News / Sport
Floyd Mayweather Jnr tour causes outrage
Opposition is mounting as controversial former boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr hopes to bring his one-man show to Bristol.
Next month’s event was due to take place at Ashton Gate but the stadium swiftly cancelled the booking after complaints, leaving organisers to move the evening to the Marriott City Centre hotel next to Cabot Circus.
The boxer-turned-promoter has a string of criminal offences stretching back to 2002, including domestic violence and battery charges against women, for which he has spent time in prison and performed community service.
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In February last year, Mayweather’s appearance at the Colston Hall was cancelled at the last minute.
The appearance at Ashton Gate had been booked by an external promoter but the venue rescinded the booking.
In a statement, Lisa Knights from Bristol Sport said: “It has become clear that allowing an external promoter to use Ashton Gate to host a Floyd Mayweather Jnr event would damage the family-friendly reputation of the stadium and the clubs associated with it.”
An event still looks set to go ahead in Bristol, however. Tickets are on sale but neither the Marriott nor Mayweather’s UK promoter would comment when reached.
A petition has now begun against the event at the Marriott as women’s rights group Bristol Women’s Voice (BWV) said they were hoping that the event would be called off all together.
In a statement, BWV said: “The idolising of a dangerous perpetrator of domestic violence is unacceptable.
“Ashton Gate deciding not to provide a platform for him to speak and sell his image sends a strong message that Bristol will not tolerate domestic abuse and the idiolisation of perpetrators.
“We strongly object to Floyd Mayweather’s event being hosted at any venue in Bristol.”
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