Last week in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Jr. once again cinched the World Boxing Council (WBC) Welterweight belt in a bout that was touted as one of the biggest in the history of the sport. And even though Mayweather is estimated to be the highest paid athlete in sports today, he rarely has sponsorships. But days before Mayweather bested his opponent Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand, he announced that he would be wearing the Hublot logo on his trunks during the fight.
Mayweather is nearly as well known for his affinity for watches as he is boxing. On Instagram, he is famous for flaunting pictures of his Frank Mullers and Jacob & Cos. His tastes run more to big, customized, blinged out timepieces. So it’s appropriate that, to mark the occasion of the partnership and the fight itself, Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe presented Mayweather with a King Power WBC Full Pavé with Emeralds.
King Power WBC Full Pavé with Emeralds
This one-of-a-kind watch is a reboot of Hublot’s 2012 WBC Knockout King Power. That series consisted of 12 unique watches dedicated and signed by 12 different boxing legends, those timepieces were auctioned off and raised over $1 million for the charitable initiatives of the WBC. This model is also unique for three reasons: Unlike the rest of the King Power Chrono collection, it does not having a skeletonized dial. The gold case and green alligator strap evokes the WBC’s championship belt. And Mayweather’s version has a 48 mm 18k gold case is covered with 248 diamonds while the bezel is studded with baguette-cut emeralds.
While Hublot has a history with boxing, Mayweather is still a controversial choice for a partnership. On one hand, one can’t deny the excitement and attention he has brought to the sport, or his business acumen (there’s a reason his nickname is “Money”). On the other hand, he is not the most universally loved athlete of our time. Still, Hublot is famous for championing sports that more conservative watch brands have ignored, and that strategy has paid off.
Mayweather’s watch may not be to everybody’s taste, but like the fighter himself, it is unapologetic and uncompromising.
