Floyd Mayweather’s UK debut in front of an empty arena has been met with criticism from fans and the media alike. The boxing legend was set to make his first appearance in the UK in a decade, but the event was marred by a ticketing disaster that left the arena almost completely empty.
The fight, which was held at the SSE Arena in Wembley, was billed as a “once in a lifetime” event, with tickets ranging from £50 to £1,000. However, it appears that the tickets were not sold in sufficient numbers, with the arena only half full on the night.
The event was widely criticised by fans, who took to social media to express their disappointment. Many accused Mayweather of not doing enough to promote the event, while others suggested that the ticket prices were too high.
In response to the criticism, Mayweather has insisted that he did everything he could to promote the event. He also claimed that he was not to blame for the ticketing disaster, saying: “I don’t point fingers. I don’t blame anyone.”
However, Mayweather’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has admitted that the ticketing process was “not ideal”. He also suggested that the event was not promoted as well as it could have been, saying: “We could have done more.”
The event was also criticised by the British Boxing Board of Control, who said that they were “disappointed” with the turnout. They also said that they would be investigating the matter to ensure that similar issues do not occur in the future.
Despite the ticketing disaster, Mayweather’s UK debut was still a success. He defeated his opponent, Tomer Shalom, in the first round, and was met with a standing ovation from the few fans who were in attendance.
It remains to be seen whether Mayweather will return to the UK in the future, but it is clear that the ticketing disaster has left a sour taste in the mouths of many fans.