Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. speaking during a press conference previous for the Floyd Mayweather Jr v John Gotti III fight. on August 21, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico. Photo: Carlos Tischler/ Eyepix Group via Reuters Connect
Retired boxing champion Floyd Mayweather issued a statement clarifying what happened when he was confronted by an angry crowd and forced to leave London’s Hatton Garden jewelry district on Tuesday night.
The undefeated boxer, 47, was shopping at the jewelry market in Central London when he was escorted out by his security guards and forced to drive away in a car after reportedly being confronted for supporting Israel.
Videos circulating online showed a rowdy crowd of people trying to reach Mayweather and attack him before he got into his car and sped away. Mayweather’s security guards prevented anyone from getting close enough to attack the former boxer, and footage showed that even when several people tried to push past the security and reach for Mayweather, he was quickly pushed into his vehicle by his security.
Even as his vehicle drove away, the angry crowd followed the car and yelled insults at Mayweather, including calling him a “pu—y.” A source close to Mayweather told The Sun that the crowd also shouted racial slurs at him.
Floyd Mayweather was chasted out at Hatton Garden over comments that he supports Israel.. pic.twitter.com/QfGWOFp0oc
— London & UK Street News (@CrimeLdn) December 10, 2024
In a statement posted on Instagram on Wednesday morning, Mayweather said he is “perfectly fine.”
“Let me set the record straight,” he told his 29.9 million followers. “I wasn’t punched or touched in any way. What you’re seeing is just my security doing their job to keep things under control. I was in the UK for a quick 48-hour stop to do some shopping, and unfortunately, people let jealously and negativity fuel false stories. I’m perfectly fine, and there’s really nothing more to it.”
A witness told The Sun that the incident began after one of the jewelers in the market at Hatton Garden shouted “he supports genocide” in reference to Mayweather, who officially retired in 2017 but is still boxing in exhibitions. The comment prompted others in the market to then push and try to get to Mayweather and attack him as he was shopping, but the ex-boxer was heavily guarded by security.
“A lot of the other jewelers got involved,” the witness said. “There was a massive argument going on. People were pushing trying to get him and slap his head. All these macho men were trying to fight him.”
The witness said that Mayweather, who has visited Israel several times this year, was also asked in the market why he supported Israel, and he responded by reiterating that he was proud to support the Jewish people. His response angered multiple observers, who then tried to attack him and push past his security guards, but to no avail.
The incident took place shortly after Mayweather launched a new initiative to give every orphan in Israel a gift for their birthday.
The post Floyd Mayweather Denies Mob Attack After Confronted in London Over Israel Support first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
