Despite reportedly being paid $1 million, Floyd Mayweather didn't show up to his press conference in Mexico to announce Victor Ortiz fight
Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz are running it back, but the former did not show up to the announcement press conference despite being paid amply for it. Mayweather vs Ortiz II will take place as an exhibition boxing bout this summer per initial reports from ESPN. This exhibition boxing bout is said to be slated for August 24 at Plaza De Toros Mexico in Mexico City.
This press conference had the intention of officially confirming these bout reports but subsequent reports on Mayweather posit that he no-showed the presser.
Per WBN, the CDMX government is very disappointed at the lack of an appearance from 'Money' after paying the unbeaten pro boxer a reported million dollars to be a part of the proceedings.
Should this rematch transpire, it would continue a lengthy tour of exhibition fights following Mayweather's retirement from combat after going 50-0 by stopping Conor McGregor late in their August 2017 fight. This run of unofficial contests encompasses Rizin FF veterans, current WWE champions, YouTubers, former sparring partners, former MMA fighters, and mobster relatives.
Some of the opponents Floyd Mayweather has fought on this exhibition boxing run includes Tenshin Nasukawa, Logan Paul, Don Moore, Mikuru Asakura, Deji Olatunji, Aaron Chalmers, and John Gotti III. It has been close to a year since Mayweather last fought, with the Gotti III contest transpiring in June 2023.
Check out details of the reported Mayweather press conference no-show below:
Floyd Mayweather vs Victor Ortiz: the first fight
The 47-year-old initially fought Ortiz in September 2011 with all kinds of calamity taking place. Floyd Mayweather returned to the ring after 16 months of inactivity to fight the streaking Victor Ortiz who was the reigning and defending WBC welterweight champion at the time.
The Michigan native ate a blatant headbutt from Ortiz, with the latter being deducted a point for the transgression. After multiple attempts to hug Mayweather and indicate he was apologetic about the Lethwei-style maneuver, Floyd Mayweather then connected on a follow-up combination.
This followed the second hug and resulted in the WBC strap changing hands after the fourth round finish for 'Money'.
This is regarded as arguably the most controversy-riddled fight of Mayweather Jr.'s career, but few saw this rematch announcement coming over a dozen years since their first fight transpired. While Mayweather has been competing in circus-style attractions, Ortiz has been retired since 2022 after going 4-4-1 since the initial contest with 'Money' Mayweather.