Mayweather, Paul go the distance in exhibition bout

Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul went the distance in their exhibition boxing match Sunday night.

There was no official winner because it wasn't a sanctioned fight. The eight-round main event took place on a Showtime pay-per-view card at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Mayweather would've likely taken home a decision victory in a professional bout with judges as he stayed busier and landed the more effective shots. "Money" edged Paul 43-28 in total strikes, according to the broadcast.

"I had fun," Mayweather said in his postfight interview. "You have to realize, I'm not 21 anymore. But it's good to move around with these young guys, test my skills, just to have some fun."

Mayweather took a patient approach in the opening six minutes but displayed more intensity in rounds three to five. He tagged Paul with damaging body shots and solid left hooks. Paul began tiring in the second half of the bout, and Mayweather possibly could've finished him, but the former world boxing champion seemed content going the distance.

Neither boxer rocked his opponent during the clash. Paul struggled to land any of his punches cleanly.

Afterward, Mayweather called Paul a "great, young fighter" and said he was impressed Paul made it to the final bell.

"He's better than I thought he was," Mayweather said. "As far as with the big guys, the heavyweights, it's going to be kind of hard (for Paul to compete with them). But he's a tough, rough competitor. It was good action. I had fun. I was surprised by him tonight.

"Even though he don't got that much experience, he knew how to use his weight and he knew how to tie me up tonight," Mayweather added.

Paul said postfight he proved "the odds can be beaten" by going the distance with Mayweather.

"This is one of the greatest moments of my life," Paul said.

The YouTube star-turned-boxer admitted he wasn't sure whether Mayweather carried him during the fight, adding he was simply happy he didn't get finished by the boxing legend.

"You never know with this guy," Paul said of Mayweather. "I'm going to go home thinking, 'Yo, did Floyd let me survive?' He’s one of the GOATS, and, in many ways, he controls this sport to the T. That's what makes him great. It's an honor to grace the ring with him.

"This is the coolest thing ever," Paul continued. "I'm happy I made it out. He's tough to hit."

Paul implied he could be interested in a rematch with Mayweather down the road.

"Floyd Mayweather-Logan Paul 2," he said. "I don't know. Let me get a little better. Maybe I can end it next time."

Mayweather wasn't sure if he'll compete in another exhibition after Sunday's match with Paul.

"We don't know what the future holds, but I'll talk it over with my team and see where we go from here," Mayweather said. "You have to realize I've been in this sport for 25 years."

Mayweather returned to the ring for the first time since an exhibition match in December 2018 against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, whom he finished in the first round.

The 44-year-old last competed as a professional boxer against UFC star Conor McGregor in August 2017, after which he announced his retirement from pro competition. A former world champion in five weight classes, Mayweather holds a 50-0 record and is regarded as one of the greatest boxers of his generation.

Paul, who rose to fame in 2013 as an internet personality, competed in his third boxing appearance Sunday. He boasted a significant height and reach advantage over Mayweather, but a massive disadvantage in boxing experience and skill. The 26-year-old fought fellow YouTube star KSI to a draw in an amateur bout in 2018 and then lost a split decision to KSI in his professional debut in 2019.