The boxing world may not be ready for the unthinkable on Sunday night, but it’s important to remember that it’s a possibility. That’s when former five-division champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather steps back into the ring for the first time since December 2019 when he takes on YouTuber and social media star Logan Paul in an exhibition match from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The four-fight card all goes down on Sunday night on Showtime PPV.

This will be the second time in the last few years that Mayweather has taken part in an exhibition match similar to this. The former five-division champion smashed through kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Japan on New Year’s Eve in 2019. The difference being that Nasukawa typically fights around 125 pounds, meaning Mayweather was at a significant size advantage when the two strapped on the gloves.

Paul, on the other hand, will be making just his third appearance in the ring in an official manner. The eldest of two brothers has had two contests against fellow YouTube star KSI in recent years, one as an exhibition and one as a professional. The exhibition ended in a majority draw while KSI earned a split decision win in the rematch.

This is a one fight card, for all intents and purposes. But it still features three bouts before we get to the main event. The co-main features a light heavyweight contest between Badou Jack and Dervin Colina. Jack was expected to face Jean Pascal in that slot, but Pascal tested positive for four different types of steroids and was removed from the event. Plus, Jarrett Hurd is back in a middleweight contest when he squares off with Luis Arias in a featured contest. And former NFL receiver Chad Johnson will make his boxing debut in an exhibition when he faces former MMA and Bare Knuckle FC fighter Brian Maxwell to open the festivities.

Most fans tuning in will have an interest one way or another in who wins the fight, regardless of whether you can bet on it or not. Because of that, our experts handicapped how they see the action playing out below

Mayweather vs Paul Fight Fight card Info

Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul — contracted exhibition (8 rounds)
Badou Jack vs. Dervin Colina, light heavyweight (10 rounds)
Jarrett Hurd vs. Luis Arias, junior middleweight (10 rounds)
Chad Johnson vs. Brian Maxwell, contracted exhibition (4 rounds)
Viewing Information
Date: June 6 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET (main card)
Location: Hard Rock Stadium — Miami Gardens, Florida
TV: Showtime PPV | Live stream: Showtime.com or the Showtime App | Price: $49.99

Mayweather vs Paul Fight predictions

Brian Campbell: The physical advantages Paul will enter the ring with can’t necessary be overlooked. The former standout high school wrestler and football player is 18 years younger than Mayweather, six inches taller and has a reach that is four inches longer. He’s also expected to be anywhere from 45 to 50 rounds heavier. Mayweather has never fought anyone bigger than 154 pounds and Paul weighed 199.5 pounds in his pro debut. Expect those never-before-seen obstacles to give Mayweather at least a round or two of pause as he gauges the hand speed and timing of his younger foe. But once he’s fully adjusted, Mayweather should have zero issue — even retired at age 44 — of being able to land clean, hard pull counters anytime he pleases. The biggest question regarding Paul’s ability to survive surrounds how good his untested chin can be against the pinpoint accuracy of a real professional. Paul is both hungry and fearless but his rudimentary knowledge of the sport compared to that of Mayweather can only produce one result: a mid-fight knockout.

Brent Brookhouse: Give Paul five more years of strong boxing training while Mayweather ages closer to 50 and Mayweather would still be the favorite in a fight. There’s no way for Paul to close the experience gap or get to Mayweather’s level of technique. That said, Paul’s size and strength advantages are very real, a fact of which Mayweather is certainly aware. As such, Mayweather will likely go slow in the opening round, taking in information and formulating his approach to the rest of the fight. While the bluster from Paul’s trainer that his jab rivals that of Larry Holmes is clearly nonsense, I have no doubt they have worked extensively on that jab to attempt to keep Mayweather from closing distance and using all his technical advantages.

It only makes sense to pick Mayweather here, but his pride does factor in a bit. There will be no on-site judges and no winner announced, which means if Mayweather wants to truly claim victory outside of on a “we all saw it” basis, he’s going to have to knock Paul out. I believe he can and will do so around Round 5, but is going to have to take some chances to make that happen, and that means exposing a 44-year-old chin to a man anywhere up to 50 pounds bigger than him. Look for a late Mayweather knockout in a fight that plays out in a way that is a bit more compelling than many expect.

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