Floyd mayweather jr.

Floyd “Money” Mayweather banks sponsorship deal with Hublot for McGregor fight

Purists may be sniffy about the sporting integrity of boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s upcoming fight against Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor McGregor, but the hype and expectation guarantee a global audience that sponsors cannot ignore.

Hublot has an association with Mr Mayweather that dates back to his fight with Mani Paquiao, when the world champion carried the Swiss watchmaker’s logo on the centre of his trunks.

The value of that deal was not disclosed, but in 2015, at the height of his boxing career, Mr Mayweather told US business magazine Fortune, that the minimum price for his endorsement or sponsorship is $1 million.

The boxer is also a fan of the brand, and taunted Mr McGregor at a pre-fight photo call by waving a diamond-encrusted Hublot Big Bang in the UFC fighter’s face.

Squaring up to McGregor at the press conference, Mayweather said: “You’re a microwave meal with a cheap-a** watch on — step your game up”. Pointing to his Hublot Big Bang watch, Mayweather jeered: “$1.4million, b*****!”.

Floyd mayweather taunts connor mcgregor at a london press conference, waving what he says is a $1. 4 million hublot big bang in the face of his opponent. (photo by matthew lewis/getty images)
Floyd Mayweather taunts Connor McGregor at a London press conference, waving what he says is a $1.4 million Hublot Big Bang in the face of his opponent. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

The watch was reportedly bought on a shopping trip in Dubai for $1.1 million.

The trash talking does not appear to have dented Hublot’s affection for Floyd “Money” Mayweather, because the company will be sponsoring the boxer for a second time when he fights Mr McGregor.

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, says: “Once again, we have the great honor to partner with a true living legend, Floyd Mayweather, ‘The Best Ever,’ for what is sure to be the ‘Fight of the Millennium.’ In line with Hublot’s ‘First, Different, Unique’ brand ethos, Mayweather previously never had a brand adorn his boxing shorts until our ‘knockout’ partnership in 2015. I am thrilled to partner with him again in the same way. We look forward to the match this weekend and hope for a repeat performance of 2015, cementing his undefeated record! The collaboration continues the brand’s long history in support of the noble art of boxing and celebrating the Legend of the Legends.”

Mr Mayweather adds: “I am proud of my relationship with Hublot. When I fight, I wear what I want to wear and Hublot has the main spot on my trunks. We have a major, powerful deal that you will see forever. It’s timeless.”

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