The annual ESPYS Awards, honoring the best in sports, are always a highlight for fans and athletes alike. However, one particular moment from the 2014 ceremony has stood out as a true highlight – Maria Sharapova’s hilarious interaction with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.
The organizers of the event decided to pair the 6’2″ tennis star Sharapova with the 5’8″ Mayweather to present the award for “Best Game.” The height difference between the two was immediately apparent, and Sharapova didn’t hesitate to poke fun at the situation.
As Mayweather stood beside the towering Sharapova, she couldn’t resist taking a playful jab at “Money” Mayweather’s stature. “Americans love their award shows, and last night’s [ESPYS] was to honor the sporting heroes of ‘Murica in the last 12 months,” the news source reported. “The thing about that is Sharapova is a 6’2″ leggy tennis player and Mayweather is a 5’8″ stocky boxer, so there’s a bit of a mismatch in terms of height.”
Sharapova’s comedic timing was on point, as she didn’t shy away from “taking the piss out of ‘Money'” Mayweather. The news source noted that “poor Floyd got absolutely lost beside Maria, who wasn’t shy in taking the piss out of him.”
While Mayweather is undoubtedly one of the greatest boxers of all time, he seemed to be a bit out of his element standing next to the statuesque Sharapova. The contrast in their physical statures made for a truly memorable moment that had fans and viewers alike in stitches.
In the end, no ESPYS moment from that year, or perhaps any other, will be as iconic as Sharapova’s playful jabs at Mayweather’s height. It was a true display of sports stars coming in all shapes and sizes, and Sharapova proved that she’s not just a dominant force on the tennis court, but also a quick-witted and comedic presence off of it.
