FLOYD MAYWEATHER is ‘doing a disservice to himself’ by fighting Logan Paul, according to Artur Beterbiev.
The 50-0 legend, 44, steps back into the ring for an exhibition bout with the YouTuber on Sunday in Florida.
His 50th pro fight was against Conor McGregor in August 2017 before he beat kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in their New Year’s Eve exhibition in 2018.
And although YouTube celebrities taking steps into boxing – such as Paul and younger brother Jake – attracts money and audiences, Beterbiev is disappointed Mayweather has stooped to money-grabbing contests despite so much success in his career.
The unbeaten Russian light-heavyweight WBC and IBF champ, 36, said: “I think such fights make the boxing more popular.
“For example, they don’t go to MMA or some other combat sports. They go to the boxing. So I am fine with that.
“I do not think this is a disservice. Mayweather has always been seeking money.
“If you remember he was even nicknamed Money. So he does everything for money.
“By this fight he is not doing a disservice to the boxing. He is rather doing a disservice to himself.
“And the boxing will always remain a great sport.”
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The showdown will take place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium this weekend with fans furious Sky Sports are forcing fans to stump up £16.95 to access the fight on Box Office.
Paul made his pro boxing debut with a split-decision defeat to British YouTube rival KSI in November 2019.
But he is adamant, although his Mayweather bout is classed as an exhibition, they are going to ‘war’ in the ring.
And the 26-year-old vowed to ‘decapitate’ the five-weight world champion in the first round.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “It’s not an exhibition. What exhibition is eight three-minute rounds? You know, this is a fight.
“If Floyd didn’t want to rip my head off before my brother took his hat, now he’s trying to kill me.
“It’s going to be a war. I’m not going to make this s*** easy for him. We’ve been training our a**es off for eight months now to fight this guy.
“I think I’m going to go in there and decapitate him in the first round. And if it doesn’t happen we’re going for the second, and the third, and the fourth.
“Who knows, it could go the distance but it’s going to be a f***ing show regardless.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
