As the rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and John Gotti III draws near, the question on many boxing fans’ minds is whether the high drama that played out in their last encounter will resurface. Even for an exhibition fight, their last year’s duel in June remains an unforgettable feature. The chaotic scenes that unfolded after referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight; Gotti III quickly charged on Mayweather Jr., followed by the team members who turned the squared circle into a wild rumble. As if that were not enough, the whole FLA Live Arena turned into a battlefield. Sporadic fights erupted everywhere, especially backstage.

One can only sympathize with the security personnel who had a tough time reigning in the brawling crowd. So when the announcement for the rematch came, the images from that frenzied night once again emerged. This time, the fight is taking place outside the country, in Mexico City, a first for both protagonists. While the card looks promising, concerns about security remain paramount. However, in a detailed interview, John Gotti III and his father provided some insight into the measures being taken to prevent a repeat of last year’s incident.

Safety First: John Gotti III vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. 2

Michael McCarthy, aka ‘Large’ from Barstool Sports, joined John Gotti III at a Long Island Gym. The latter’s father, John Gotti Jr., the son of the late John Gotti, who once headed the Gambino crime family in New York, also joined. ‘Large’ asked the million-dollar question, “What are you going to do to keep him safe in Mexico? What are we going to do to keep it safe and get this thing to eight rounds unless he would knock him out quicker, right, I mean?”

Gotti Jr. confirmed his understanding that ‘Large’ was asking this question in relation to last year’s happening. So he shared a few details of the Mexican regulations. According to it, for every 25 members of the audience, a minimum of one security guard has to be installed. This is applicable to all venues. Hence, in a way, that alleviates some of his concerns. “So [for] a venue of this magnitude, of this size, you’re going to have to have 600 security personnel,” he said.

Calling themselves ‘street guys’, John Gotti Jr. shared that they are well capable of handling themselves in untoward situations. However, he is deeply concerned about the fans and those who come with their families. He emphasized, “We’re going to talk about [it], and they’re going to readdress the security issues [and] explain to us what we’re going to have all laid out, so we’re going to have a visual of it all the security passes. I spoke about those access passes. Uh, we’re going to have those tamed under control. They’re getting 10; we’re getting 10; they’re getting eight; we’re getting eight.”

However, there will be a ceiling on security passes. “We told them what happened in Miami, Florida, cannot happen ever again,” concluded John Gotti Jr.

The Rematch Roller-coaster

The talks for a rematch actually commenced last year itself. Earlier this year, rumors emerged that Mayweather Jr. might pursue a rematch with old rival Manny Pacquiao. As the months passed, news came that he would face another old foe, Victor Ortiz. Incidentally, the event will play host to another exhibition match featuring Ortiz, who returns to the ring after a two-year break.

As the dust cleared, it was confirmed that the rematch would happen against John Gotti III. In a separate interview, John Gotti’s grandson spoke in detail about his preparations. He revealed that the time since their last fight gave him a much-needed breather to reflect. On August 24, he aims to make a lasting impact.

The question remains: after a year-long break, has John Gotti III learned enough to hand one of boxing’s greatest his first-ever defeat?