Miami, FL – Undefeated boxing Hall of Famer Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr will step into the ring on Sunday, June 11 against John Gotti III in an exhibition showdown, as part of a star-studded night featuring musical performances, celebrities, and more. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to at-risk youth.
Mayweather and Gotti III, the grandson of famous gangster John Gotti, will headline a Zeus Network Pay-Per-View live from FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida. The exhibition boxing event will be dedicated to the loving memory of Marikit “Kitchie” Laurico, Mayweather’s longtime assistant, who suddenly passed away in April.
The South Florida sports world is buzzing with news of the big-time fight. Mayweather, a veteran of the mat wars, has competed in six previous boxing exhibitions since retiring from the professional ranks. He has fought the likes of UFC fighter Conor McGregor and YouTuber Logan Paul. Now, he steps into the ring with Gotti III, a multi-combat sport athlete, hungry to make a name for himself.
“I’m all about bringing the biggest and best events to the people, and Sunday, June 11 is going to be like nothing else you’ve seen in the sports and entertainment world,” Mayweather said. “This is all about combining the entertainment of top-flight musical performances with topflight skills in the ring. I love the fans in South Florida, and I know they’re going to appreciate this premier event we’re going to bring to them.”
Mayweather is partnering with renowned director, producer, and CEO of Hidden Empire Film Group, Deon Taylor, to promote the event, which has been named, “Last Names Matter”. The boxing exhibition will be a unique crossover featuring hard-hitting fights, music, and much more. Taylor, a Chicago native, is responsible for such works as Dead Tone, The Hustle, Nite Tales, Chain Letter, Supremacy, and Meet the Blacks. Known for his creative genius, Taylor has worked with several of Hollywood’s biggest names and most respected production companies to write, produce or direct many well-known works in black popular culture. He is also the visionary behind Mayweather’s The GOAT docuseries.
“Floyd has simply become the definition of iconic,” Taylor stated. “His passion and genius in the ring and outside of the ring are beyond measure. I am personally blessed and honored to stand with him and tell his amazing story to the world. We cannot wait to see him in the ring again in Miami and understanding that some of the proceeds will be given to at-risk youth just furthers Floyd’s brilliance and heart.”
“Last Names Matter” will feature performances from superstar recording artist Ozuna along with other music acts. Ozuna has won multiple Latin Grammy Awards and Billboard Music Awards. The musician is best known for his 2018 collaboration with DJ Snake, Cardi B, and Selena Gomez on “Taki Taki”, which went quadruple platinum.
Tickets for “Last Names Matter” will go on sale Friday, May 5. Boxing fans will be able to order the event on Pay-Per-View from the Zeus Network. The streaming platform previously presented Mayweather versus Aaron Chalmers in February 2023 live from London. Zeus CEO Lemuel Plummer expects Mayweather and Gotti III to put on an even better event for fight fans in June.
“The Zeus Network is a trailblazing leader in streaming media, and we are excited to partner with one of the greatest athletes of all time, Floyd Mayweather, on his next exhibition fight,” Plummer, said. “We are honored to share his craft with the world exclusively via our platform.”
Since leaving the professional boxing ranks with a perfect 50-0 record and 12 world titles across five weight classes, Mayweather has traveled the world competing in exhibition matches. The legendary boxer fought exhibition bouts in Dubai, Japan, and the United Kingdom, while promoting the positivity of the sport. Mayweather previously fought Paul in Miami in 2021, and now returns to the Magic City to face off with Gotti III, in an event Las Vegas will surely be jealous of.
“It’s great to be bringing another huge night to the fans in Florida,” James McNair, CEO of High Rollers, producers of the event, said. “We’re excited to be back and working with the Gotti family this time for this exciting fight. It’s also our second time around with the Zeus Network, and we’re thrilled to have them be a part of this event.”
Gotti III has moved beyond the shadow of his famous last name to put together an impressive resume as both a professional mixed martial artist and a professional boxer. Fighting out of Oyster Bay, New York, Gotti III began his pro-MMA career in 2017, racking up a 5-1 record competing on CES MMA shows. He transitioned into pro boxing in October 2022, winning a unanimous decision over Albert Tulley. Gotti III followed that up with a first-round KO over Alex Citrowske in his most recent fight in January 2023. Now, he aims to show off his skills on the biggest stage of his career against an all-time great.
“I grew up idolizing Floyd, and I’m honored to have this chance to step into the ring against him,” Gotti explained. “He’s one of the greatest boxers of all time, and he’s the reason I got into the fight game. But on June 11, I’m gonna punish him.”
“Last Names Matter” will take place on Sunday, June 11, 2023, at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida. Tickets for the event will go on sale Friday, May 5, 2023. More information will be released on the event’s boxing card, musical acts, and more in the lead-up to the show. Boxing fans can purchase tickets from the Zeus Network at : https://www.thezeusnetwork.com/