Floyd Mayweather Jr. defeated Victor Ortiz Saturday night via a fourth-round TKO, and Mayweather "fights under a highly unusual financial structure, exchanging upfront risk for back-end profit while retaining total control,” according to a front-page examination of Mayweather's financial model by Greg Bishop of the N.Y. TIMES. Mayweather is "even responsible for paying his opponent, in this case a business expense of at least $2 million.” Mayweather said of his financial model, “It’s never been done. Not in entertainment history. Not in sports history. You see that arena Saturday? It’s all Mayweather money. Want a hot dog? Mayweather money. Want a T-shirt? Mayweather money. I need all that.” Bishop noted Mayweather Saturday night was “expected to make about $40 million, and the checks will come for years, determined by the results of many things beyond the fight itself, like the gate and the pay-per-view television numbers.” Mayweather for his last four fights has hired Golden Boy Promotions, and company CEO Richard Schaefer said, “All revenues here are Mayweather revenues. He gets part of everything.” Bishop noted under this model, the “expenses are Mayweather expenses, too.” Schaefer said that for Saturday’s fight at MGM Grand “the expenses would run about $10 million” (N.Y. TIMES, 9/17).
FIGHTING WORDS: In N.Y., Tim Smith noted the end of Saturday's bout "came after a bizarre series of events that began when Ortiz was charged with a foul for deliberately head-butting Mayweather after landing a barrage of punches in the corner.” Referee Joe Cortez “deducted a point from Ortiz for the foul, and Ortiz came over to Mayweather and embraced him to offer an apology.” When the two fighters were brought back to the center of the ring, Mayweather “embraced Ortiz, then stepped back and landed a quick left and right combination that sent Ortiz falling to the canvas.” The crowd “turned on Mayweather almost immediately and was booing him.” Mayweather then “got into a profanity-laced shouting match with HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant during the in-ring interview.” Mayweather during the interview said, "I'm going to do you a favor and let you talk to Victor Ortiz. You never give me a fair shake. HBO need to fire you. You don't know s--- about boxing. You ain't s---! You're not s---!" Merchant replied: "I wish I was 50 years younger and I'd kick your ass" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/18). The N.Y. TIMES’ Bishop noted the crowd “booed, loudly, lustily, as Mayweather assumed the role of villain once again” (N.Y. TIMES, 9/18). In L.A., Bill Dwyre wrote under the header, “Jeers For Mayweather-Ortiz Outcome Are Justified.” Dwyre: “Any resemblance between sportsmanship and boxing vanished on a night of mugging and dirty play. … Boxing made a lot of money Saturday night and may have lost a lot of friends and future customers” (L.A. TIMES, 9/18).
