YOUTUBE star Money Kicks expects his fight with Floyd Mayweather to be confirmed ‘very soon’ and teased an announcement in ‘a couple of days’.
The Middle East-based vlogger is in the final stages of negotiations to face boxing legend Mayweather on February 20.
Their teams are now overlooking contracts, for the exhibition set to be staged on top of the HELIPAD at the 700ft Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel in Dubai.
It means confirmation of Mayweather’s latest money-spinning spectacle return is edging closer.
Money Kicks – real name Rashed Belhasa – told SunSport: “It’s in the last stage. It’s with the lawyers.
“We’ll get a deal, I think it’s going to happen. The date is set, it’s in the last stage.
“Maybe in a couple of days there will be a big announcement.”
Mayweather, 44, officially hung up the gloves in 2017 after beating ex-UFC champion Conor McGregor, 33, in a lucrative crossover fight.
But he has returned twice since, both in exhibitions, starting with a one round demolition job over featherweight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, 23.
More recently, in June the retired icon was taken the distance over eight rounds by YouTuber Logan Paul, 26, who weighed TWO STONE more.
But in an attempt to crack the lucrative UAE market – which is becoming increasingly more involved in boxing – Mayweather turned to Belhasa and his brand.
Money Kicks said: “He did this because there’s no boxers here. Me, I love to go into markets where people haven’t done it. Start a trend.
“Over here I was the first YouTuber to get a million subscribers, still a new market.
“That’s why, Floyd wanted a boxer from here, because I’m big in the Middle East and Asia. Now I can be big in the world.”
Mayweather, currently back training again, is the self-proclaimed ‘Best Ever’ who retired at an unbeaten record-breaking 50-0.
Whereas Belhasa, who just turned 20, has only had TWO fights since starting boxing last year.
They came against Anas Elshayib and Ajmal Khan on the celebrity banner ‘Social Knockout’ – which he co-owns.
Before boxing, the son of billionaire construction Saif Ahmed was known for his viral videos and lavish lifestyle.
That includes supercars, celeb meetings and a private zoo which has seen sports stars including Mayweather visit.
Belhasa admits to idolising his next potential ring rival, even wearing The Money Team merchandise.
But the social media sensation will put his love for Mayweather aside, at least until after the final bell of their scheduled eight-round exhibition.
Money Kicks said: “Floyd is always respectful, cool guy, humble guy, and before meeting Floyd I always had the TMT merch.
“I took pictures and always wore his merch. Always a respectful guy.
“When I met him, he said, ‘You’re the guy’. I said, ‘Which guy?’ And he said, ‘You’re the guy, you always support me’.
“I didn’t know that he knew me. It was four years ago, five years ago, and he’s always shown love.”
