The first time legendary boxing star Floyd Mayweather took on John Gotti III in an exhibition, a riot ensued when the referee stopped the bout too early. Last night, in a rematch of their June 2023 encounter, Mayweather fired the referee for making a bad call.
While Mayweather and Gotti III are a mismatched couple as ring combatants, they are a match made in heaven when it comes to craziness and controversy. Ultimately, that's why the pair got to make a sequel to an unwanted original.
MORE: Floyd Mayweather vs. John Gotti III 2 results, highlights
It's an exhibition between a 47-year-old all-time great who has as much ring IQ as any active professional and the grandson of a former mafia boss. With a pairing like that, it's no wonder things get out of hand.
Ultimately, Mayweather won an eight-round decision and, hopefully, closed the book on the entire unsavory debacle. However, it's not the result that people are talking about, it's what happened with one minute remaining in round two when Mayweather insisted that the referee be replaced.
The Sporting News investigates another controversial moment in the Mayweather-Gotti saga.
Why did Floyd Mayweather fire the referee?
With approximately two minutes gone in the second round, Mayweather threw one of his signature punches: a right hook around the guard that landed on the ear. It's an effective single shot that the Grand Rapids product has been doing forever.
When it landed, the referee intervened and pulled up Mayweather for rabbit punching. Aghast that he should be questioned, the former champion immediately lost his cool and told the referee to get out of his way. Gotti III was ushered to his corner by his team and Mayweather continued his rant until the official was replaced.
Was it a rabbit punch? Never in a million years.
What is a rabbit punch?
A rabbit punch is a shot behind the head, which is an illegal blow in boxing. It can cause injury to the spinal cord and is extremely dangerous.
Can a boxer fire a referee?
Referees can be replaced. One recalls acclaimed official Ruby Goldstein succumbing to heat exhaustion during the 10th round of the Joey Maxim-Sugar Ray Robinson bout in 1952. Three rounds later, the New York sun would TKO Robinson, who could barely stand due to fatigue and dehydration.
However, referees are replaced out of necessity because circumstances require it to happen. Last night, a fighter insisted on the official being changed because he was unhappy with a decision that went against him. That may be unprecedented.
The difference is that Maxim vs. Robinson was a world light heavyweight championship fight being staged under the governance of the New York State Athletic Commission.
Conversely, Mayweather-Gotti III was popcorn entertainment and a cash grab, so you just make up the rules as you go along. In a professional fight, a boxer would have no authority to replace an official.