Floyd “Money” Mayweather walked out of the boxing ring quickly and, in his view, permanently, after defeating Conor McGregor Saturday night in 10 rounds via technical knockout.
Now, his attention turns to a different venture: a worldwide fitness empire. According to a press release, Mayweather is launching a franchised gym called Mayweather Boxing and Fitness, with the first location (which will be in Southern California) set to open this fall.
The new fitness chain is inspired by Mayweather’s belief that everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status, should have access to a top-tier fitness center with innovative fitness options.
“My whole life has been about boxing and about fitness, and now I’m taking everything I developed and bringing it into the fitness market,” Mayweather said in a statement. “Our fitness experience will have programs for kids, parents and aspiring athletes — anyone who’s looking to put energy into something positive. The training programs will be the best in the industry, all based on my own workout routines; and they’ll be accessible to all, including communities that don’t currently have these kinds of facilities available.”
While Mayweather plans to launch 500 physical gym locations, according to Forbes, his fitness franchise will also involve a mobile app and — with sights toward those who don’t necessarily have time to hit the gym — a virtual reality program. Both the app and the VR program will feature Mayweather as the trainer; through these offerings, he will reveal his training methodology, the press release said.
Get The Latest Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
The app and virtual reality experience are not available yet, but should be available in September, the Forbes article said. As for physical locations, Mayweather and his company will likely buy up and rename existing facilities rather than construct new gyms; the company has plans for 200 in the next two years, with the goal of 500 in five years, Forbes said.
Mayweather will be the chairman of and majority shareholder in the company, overseeing a team that includes CEO James Williams, who has built a career consulting athletes on business ventures and spent nine years at “Big Three” consultancy Bain and Co. Mike Melby, who will serve as an executive director, is known for taking UFC Gyms from six locations in the U.S. to 250 around the world.
“We’ve seen a shift in the fitness industry, in that the average consumer is seeking access to the same training that elite athletes have available to them; and more studios and gyms are now dedicated to a specific discipline,” Williams said in a statement. “Within those offerings, boxing fitness is a highly popular and extremely effective workout. We are excited to cater to this demand all over the world and be a meaningful part of the next-generation fitness experience; all under the banner and guidance of the most dominant boxer of all time.”
Forbes reported the gym could cost consumers up to $140 per month, with more affordable pricing in lower-income areas.