Floyd Mayweather Faces Felony Charges Over $200K Watch

Former five-division boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather, 49, is facing two felony charges in Las Vegas. Clark County prosecutors allege he passed a bad check to buy a $200,000 luxury watch from a Las Vegas resale boutique. Mayweather retired with a perfect 50-0 professional record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. The charges come as he prepares to return to action, with an exhibition bout scheduled for June 27 in Athens, Greece, against kickboxer Mike Zambidis.

$200,000 Bad Check at Gold and Beyond Sparks Charges

The criminal complaint, filed on April 27, centers on a December 2024 transaction at Gold and Beyond, a high-end Las Vegas resale store. Prosecutors allege Mayweather wrote a $200,000 check from a Wells Fargo Bank account to buy an Audemars Piguet watch on New Year's Eve 2024. ESPN obtained a copy of a receipt for the watch, dated December 25, 2024, though the check itself was reportedly dated December 31. The complaint claims Mayweather had insufficient funds in his account and knowingly wrote the check despite knowing it would not be paid. His official charges are "theft, value $100,000 or greater" and "draw or pass check with intent to defraud, value $1,200 or greater."

Marc Cook, an attorney representing Gold and Beyond, said his client filed the complaint in February after months of trying to recover the money. "The reason for the delay is that my guy trusted Mayweather and was trying to give him every opportunity to make good on that," Cook added that the situation reached a point where his client received neither responses nor payment for a watch Mayweather had held for well over a year.

Mayweather Skips Court, Could Face Years in Prison

Mayweather did not appear in person for his initial hearing in the Las Vegas Justice Court on Monday. His attorney appeared on his behalf, fulfilling a court order issued three days after the April 27 complaint. A full case hearing is scheduled for September. If convicted of the fraud charge, Mayweather faces one to four years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, and restitution costs. A felony theft conviction carries a heavier penalty, with 1 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $15,000. Neither Mayweather's attorney nor the Clark County District Attorney's Office offered immediate comment on the charges.

Mounting Debts and Lawsuits Despite $1 Billion Career

The felony charges are the latest in a growing list of legal and financial disputes surrounding Mayweather. Civil cases in at least four states allege he owes money to various plaintiffs. The IRS holds a tax lien of more than $7.2 million against him for unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2023. A Las Vegas-area gated community also filed a separate lien of over $22,500. Earlier this year, Mayweather sued Showtime for $340 million and filed a separate $175 million lawsuit against former business associates, alleging fraud in both cases.

The legal troubles stand in contrast to a career that generated an estimated $1.16 billion since he turned pro in 1996.

Sportico places him 10th among the highest-paid athletes of all time, with inflation-adjusted career earnings of $1.57 billion. Mayweather pocketed a record $275 million for his 2017 bout against Conor McGregor. Despite his legal battles, a source close to Mayweather told ESPN that he still has his passport and is expected to travel to Greece for the June 27 exhibition.