Former five-division world champion Floyd Mayweather found himself at the center of mob anger in London on Tuesday while shopping at a jewelry store in Hatton Garden, Central London. The incident quickly became viral, with multiple clips circulating online and sparking various theories about what transpired.

According to The Sun, the altercation began when an individual inside the jewelry store approached Mayweather and asked if he supported Israel. Mayweather, who has previously voiced support for the Jewish state amidst its ongoing conflict with the terrorist group Hamas, reportedly responded, “Proud to support the Jews.”

This response allegedly provoked one individual, leading to what an eyewitness described as a physical confrontation. “Someone took a swing at him because of that. It looked very targeted,” the eyewitness reported. “He was bundled out of the shop but by then there were multiple people trying to hit him, and pushing his security guards.”

The eyewitness continued, “Floyd took a few hits during it, but his security was trying to push people back. I couldn’t really see Floyd trying to throw any punches back. His guards were just trying to get distance between him and them. They got him into a car and tapped the roof two times, then it sped off. Clearly they were desperate to get him out of there. It was over within two minutes.”

Mayweather has since addressed the incident, denying reports that he was harmed or hit during the confrontation. Taking to Instagram, he dismissed the rumors as baseless and attributed the situation to envy.

“Let me set the record straight…there’s no truth to the rumors going around. I wasn’t punched or touched in any way,” Mayweather wrote in an Instagram post. “What you’re seeing is just my security doing their job to keep things under control. I was in the UK for a quick 48-hour stop to do some shopping, and unfortunately, people let jealousy and negativity fuel false stories. I’m perfectly fine, and there’s really nothing more to it.”

Though Mayweather chucked the incident up to jealousy, several reports claim his staunch support for the Jewish state amid the ongoing conflict is the main reason. 

Could Floyd Mayweather have been targeted for his support for Israel?

Mayweather had visited Israel multiple times, even referring to it as his “home away from home.” Just days before the incident, the retired boxer launched the Mayweather-Israel Initiative, a program that promised to give birthday presents to every orphaned child in Israel. 

The Sun reported that in February, Mayweather faced a confrontation with a pro-Palestinian activist during a press conference in Las Vegas to promote his new vape brand. His security team confiscated a Palestinian flag from an audience member, leading to loud chants of “Free Palestine.”

Last month, Mayweather visited Israeli troops at a military base, where they shared a barbecue. He also attended a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss Israel’s history.

Reacting to his visit, Mayweather wrote online, “It was an honour to meet with you today. Your strength and courage are unmatched, and your commitment to protecting the Jewish people and citizens of Israel is truly inspiring. Keep using your voice and never back down. This week in Israel has been deeply emotional for me. Visiting injured soldiers, meeting families of fallen heroes, and connecting with the people of Israel has been a humbling experience.”

That being said, it appears Floyd Mayweather seems to have faced the repercussions of his stance on the Israel-Hamas war in the Jewish country. However, the former world champion believes all this was the result of jealousy. What is your take on the matter?