Have Phil Ivey and Floyd Mayweather Joined Forces on Twitter?
Two of the biggest names in poker and boxing, Phil Ivey and Floyd Mayweather, appear to be working together to promote each other via Twitter.
Ivey's name has been front page poker news lately, first by winning his third Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge title for AU$2,205,000 ($1,710,854) on Feb. 1, and then with Ivey League squashing rumors about the company seeking external investment of $20 million.
To most boxing enthusiasts, Mayweather is the sport's biggest name, being rated as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world by many sporting news and boxing websites, and topping the Forbes World's Highest-Paid Athletes three years in a row in 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In recent months, a rumored fight between Mayweather and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has made headlines as some of the red-tape that has prevented this fight in the past is reportedly being removed.
Ivey and Mayweather's promotion of each other began on Feb. 6 when Ivey announced on Twitter his excitement for the potential boxing fight of the decade coming closer to fruition.
Hopefully @FloydMayweather @MannyPacquiao can work their deal out today. http://t.co/qomHNXdLmp
— Phil Ivey (@philivey)
Straight after this Tweet, Ivey included Shots, a social media app Mayweather invested $1 million in a Tweet to his 925,000 Twitter followers.
For his part, Mayweather tweeted to his 5.58 million followers on Feb. 15 about Ivey's poker training site, the Ivey League.
Learn how to play poker like @philivey #TMT http://t.co/WWVIFFMgGa
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather)
Ivey's interest in boxing is nothing new as in March 2014, he founded All-In Entertainment LLC, which is a "boxing and entertainment firm representing sports and media interests, the promotion of worldwide entertainment events and orchestrating boxing events."
All-In Entertainment LLC's highest profile boxer is up-and-coming Welterweight boxer Dusty Hernandez Harrison, who is undefeated in 23 bouts including 12 wins by knockout. While Mayweather's interest in poker appears to be financially driven, he has also taken a strong interest in helping Las Vegas become the home of a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, becoming one of the city's residents to commit to purchase season tickets.
Floyd Mayweather, Dana White among those committed to season tickets for Las Vegas NHL club. http://t.co/B3BZAD9pAk http://t.co/lyIyxF6j3D
— theScore (@theScore)
It could be speculated that the drive for hockey in Sin City is one of the reasons Mayweather is cross promoting with Ivey is that many Las Vegas based poker players are promoting the sport coming to town, lead by Daniel Negreanu and Matt Stout.
Props 2 @RealKidPoker on trying to help get the #NHL in #Vegas. Interested in buying/splitting season tix? LMK. NHL wants LV 2 have 10k sold
— Matt Stout (@MattStoutPoker)
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