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Floyd Mayweather Jr. downplays 'easy' boxing bout vs. Logan Paul

Floyd Mayweather (L) and Logan Paul (R) face off at news conference Thursday at the former Versace mansion on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI
1 of 5 | Floyd Mayweather (L) and Logan Paul (R) face off at news conference Thursday at the former Versace mansion on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach, Fla. Photo by Gary I Rothstein/UPI | License Photo

MIAMI, June 4 (UPI) -- Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues to downplay his opponent, YouTube star Logan Paul, ahead of their boxing bout Sunday in Miami. The undefeated boxer said he "doesn't really look at [the match] as a fight."

The main card starts at 8 p.m. EDT Sunday and is available for $49.99 on Showtime pay-per-view. Mayweather and Paul are expected to enter the ring at 10 p.m. EDT Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

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Mayweather and Paul met Thursday for a news conference at the Versace mansion in Miami Beach. The 6-foot-2 Paul towered over the 5-foot-8 Mayweather as the two participated in a face-off picture. They dished out verbal digs at each other through reporters until they departed from the circus-like event.

"I ain't even got to use my A game, my B game or my C game, I can use my Z game," Mayweather told reporters. "It's going to be fun.

"This is what I do. There is a difference between YouTube boxing and elite boxing."

Mayweather, 44, last entered the boxing ring in 2017 for a win over UFC star Conor McGregor. His first bout was in 1996. Twenty-seven of his 50 career victories are via knockout.

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And that's likely what he must do to earn at least a perceived victory Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. Due to the fight's rules, no official winner will be read, but knockouts are legal.

"Someone can get knocked out, that's the great thing about this," Mayweather said. "If someone can get knocked out, there is a winner."

Paul lost his lone boxing bout in 2019. The match was against fellow YouTuber Olajide William Olatunji, also known as KSI.

"In any industry, experience is going to trump anything else," Paul told reporters Thursday. "But at the end of the day, this is a fight and anything can happen."

Sunday's bout won't feature judges and the fighters won't wear headgear. Each boxer will wear 10-oz. gloves over the eight, three-minute rounds.

Paul embraces the idea of being the underdog, but said Mayweather will change his mind about the ease of the fight once he receives one of his punches to the face. The YouTube star, with 23.1 million subscribers, believes he is the strongest boxer Mayweather has faced.

"I hit hard," Paul said. "I think you are going to see Floyd's eyes light up the first time I hit him. ... Floyd Mayweather can play it off all he wants, but he knows how big this event is and he does not want to lose."

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Mayweather-Paul Fight Card

When: 8 p.m. EDT Sunday

Where: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

TV: Showtime pay-per-view

First fight: Chad Johnson vs. Brian Mitchell

Second fight: Jarrett Hurd vs. Luis Arias

Third fight: Badou Jack vs. Dervin Colina

Fourth fight: Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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