Floyd Mayweather Jr. did something most boxing fans are unfamiliar with on Saturday night: he switched referees mid-bout.
The bizarre moment occurred during the second round of Mayweather’s bout against John Gotti III in Mexico City, when Mayweather was reprimanded by referee Hector Affle after he was deemed to have punched Gotti in the back of the head.
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John Gotti III takes a left punch from Floyd Mayweather Jr. at Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City on August 24, 2024. (Medios y Media/Getty Images)
Mayweather was unhappy with the call, and “Money” essentially told the referee to get out of the way, after which Aff and Mayweather got into an altercation.
Afu was out of the match before the next round and was replaced by Alfredo Ursquieta, Bloody Elbow.
Boxing fans watching the bout joked that Mayweather “fired” Aff midway through the bout.
The Mayweather-Gotti bout is set for a June 2023 rematch, which has been thrown into chaos.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. is reprimanded by the referee during his bout against John Gotti III on August 24, 2024 in Mexico City. (Medios y Media/Getty Images)
Mayweather and Gotti traded foul language for more than half the fight, with referee Kenny Bayless having an increasingly difficult time separating the two and breaking up the altercation. After Bayless stopped the bout, things took an ugly turn.
Gotti circled around Bayless and started chasing Mayweather, then they started trading punches, both teams got in the ring, and some more shoving ensued, with Gotti being pushed into the corner and Mayweather backing into the corner.
Saturday night’s fight was less dramatic.
Mayweather is 50-0 in his professional career but has not fought professionally since his 2017 win over Conor McGregor.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (right) during the weigh-in ahead of their exhibition bout against John Gotti III on Aug. 23, 2024 at the Big Bola Casino in Mexico City. (Medios y Media/Getty Images)
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Gotti is the grandson of notorious gangster John Gotti.
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