It's easy to argue that boxing is a theatrical sport. The music, the hype, the bejewelled costumes ... the whole thing is a spectacle, albeit a bloody one.
Rarely is it dubbed a pantomime, though. However, that may be what we get when American vlogger Logan Paul, 25, meets Floyd Mayweather Jr, 43, in the boxing ring in February.
Mayweather announced the fight on his Instagram on Sunday, December 6, saying that he, "the champ", will meet "the maverick" Paul in a "special exhibition" fight on February 20, 2021. The Maverick is Paul's self-assigned nickname.
But who is Logan Paul?
1. Logan Paul has amassed an enormous online following
He has 18.6 million followers on Instagram and 22.6m subscribers on YouTube. In the past, he has said that he wants to "be the biggest entertainer in the world", explaining: "That's my deal. I'll do whatever it takes to get that."
2. He has sparked a number of controversies
In December 2017, Paul uploaded a vlog from Japan's "suicide forest" in Aokigahara at the base of Mount Fuji. The video, part of his Tokyo Adventures series, showed the body of an apparent suicide victim.
Paul removed the video a day later, and issued a written and video apology.
"For my fans who are defending my actions, please don't. I don’t deserve to be defended. My goal with my content is always to entertain; to push the boundaries, to be all-inclusive. In the world I live in, I share almost everything I do. The intent is never to be heartless, cruel, or malicious," he said in his video apology. "Like I said, I made a huge mistake. I don’t expect to be forgiven, I’m just here to apologise."
YouTube announced it was removing Paul's channels from Google Preferred, a programme that allows advertisers to place ads on high-performing videos, 10 days later. He was not banned from the platform at the time, because he did not violate its "three strike" policy.
A year later, YouTube did suspend all advertising on his channels, citing his "pattern of behaviour". This referred to his participation in the Tide Pod challenge, and a number of incidents of animal cruelty, including "jokingly giving [a fish] CPR" and tasering two dead rats.
3. His younger brother is also a vlogger
Paul is brother to Jake Paul, 23, who is also a YouTuber. He has a similarly large following, of 14m Instagram followers and 20.3m YouTube subscribers. However, Jake is now a professional boxer. He turned professional in January this year, with a fight against fellow YouTuber AnEsonGib, whose real name is Ali Al Fakhri, which he won.
4. He has visited Dubai
Paul visited Dubai in November 2017 to speak at a conference. While in the emirate, he visited the Belhasa family's private Fame Park, did a meet-and-greet at The Dubai Mall and hosted a merchandise sale on his Emirates flight.
5. He rose to fame on Vine
While he may now be known for his Instagram and YouTube presence, he rose to fame on Vine, the now defunct video-sharing app.
6. This won't be his first boxing fight
To date, he has a boxing record of 0-1 (zero wins and one loss). Paul started white collar boxing in 2018, and met British YouTuber KSI in the ring twice. He drew the 2018 fight and lost the second in 2019.
At the time, KSI and Paul had a combined 40m subscribers on their YouTube channels. They settled their long-standing grudge in the ring, with the British fighter taking a split decision over his American opponent on the judges' scorecards.
7. He has dabbled in acting
Paul has made guest appearances on TV shows Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Stitchers and Bizaardvark. He also took minor roles in YouTube films The Thinning (2016) and The Thinning: New World Order (2018). His brother played a main role in Bizaardvark in the first and second series.
Paul said in the past: "I want to expand and conquer every platform, every medium as well as pursue entertainment beyond social media – acting, producing and directing."
8. He has released music
He released his debut single 2016 in 2016, and has since followed up with a number of songs, including Help Me Help You, Outta My Hair, No Handlebars and Santa Diss Track. This year he released Going Broke, an Antonio Brown diss track. None of his songs have charted, but Help Me Help You did reach No 5 on the US's Bubbling Under Hot 100.
