Floyd Mayweather was left baffled after being called out for a boxing fight by Jake Paul's sparring partner, Anthony Taylor.
The ring legend will return to the squared circle in his latest exhibition outing against YouTube star Deji at the Coca Cola Arena in Dubai next Sunday night. It will be his fourth non-professional showcase since hanging up his gloves after beating Conor McGregor in 2017, which saw him retire with a 50-0 undefeated record.
Mayweather has been subject to several call-outs since announcing his intentions to continue fighting in an exhibition format, including from YouTube star Paul. During a press conference to promote the fight in London, Mayweather was interrupted by Taylor who will appear on the undercard when he takes on former Love Island winner Jack Fincham.
He screamed: “Lets be honest, what I think we really want to see is ‘Pretty Boy’ Anthony Taylor vs. ‘Money’ Floyd Mayweather. Now that’s a fight! Personality, personality. I’m the most qualified fighter to be fighting Floyd Mayweather in exhibition. I fought on Showtime. Some of the biggest fights you have all ever seen on pay-per-view. I deserve to fight Floyd. He already said he’s never seen Deji. I’m the f***ing ‘Pretty Boy’ baby! Former ‘Pretty Boy’ now ‘Money’ Mayweather.
"Anthony ‘Pretty Boy’ Taylor vs. Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather. Dubai! England! Vegas! Come on baby! I’m here by myself! I’m here by myself. No daddy like Tommy [Fury]. No bodyguards. By myself. I can take care of myself. Anthony ‘Pretty Boy’ Taylor. You all remember that name. Remember that name. That’s what I’m talking about.”
Mayweather, who had put down his microphone with Taylor standing up and beating his chest before retiring back to his seat, was left awkwardly laughing off the call-out. When the fighter finished his lengthy rant, Mayweather responded: “We have all got to be respectful. We all come from a background where we come from. He may be a good fighter. I don’t know."
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The boxing legend is extremely unlikely to fight Taylor despite his recent outburst, although he has admitted he will be back in action in several more bouts next year. The American's friend, Paul, is also interested in a potential bout, but wants it to be a professional clash as he feels he could become the first man to defeat Mayweather.
"It would be interesting, still, to actually fight Floyd, though, in an actual professional bout," Paul said on The MMA Hour. "First of all, that's still a big fight and still a massive, massive draw. And if it was an actual pro match, I think people would be super, super interested.
"I could get to 175lbs and Floyd could weigh 165lbs and a commission would approve that I just know that I would win. I would love to take his 0. And it would be a massive fight as far as pay-per-views are concerned."
