Floyd Mayweather Jr continued the storied crossover between boxing and wrestling in 2008 when he combined it up with WWE’s Paul “The Huge Present” Wight in a fascinating feud that when 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 received 15 boxing titles has seldom spoke in regards to the incident. So, when M&F sat down with “Cash” Mayweather lately, so as get his ideas 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 pretend,’” stated Mayweather in one in all his solely interviews on the topic, with Larry King virtually twelve years in the past. “So, after I acquired concerned with the WWE, it was like ‘You and Huge Present gonna have a match.’ I stated, ‘What do you imply?’ They stated, ‘Y’all can battle.’ I stated, ‘What do you imply battle, isn’t it for pretend?’ They’re saying no. ‘You swing, y’all battle for actual. I’m like, ‘I assumed wrestling was pretend,’” responded a confused Mayweather on the time.
The particular battle that the undefeated boxer is speaking about occurred on February 17, 2008, so as to arrange an precise match between the 2 athletes only a few weeks later at WrestleMania 24. The storyline known as for Mayweather to hurry to the ring so as 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 nose to nose, some trash speaking ensued earlier than Wight acquired to 1 knee so as to mock the boxer’s top. Mayweather used that chance to place his cash the place his mouth was, nonetheless, and rained a mixture of blows straight into The Huge Present’s face. “So, after I punched him within the face, you understand, 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 virtually 75,000 in Orlando, Florida.
Did Floyd Mayweather Genuinely Break Paul “The Huge Present” Wight’s Nostril?
With Mayweather returning to his boxing profession, he seldom spoken of his surprising 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 instances by Wight himself, nonetheless. In a more moderen interview with talkSPORT, The Huge Present confirmed that he was on board with the thought of constructing their unique scuffle seem as actual as attainable by having Mayweather punch him legitimately. However there was a warning. “I instructed [Floyd], ‘Hey once you do that, run, as a result of I’m half-nuts so if I get my arms on you…’” With Mayweather being instructed by WWE officers land Paul Wight himself to make it look good, Mayweather delivered huge time on the evening.
“I knew we had one thing particular then!” stated 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 facet that has added gas 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 photographs employed by one of many best 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 special type of problem, nevertheless 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 completely satisfied to provide the gang a second they’d always remember.” WWE is now streaming on Netflix whereas Mayweather continues to mentor the subsequent technology of boxers and has lately launched a brand new line of dietary supplements.
To comply with Floyd Mayweather on Instagram, click on right here.
To comply with Paul Wight on Instagram, click on right here.
