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    Floyd Mayweather appears to fire referee in middle of John Gotti III rematch

    By Jared Schwartz,

    2024-08-25

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2s7nAF_0v9e9yH200

    What Floyd Mayweather says, goes.

    The legendary boxer was back in the ring Saturday night for an exhibition match against John Gotti III — the grandson of the notorious crime boss — in the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

    In the second round, Gotti complained about a punch from Mayweather, and referee Hector Afu paused the fight to penalize Mayweather for an illegal punch to the back of Gotti’s head.

    Floyd Mayweather just fired the ref for a bad call in the middle of the fight 😭😭

    pic.twitter.com/8XZCm7iESd

    — Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 25, 2024

    On replay, however, it looked to be a legal right hook.

    Mayweather was outraged by the call, and even pushed Afu lightly with his right hand.

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    Mayweather then began motioning to Afu to get out of the ring, and appeared to say “move” and “shut up” while yelling at him and to people outside the ring.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0wTBEW_0v9e9yH200
    Floyd Mayweather (L.) pushes referee Hector Afu during his exhibition bout against John Gotti III on Aug. 24, 2024. Screengrab

    Eventually, Afu exited the ring and a new referee, Alfredo Uruzquieta entered.

    The fight then resumed with Uruzquieta in charge.

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    The bout, a rematch of their disastrous first fight , was organized by Mayweather Promotions, which Mayweather owns.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1S2Igk_0v9e9yH200
    Floyd Mayweather (R.) punches John Gotti III during their exhibition bout on Aug. 24, 2024. REUTERS

    There were no judges and no official decision since it was an exhibition, though Mayweather largely got the better of Gotti in what was lackluster showing that left fans booing by the end.

    Mayweather did not address the referee swap in his post-fight interview.

    During their first meeting in June 2023, Gotti was disqualified for excessive holding and trash talk.

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    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2aGBFF_0v9e9yH200
    Floyd Mayweather (L.) argues with referee Hector Afu during his exhibition bout against John Gotti III on Aug. 24, 2024. Screengrab

    Gotti then proceeded to spark a brawl inside the ring.

    There wasn’t any melee Saturday night.

    Mayweather, 47, last fought a professional bout in 2017 and retired with a perfect 50-0 record.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3klkY6_0v9e9yH200
    Floyd Mayweather during his exhibition bout against John Gotti III on Aug. 24, 2024 Carlos Tischler/Eyepix Group/Shutterstock

    After the bout, Mayweather dismissed a potential exhibition against the 62-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., who was there as part of DAZN’s broadcast team.

    “He’s one of the legends I look up to and he paved the way for me,’’ Mayweather said. “He’s older now, and if I do an exhibition with him it’s not going to look good for me.”

    For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/

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