US multimillionaire and former boxing champion, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has arrived – in his private jet – in the “motherland” this week. He first made a stop in Zimbabwe before arriving in South Africa on Saturday.
Boxing fans who also visited Sandton City over the weekend, received once-in-a-lifetime bragging rights after spotting the boxing legend.
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The Motherland Tour
Mayweather is currently in the country as part of his Africa-focused, Motherland Tour. It aims to raise funds for local youth in boxing via his Youth Empowerment Programme.
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The lightweight champion, who defeated UFC legend Conor McGregor, also goes by the monicker “Money”. During his time in Johannesburg he hosted a banquet dinner at the Sandton Convention Centre. SA boxing legend the likes of Brian Mitchell, Phillip Ndou, Baby Jake Matlala and Dingaan Thobela and Cassius Baloyi were in attendance.
As part of this uplifting tour, Floyd Mayweather spent time in Zimbabwe. Some media outlets happily reported that Mayweather was anything but a diva during his SA visit. Some publications claim that he simply requested ‘grilled chicken and salad in his tour rider’.
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Mayweather, No Diva in SA
Money Mayweather, is famously known bragging about only wearing a pair of sneakers once. According to a social media post, he claims to have stacks of brand-new Nike Air Forces Ones in his wardrobe for this purpose. But even he was not above going for a shopping spree at SA chain store, Markhams.
Floyd Mayweather shopping at Markham pic.twitter.com/QYjkfsapR8
— Peché Africa 🇿🇦 (@pmcafrica) July 16, 2023
In clips on social media, the former champion was seen perusing the aisles, even heading to checkout.
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A Lukewarm Visit to Zimbabwe
Mayweather’s trip to Zimbabwe has received mixed feelings among the locals. With some angered about the money spent to host the boxing legend. Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa’s closest ally, gold magnate Scott Sakupwanya, invited Mayweather.
Media reports say Floyd Mayweather attended a political campaign event, allegedly part of the Zimbabwean ruling party’s efforts to lure youth voted ahead of a general election. The event was held on a dusty soccer field in Mabvuku, one of the country’s oldest townships.
Former Commonwealth boxing champion, Alfonso Zvenyika, was part of the event.
“At my peak, I thought boxing would bring me to where Mayweather is now, where I didn’t have to worry about my next meal, or school fees for my children,” Zvenyika told The Associated Press.
“But it didn’t go according to plan. Today, I can only be a curtain-raiser for Floyd. I’m not jealous of him, he is a great fighter. I’m only honored to be fighting in the same ring that he is showcasing his skills, just honored to be invited here for Floyd’s visit to our country,” he said.
