FLOYD MAYWEATHER’s showdown with Youtuber Logan Paul has been branded a ‘circus show’.
The former four-weight world champion is set to take on the controversial social media star in an exhibition match later this year.
The pair, 44 and 25 respectively, were meant to clash in February but their meeting ended up being postponed.
Mayweather’s latest exhibition bout has been maligned by many in the boxing community, including former WBA welterweight champion Keith Thurman.
He told World Boxing News: “They should do whatever they want to do as it’s not real boxing.
“It’s fighting, but it’s NOT boxing. It’s like a circus show.
“But, fight fans like to see fights, and they are providing entertaining fights for the fight fans.
“The boxing purists would argue it regardless if they call it entertainment or not.”
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Thurman, 32, is baffled by the popularity of YouTubers and their ability to cross over into the boxing world.
He added: “There’s a glitch in the matrix in that the YouTubers have a tremendous fan base. Those fan bases will follow them regardless of what they do. “
“So there will be a fan that will always go see them whatever they are doing.
“They are just taking advantage of the world right now. I can’t blame them for that.
“It is entertainment as one of the last fights ended in a KO (Nate Robinson). And it’s all about hitting the headlines.
“It reminds me of Conor McGregor or wrestling. It reminds me of the ultimate warrior – snapping into a Slim Jim!
“Anyone stirring up controversy, and right now, there is not a lot of entertainment, and they are doing something different.
“A lot of people are backing it that enjoy it. Some fighters want them to get knocked out.
“But we’ll see what happens when the YouTubers are willing to put themselves in a tough fight situation.”
Thurman has no qualms with Mayweather opting to face YouTubers in his retirement but insists his clash with Paul won’t be an entertaining affair.
One Time said: “Listen, it’s Floyd Mayweather. It won’t be entertaining as Floyd doesn’t bring entertainment in the ring.
“He brings money, status, and fame. But that’s not entertainment.”
