Fight fans blasted the Logan Paul-Floyd Mayweather Jr. boxing match for the constant clinches, but one of their ring hugs really caught the attention of some news outlets.
USA Today’s For the Win and the New York Post called out Mayweather for possibly propping up Paul after he may have knocked him out. In a clip that spurred the accusation, former boxing champ Mayweather punched the YouTuber Paul in the head with a few seconds left in the round. Paul seemed to go limp and Mayweather “appeared to hold him up off the floor, preventing a knockdown ― or, perhaps, a knockout,” the Post wrote.
The tabloid called the video “suspicious” and suggested the 8-round exhibition “may have gone as far as to be fixed.”
“Did Mayweather knock out Paul? And did Mayweather then do his best to prevent the fight from ending by holding up his opponent?,” For the Win asked.
Jake Paul (also a YouTuber and boxer), declared victory for his brother, despite what fans saw.
The Associated Press, among other outlets, reported that Mayweather, the former undefeated champion, “outclassed” the social media star.
The bout was an unscored exhibition and not a licensed bout, which meant there were no judges and the only way to triumph was to stop or knock out the opponent within the eight three-minute rounds.
While Mayweather outclassed Paul and delivered a number of punishing blows, he failed to land a knockout punch and without any judges to keep score, the bout was called a draw according to international news reports.