the outcome following the fight.
Paul said: ‘I don’t want anyone to tell me anything is impossible ever again, this is one of the greatest moments of my life. I’m happy to have made it out.
‘I knew if I made it the distance that I’d technically won but that wasn’t the gameplan.
‘When you’re fighting a guy like Floyd, the legend, to survive in the ring with him when he’s only my second opponent in the ring, I’m happy.’
Additionally, Mayweather admitted the YouTuber surprised him and was complimentary of his oppoent after the fight.
Mayweather said: ‘He was fighting to survive, every time he’d punch, he clinched.
‘He was the bigger guy, a little awkward and he has a background in wrestling so he was good at tying me up.
‘He’s a great young fighter, strong, tough and he’s better than I thought he was.’
Round by Round
The opening round saw precious little action happen until the last 10 seconds as Paul unleashed a flurry of punches on Mayweather but, typical of the boxing icon’s career, he managed to expertly defend and avoid any of the punches landing clean before the bell.
Round two saw Mayweather continue to attempt to tire out his opponent by dodging and weaving the laboured jabs of Paul.
In round three the 44-year-old began to walk down his opponent and try to close the gap but in doing so Paul managed to land a clean uppercut on Mayweather which the undefeated fighter laughed off.
This ignited the attacking instincts of Mayweather who responded with a couple of vicious body shots and a clean left hook to end the round.
Sensing blood, Mayweather forced the attacks in the fourth round releasing another well-timed left hook before landing with an overhand right.
However, Paul – who has a history in wrestling – used the clinch to his advantage to tie up his opponent and lean on the 44-year-old with his extra weight.
The Mayweather onslaught continued in round five as he landed another left hand in the opening minute before connecting with an uppercut and an overhand right in the remaining two minutes and the tiring YouTuber resorted to more clinching to reach the bell.
Paul found a second wind of sort in round six by utilising the jab a lot more to keep the distance between the two fighters and when Mayweather attempted to come into range the YouTuber continued to clinch to avoid further damage.
Frustration at the constant clinching became evident from Mayweather in round seven as the 44-year-old forced his forearm into the neck region of the YouTuber during another holding scenario.
Paul’s charisma came through in the final round as he began to showboat and smile at his opponent while sponging further punches until the final bell knowing he’d come further than most people expected.
No official winner was declared at the end of the bout as both fighters pocketed millions for the spectacle.
