Revealed: Floyd Mayweather midnight training sessions dedicated to make Logan Paul pay

Interview with Floyd Mayweather's long-time training partner Denis Douglin

Douglin claims 'hat-gate' has "lit a fire" under Mayweather Jr.

In the latest and most unlikely instalment of the YouTube boxing phenomenon, Floyd “Money” Mayweather steps out of retirement to face hugely popular YouTuber Logan Paul on June 6 in Miami.

It might have been an event that Mayweather would not have taken too seriously, given his unblemished 50-0 record and Paul having fought just once, losing to KSI in 2019 - but all that changed a fortnight ago when Logan's brother Jake Paul stole Mayweather's hat at a press conference in Miami, sparking a mass brawl.

And according to Mayweather's long-time training partner and ex-fighter Denis Douglin, 'hat-gate' has "lit a fire" under the decorated champ.

Having previously thought his sparring mate would not have trained too intensely, Douglin reveals he is now training harder than ever in the gym ahead of the fight next weekend and the atmosphere in the gym has "felt like a real Mayweather fight."

Douglin believes the former world champion’s motivation has been stirred by Logan Paul’s troublemaking sibling Jake, sparking a desire to show the "disrespectful" brothers what the art of boxing is and to "100 percent make him pay."

Douglin was speaking via the Betway Insider blog :

What has been the main catalyst for Floyd Mayweather to be taking training far more seriously?

"I think Floyd thought taking his hat was disrespectful and it looks like it has lit a fire under him from what I saw at the gym. I was very impressed. I think that had to do with the Paul brothers p*****g him off.

"Floyd’s one of the greatest in the world - but I didn't think that he was going to train intensely for this. But they’ve p****d him off now, so he’s turning it up. What I saw today from Floyd was very impressive.

"I was blown away. I was kinda expecting him to do a cookie cutter workout, shadow box and spar someone really bad just to stay active. That’s what I was expecting.

"But I came into the gym at around midnight and the energy and atmosphere in the gym felt like a real Mayweather fight. Floyd looked great, man - he didn’t miss a beat.

"Still cocky, still having fun, still crafty - it was a real sight to see. Watching him get rounds of sparring, hitting the bag, on the pads - he had great energy. I learned a lot just watching that.

"Floyd was to be the best in the world and he retired. So while he’s not taking this fight with Logan Paul as seriously as a real fight against Errol Spence for example, he’s taking it as seriously as he needs to for what this fight is - which is for a kid who’s a little bit crazy and disrespectful, who does not understand the craft of boxing."

How do you believe Floyd will approach the fight?

"Floyd’s going to teach him boxing’s an art. It does not matter if you’re bigger than me, or stronger than me because I have boxing skill. Floyd is one of the best technicians in the sport and I feel Floyd is taking that seriously."

What do you expect to see during the fight itself?

"He has a need to show this kid boxing is about skills and not just a fight - it’s a science. 100 percent he’s going to make him pay."

Floyd Mayweather vs Logan Paul headline SHOWTIME PPV event on Sunday, June 6

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