Floyd Mayweather is set to return to the boxing ring for an exhibition bout against a millionaire social media star.
The American giant is in talks to face YouTuber Money Kicks – real name Rashid Belhasa – in Dubai on October 20.
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If fans thought Logan Paul – who weighed more than two stone – had little hope against Mayweather, Belhasa is in trouble.
The 20-year-old Middle East vlogger has boxed only twice before, winning exhibition bouts against unknown duo Anas Elshaib and Ajmal Khan.
Whereas 44-year-old Mayweather is a self-proclaimed ‘best’ who retired with a record-breaking 50-0.
Even with close to four years retiring as a professional, not many people will be able to approach a skilled boxer, especially not a novice like Belhasa.
But, combat is a display of entertainment as opposed to sporting competition, as Mayweather emphasized when announcing his return.
He added: “I don’t like to call the fight I’m doing. I like to call it a limited edition boxing showcase. Because it’s bigger than just boxing.”
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Mayweather officially retired in 2017 after defeating 33-year-old UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a fascinating crossover match.
But he has returned twice, in both appearances, starting with a round of demolition work on featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23.
More recently, in June, he was covered over eight rounds by 26-year-old Paul, who avoided defeat after technically scoring no knockout.
Before and after the pageant bout, Mayweather claimed to have earned $100 million (£72m) for a ‘legitimate bank robbery’.
And it added to the massive $1.2 billion (£875m) he claimed he was worth in a 2021 interview on the Milan Dolls Worth of the Game podcast.
Mayweather said: “I made a billion. I reached that four years ago. [Now I’m] over $1.2 billion.”
If Belhasa has little to offer compared to Mayweather’s boxing prowess, money is something he can compete in.
I don’t like to call what I’m fighting for. I like to call it a limited edition boxed showcase. Because it’s bigger than just boxing
Floyd Mayweather
His construction mogul dad Saif Ahmed Belhasa is one of the richest businessmen in Dubai, with a net worth of $2.1 billion (£1.5 billion).
Belhassa Junior’s net worth is not known but is widely reported as $4m (£2.9m).
As a result, the money clearly makes sense for Mayweather to fight him, despite the monumental skill and experience disparity.
The retired icon and boxing promoter has said that he plans to bring several events to Dubai.
Mayweather reveals: “One fight? We can have more than one fight.
“We want to give people some entertainment. So yeah, it’s going to be more than one fight.”
Mayweather and Money kicks sensationally ready to be boxed in front of limited capacity at the helipad of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah.
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