Mayweather vs. Paul and the 10 worst celebrity boxing fights in history ranked

Ah, the celebrity boxing match. Credit to Jake and Logan Paul for somehow making the proposition seem new and interesting, and as their PPVs gain more attention (and generate more money) than most legitimate fights, giving themselves a legitimate claim to the title of most important fighters in the world right now, even with their inexperience shining through in each bout.

As much as it might pain me to right that, it’s true–nothing catches eyeballs better than the Pauls.

However, they did not invent the celebrity exhibition fight, though this morning’s Logan Paul vs. Floyd Mayweather fight definitely qualifies as one of the worst in history, as two men barely held the pretense of a legitimate competition, and then immediately started sharing the memes making fun of the fight themselves.

(Paul did, anyways. Mayweather is just happy to have collected another paycheck, the best businessman in boxing history).

Is it the worst celebrity boxing exhibition of all time? Here’s a rundown of the worst we can remember, though I’m sure we’ve blocked a few out of our memories with time.

10. Ricky Gervais vs. Grant Bovey

We couldn’t place this any higher purely because its genuine surrealness elevates it somewhat. After all, watching one of the world’s most famous and least visibly athletic comedians in a boxing ring, winning, with a concerned-looking Martin Freeman watching on, is the stuff that fever dreams are made of.

9. Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki

Legend has it that Ali’s side was adamant that New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Inoki could not strike him above the knee, which led to a full hour of Inoki spamming the leg sweep like a kid who just got Street Fighter II and then falling down, while Muhammad Ali showboated. Genuinely one of the worst fights in history, but also a key moment in the slow formation of MMA and the original concept behind the UFC, which originally existed just to ask the question, what if fighters from different backgrounds mixed it up?

8. Coolio vs. Jeremy Jackson

Gangster’s Paradise will always be a classic, but Coolio’s other contributions to pop culture, Kenan and Kel aside, never lived up to his biggest hit. Case in point was his boxing match against Baywatch’s Jeremy Jackson, which he lost. Some of these are just sad, man.

7. Danny Bonaduce vs. Donny Osmond

The one that started it all, two child actors from 70s shows, far past their prime, boxing in a desperate attempt at relevance and a cash grab. The fight defined an era of celebrity boxing matches, as well as an emotional tone. Credit to Logan Paul for making the whole prospect not seem weird and desperate anymore.

6. Dustin Diamond vs. Ron Palillo

Speaking of sad, was anything sadder than watching Saved by the Bell’s Screech (Dustin Diamond) duke it out in his terrible fights? We lost Dustin sadly only recently, but it was very depressing to watch him struggle throughout the 2000s after being one of the 1990s most likeable stars.

5. Paula Jones vs. Tonya Harding

I, Tonya has thankfully made us rethink Tonya Harding completely, which makes re-watching her fight against Paula Jones all the more fascinating as we’re invested in her as a figure and a character. Say what you will about the boxing technique here, the woman had heart and soul for days within that ring.

4. Kim Kardashian vs. Tamara Frapasella

In this iconic bout between two of the greatest heavyweights to ever do it, the sport truly hit its peak.

3. Todd Bridges vs. Vanilla Ice

I’m going to tell a story here because I don’t know if I’ll ever have another opportunity to do so. One time a friend of mine was with his father at the airport in Tampa, Florida, and thought he saw “Ice Ice Baby” rapper Vanilla Ice walk by.

“Dad! I swear I just saw Vanilla Ice!” he exclaimed.

His dad did not believe him.

“He was here!” he insisted.

“I don’t see him anywhere. I don’t believe you saw him. If he’s supposedly here, where is he?” his dad asked.

Suddenly the two heard a voice growl as if from nowhere.

“The Ice is right behind you,” said Vanilla Ice.

Anyways, this fight was bad.

2. Shaq vs. Oscar De La Hoya

Shaq is still living out his dream of trying out random things for fun, but if you’re going to watch a Shaq match, watch his AEW wrestling match against Cody Rhodes and skip this sad fight in which Shaq holds back to keep from killing the champ.

1. Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul

There was no official winner in this exhibition, but the real loser was us the viewer, who had to sit through two dudes hugging, land lazy punches, hold back clearly deliberately, and run out the clock in an extremely boring fashion for what seemed like hours. They got what they wanted, attention and money, but the question is how many times we can keep falling for this. Probably a lot, as these sorts of fights, in true carnival style, never lose their allure.