Miami (AFP)
A brawl broke out Thursday between former world champion Floyd Mayweather and YouTube star Logan Paul, whom he faces in an exhibition fight, and his brother Jake Paul during a photoshoot in Miami.
Mayweather, 44, world champion in five different categories, vented his anger at Hard Rock Stadium where the event will take place on June 6 after Jake Paul grabbed his cap, after a tense first verbal battle in the context of 'a television interview.
Mayweather set off after the Paul brothers through the arches of the stadium, and punches were traded in a melee involving numerous security guards.
The fighters were then separated.
"You can't cross the line, touch me, take off my cap, touch my shoes," Mayweather told AFP afterwards.
"There is one thing called respect and one thing called disrespect. I'm not going to tolerate any disrespect."
Bird names had already been exchanged between the two men at a previous press conference, with Logan Paul mocking Mayweather by referring to a domestic violence case dating back to 2011, for which he had served two months in prison .
Before the fight, Logan Paul told AFP he firmly believes he can do what no boxer has ever done before, which is beat Mayweather.
"After this fight, I don't want anyone to tell me that something is impossible. I represent the guy who believed in him so much it propelled him to success."
Mayweather fought his last professional fight in 2017, winning over mixed martial arts (UFC) star Conor McGregor the 50th victory of his career.
He then easily beat Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018, but it was an exhibition.
Logan Paul has only one professional fight, lost by a shared decision against the Youtubeur KSI in November 2019.
No details were given as to the conditions of this exhibition fight, in particular the number of rounds played.
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