Floyd Mayweather Jr continued the storied crossover between boxing and wrestling in 2008 when he combined it up with WWE’s Paul “The Massive Present” Wight in a charming feud that after once more proved the undefeated boxer’s pay-per-view pull, however whereas tales have circulated about Mayweather genuinely breaking Wight’s nostril, the 50-0 fighter who gained 15 boxing titles has seldom spoke concerning the incident. So, when M&F sat down with “Cash” Mayweather just lately, so as get his suggestions for aspiring athletes, we couldn’t resist revisiting that iconic second to get some clarification greater than fifteen years on.
“Now, what’s loopy is; after I used to observe wrestling with my grandmother as a child, my dad used to at all times say ‘Reduce that off, wrestling is faux,’” mentioned Mayweather in one in all his solely interviews on the topic, with Larry King nearly twelve years in the past. “So, after I received concerned with the WWE, it was like ‘You and Massive Present gonna have a match.’ I mentioned, ‘What do you imply?’ They mentioned, ‘Y’all can combat.’ I mentioned, ‘What do you imply combat, isn’t it for faux?’ They’re saying no. ‘You swing, y’all combat for actual. I’m like, ‘I assumed wrestling was faux,’” responded a confused Mayweather on the time.
The particular combat that the undefeated boxer is speaking about occurred on February 17, 2008, in an effort to arrange an precise match between the 2 athletes just some weeks later at WrestleMania 24. The storyline referred to as for Mayweather to hurry to the ring in an effort to save the favored grappler Rey Mysterio, who was being attacked by the seven-foot-tall Wight. As Mayweather and the enormous lastly got here head to head, some trash speaking ensued earlier than Wight received to 1 knee in an effort to mock the boxer’s peak. Mayweather used that chance to place his cash the place his mouth was, nevertheless, and rained a mixture of blows straight into The Massive Present’s face. “So, after I punched him within the face, you realize, I broke his nostril,” Mayweather instructed Larry King. “And I used to be like, ‘Ah, man.’” It was definitely an iconic second that served to arrange a extremely anticipated boxer versus wrestler match, following within the footsteps of the historic bout between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki . And, the WrestleMania match itself was extremely entertaining. Mayweather continued his undefeated streak after nailing Wight with a set of brass knuckles earlier than a pink sizzling crowd of just about 75,000 in Orlando, Florida.
Did Floyd Mayweather Genuinely Break Paul “The Massive Present” Wight’s Nostril?
With Mayweather returning to his boxing profession, he seldom spoken of his stunning debut in WWE, and followers have lengthy debated whether or not or not the damaged nostril incident was merely particular results within the identify of sports activities leisure. This notion has been quashed a number of occasions by Wight himself, nevertheless. In a newer interview with talkSPORT, The Massive Present confirmed that he was on board with the thought of creating their authentic scuffle seem as actual as attainable by having Mayweather punch him legitimately. However there was a warning. “I instructed [Floyd], ‘Hey while you do that, run, as a result of I’m half-nuts so if I get my palms on you…’” With Mayweather being instructed by WWE officers land Paul Wight himself to make it look good, Mayweather delivered massive time on the night time.
“I knew we had one thing particular then!” mentioned Wight, who was clearly busted open through the incident. Nonetheless, those that nonetheless doubt the authenticity of Mayweather’s punches level to the truth that it has largely been the professional wrestling aspect that has added gasoline to the story. To that finish, M&F have been excited to get some clarification from the boxer himself. “That actually occurred,” he instructed us. Little doubt, the swift mixture of pictures employed by one of many biggest boxers of all time solely served to make the second extra scintillating. “It wasn’t deliberate,” he defined. “However as soon as I stepped within the ring, I introduced the identical depth I at all times do.”
Mayweather’s time in WWE is checked out fondly by professional wrestling followers, and we was reportedly paid a cool 20 million {dollars} for his helpful work. “WWE was a unique sort of problem, however it was a good time,” he instructed M&F. “The followers, the showmanship—it was electrical. I respect the athletes in that world, and I used to be pleased to present the group a second they’d always remember.” WWE is now streaming on Netflix whereas Mayweather continues to mentor the following era of boxers and has just lately launched a brand new line of dietary supplements.
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