With fight week now underway, legendary Hall of Fame boxer, Floyd “Money” Mayweather, known globally as TBE (The Best Ever), promises a special and unique boxing experience when he returns to the ring this Saturday, May 14 headlining “The Global Titans Fight Series” in an exhibition against unbeaten “Dangerous” Don Moore that serves as the main event of a pay-per-view lineup taking place “in the skies of Dubai” outdoors on the helipad of Dubai’s opulent Burj Al Arab Hotel.
The pay-per-view event, which is presented by FrontRow and Global Titans in association with Mayweather Promotions, will begin at 9:30 p.m. GST (1:30 p.m. ET) and be broadcast live by LIVENow, is available for purchase HERE.
“I promise you’ve never seen a boxing event like this,” said Mayweather, who recently traveled to Nigeria to promote the fight, before landing in Dubai ahead of Saturday’s action. “I’m going to continue to break barriers on May 14. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I’m a once-in-a-lifetime fighter. There’s no one else in the sport who could headline an event this over the top. I’m going to give the fans what they paid for.”
While in Nigeria, Mayweather expressed his goal of setting up a boxing academy in the country and met with Rotimi Amaechi, a presidential hopeful there. Upon arriving in Dubai, Mayweather was spotted at The Kamani Club for final workouts ahead of fight night as he met with fighters including two-division world champion Badou Jack, who fights on Saturday’s undercard, and cruiserweight champion Lawrence Okolie.
Prior to leaving the U.S., Mayweather had returned to his hallowed stomping grounds from throughout much of his record-breaking career, The Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas. Still attracting a strong crowd during his legendary workout sessions, the latest addition to Mayweather’s training entourage was his two-year-old grandson, K.J., who brought Mayweather new joy amongst another camp.
“It was business as usual,” said Mayweather. “It always feels good to be in the ring and around familiar faces in the boxing gym. I’ve spent so much of my life in the gym, so I always feel comfortable getting back into it. Training for any fight, and even this exhibition, is something I am always going to do. No one ever saw me take a day off during my career. Why would I start now?”
A five-division world champion who racked up 12 world titles on his way to an iconic 50-0 record, Mayweather has continued to deliver entertainment for fight fans even in retirement. In addition to his work as the President of Mayweather Promotions, Mayweather has taken part in blockbuster exhibition matchups, traveling to Japan to fight kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018, before a 2021 showdown that broke the internet against social media star Logan Paul in Miami.
“I love displaying my talents for the whole world and doing something new that interests me,” said Mayweather. “Boxing is entertainment, and that’s what I’m all about. I worked hard to accomplish more than anyone during my career, and now I’m going to enjoy the fruits of my labor, while still giving fans something exciting to watch.”
Considered the UAE’s most iconic hotel and a global icon of Arabian luxury, the Burj Al Arab Hotel will make a perfect host for a fighter known for his luxurious lifestyle and larger than life events. A preview of the one-of-a-kind ring set up can be viewed HERE, as Mayweather will headline the first boxing card at the internationally renowned venue.
“They always say the sky is the limit, well I feel like I’m pushing the limit in the entertainment world once again, going up and literally fighting in the sky,” said Mayweather. “These are the kind of opportunities that I’m always going to jump at.”
This Saturday night, Mayweather faces an opponent in Don Moore who he’s sparred with numerous times throughout his career. In addition, Moore was trained by the late great Roger Mayweather, Floyd’s uncle, and stated during the announcement press conference for this fight that he believes this familiarity with Floyd will give him an edge when they square off.
“I’ve known Don for a long time and I know that he’s a very smart fighter who I can’t take lightly,” said Mayweather. “I believe that he’s coming to prove something in this fight. On top of this fight being at a one-of-a-kind venue, you’re going to see a guy coming in to take his shot at The Best Ever.”
A women’s 10-round championship fight has been added to the inaugural edition of “The Global Titans Fight Series,” headlined by the ring return of Floyd “Money” Mayweather facing “Dangerous” Don Moore “in the skies of Dubai” on Saturday, May 14, as former unified champion Delfine Persoon of Belgium will take on France’s undefeated Elhem “The Diamond” Mekhaled for the vacant Female WBC Silver Super Featherweight Championship.
Persoon (46-3, 19 KOs) and Mekhaled (14-0, 2 KOs) will meet in one of the supporting bouts when Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) returns to face Moore (18-0-1, 12 KOs) in an eight-round, main-event exhibition matchup, outdoors on the helipad of Dubai’s opulent Burj Al Arab Hotel.
Presented by FrontRow in association with Mayweather Promotions, the event will also feature world-famous combatants such as UFC legend Anderson Silva facing fellow Brazilian fighting star Bruno Machado in an exhibition bout, as well as a sanctioned bout between former two-division world champion Badou Jack (25-3-3, 15 KOs) and Hany “Egyptian Hurricane” Atiyo (16-4, 12 KOs) from Dubai via Egypt.
Perhaps best known for her two-fight series against top pound-for-pound fighter Katie Taylor, Persoon, of Roeselare, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, held the Women’s WBC Lightweight Championship for five years and made nine successful defenses before losing a nationally televised controversial decision to Taylor for the undisputed lightweight championship at Madison Square Garden in 2019. The rematch with Taylor was held in 2020 and Persoon again lost a razor-thin decision.
Persoon, who works as a railway policewoman in her homeland, started professional boxing in 2009 after competing in judo. Ranked among the best female fighters on the planet, Persoon also held the IBF female lightweight title in 2012.
“It’s great to be back in the ring and I’m very excited to compete on an undercard for Floyd Mayweather,” said Persoon. “My opponent has a good record and I respect her taking this challenge, but I’m going to show her I’m at a different level. Just like I did against Katie Taylor, I’m going to bring the action from start to finish and do everything I can to have my hand raised.”
The undefeated Mekhaled hails from Vaulx-en-Velin, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France. In her five-year career, she has held the WBC interim female super-featherweight title, which she captured in March 2019 by defeating Spain’s Danila Ramos via 10-round unanimous decision, as well as the French and European Championships.
The fight against Persoon will be Mekhaled’s second outside her native France. The 31-year-old was last seen scoring a first-round knockout over Bosnia And Herzegovina’s Pasa Malagic to successfully defend her EBU (European) belt in September 2021.
“I’m on the path to a world title and this victory is going to catapult me toward my goal,” said Mekhaled. “It’s an honor to be fighting on a big card like this with Floyd Mayweather, and I’m planning to show everyone watching that I’m ready to become world champion.”
The pay-per-view event, which will begin at 9:30 p.m. GST (1:30 p.m. ET) and be broadcast live by LIVENow.
Earlier today at a media event held in the Press Room of the Gabriel Miami Downtown Hotel, it was announced that on Saturday, May 14, 2022, the legendary undefeated multi-weight champion known as “TBE – The Best Ever,” Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs), will return to the ring to face also undefeated “Dangerous” Don Moore (18-0-1, 12 KOs) in the headlining matchup of the inaugural edition of “The Global Titans Fight Series,” a unique global-boxing event, staged “in the skies of Dubai” and broadcast live, worldwide, via premium digital-streaming service LIVENow.
Presented by co-owners FrontRowTMT and ROQU Media, in association with Mayweather Promotions, the historic event, held incredibly, outdoors on the helipad of Dubai’s opulent Burj Al Arab Hotel, the UAE’s most iconic hotel and a global icon of Arabian luxury, will also showcase a fantastic undercard of world-famous combatants such as UFC legend Anderson Silva facing fellow Brazilian fighting star Bruno Machado in an exhibition bout, as well as an official fight between beloved former world champion Badou Jack (25-3-3, 15 KOs) and Hany “Egyptian Hurricane” Atiyo (16-4, 12 KOs) from Dubai via Egypt.
And in another history-making special feature of the event, all tickets for “The Global Titans Fight Series” will be sold as NFTs (platform to be announced). Those who secure an NFT ticket will be treated to unique and collectible features, including exclusive official fight videos, photography from the iconic event, a special 3D VIP ticket, plus lots more.
Mayweather, long known for his greatness in the ring and one of the most highly decorated athletes in all of sports is excited to return to the ring in this special event and location.
“I am always trying to push the envelope and if something is brought to my attention that has a unique aspect to it, I am always interested,” said Mayweather. “Having a fight on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai and the opportunity to be the star of the show is going to be something I will remember always. People all over the world can buy the PPV and watch us fight high above, almost in the sky.”
Gary Indiana’s “Dangerous” Don Moore hasn’t lost a fight since turning professional in 1999. A long-time sparring partner of Mayweather’s during his career, and formerly trained by his late Uncle, Roger Mayweather, Moore says he’s in a unique position to give the great Mayweather problems when the two meet in May.
“I am excited to participate in this event,” said Moore. “Because of how much of the same training I received from Roger Mayweather, I am gonna be able to give Floyd real problems. I have been training hard to show everyone what ‘Dangerous’ Don Moore is all about and expose Floyd’s weaknesses. This is my shot, The time is now, Floyd isn’t invincible. Anyone can be beaten.”
In the hearts and minds of many, Anderson Silva is the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Brazilian-American Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days, including a UFC record 16 consecutive victories. As a pro boxer in his second, more recent career, Silva (2-0, 1 KO) already holds victories over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and MMA legend Tito Ortiz.
“I can’t wait to do battle with my countryman in the sky!” said Silva. “This will be a great event for all the fighters and the fans and I look forward to putting on a great show for everyone. I am honored to share the card with Floyd Mayweather, a true boxing icon. Dubai is a beautiful place and I thank the organizers for asking me to be part of this epic event.”
Of Gambian-Swedish descent, Badou Jack is a fan and TV favorite and a former world champion in two weight classes (WBC Super Middleweight 2014 to 2017 and WBA Light Heavyweight 2017). Active in supporting his community, Jack is the Founder of the Badou Jack Foundation that was created with the purpose of giving underprivileged kids a fighting chance at a better future.
“I’m glad to be back in my second home of Dubai, to fight in front of all of my fans there once again and put on another great performance. Dubai is becoming the new fight capital of the world and events like this, featuring Floyd Mayweather, keep it spectacular. I always appreciate Floyd for his friendship and having my back.”
