YouTube star Deji was unable to last the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but did leave a notable mark on the legend's face in his TKO defeat.
The Brit travelled to Dubai for a controversy-filled event where he took on 50-0 former multiple-weight world champion Mayweather in an outlandish exhibition bout that intrigued fans around the world. And he managed to land more than a few punches despite being clearly outmatched by a boxer who was an Olympic medalist before his opponent was even born.
Confusion was abound throughout the build-up as the main event was delayed due to a dispute over glove size and round length, but the pair ended up serving an entertaining exhibition for fans at the Coca-Cola Arena. Had their bout been cancelled, it would have been the third fight on the card to be pulled on the day after Harley Benn and Tommy Fury both lost out on major bouts.
The fight ultimately went ahead, as Mayweather taunted Deji throughout the opening exchanges and walked around the ring with his hands by his waist, landing at will on his rival. However, the Brit was able to land an uppercut or two of his own when Mayweather got too cocky, and managed to mark up the legend's eye during one exchange.
In his fifth exhibition bout since retiring from the sport, Mayweather pulled out all of his classic mockery techniques including taking the ring cards between rounds and helping out in his rival's corner. But he wasn't prepared for Deji to hit him back after the fifth with some showboating of his own as he hit the deck and started doing push-ups in the corner.
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However, that taunting sent Mayweather into finishing mode and he rained down punches in the corner during the sixth, ultimately forcing the stoppage from referee Kenny Bayless. Deji believed that the stoppage was early, but it was all respect after the bout between the pair as they shook hands and made jokes in their post-fight interviews.
It remains to be seen what is next for the former boxer, who has challenges from all angles for exhibitions around the world next year. Meanwhile, Deji will return to YouTube boxing, calling out chart-toppers Justin Bieber and Liam Payne before letting the influencer scene know that anyone who wants a fight can get one.
