Floyd Mayweather speaks to the media during the press conference after the 12-round Undisputed Super Middleweight World Title main-event bout at Premier Boxing Champions, Canelo vs Charlo. at T-Mobile Arena on Sept. 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo: Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect
Boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather will donate $100,000 to United Hatzalah of Israel for the organization to purchase 100 bulletproof vests to keep volunteers safe amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Eli Beer, the president and founder of United Hatzalah, made the announcement on stage at the “United for Life” Sukkot concert that the organization held on Monday night in Jerusalem. Beer displayed on a screen at the event a text message Mayweather sent, sharing his desire to make the donation. In the message, Mayweather wrote, “90 seconds to save another human being in need is almost the amount of time it takes me to win in the ring. Eli, I love the work that you and Hatzallah [sic] does and it was great visiting you in Israel. I’ll be back soon.”
United Hatzalah provides emergency medical services across Israel in an average response time of three minutes or less and often in less than 90 seconds, according to its website.
Mayweather was one of the first outside of Israel to provide resources and supplies to the country following the deadly Hamas massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Shortly after the attack, the 15-time boxing champion sent his private jet to Israel to deliver medical equipment, food, and other items, including bulletproof vests for soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.
In March, he visited United Hatzalah’s headquarters in Jerusalem, where he met and spoke with United Hatzalah volunteers and learned more about the organization’s lifesaving work. He also blew out candles on a birthday cake made in honor of the 36th birthday of United Hatzalah volunteer Dolev Yehud. The 35-year-old, who volunteered as an EMT with United Hatzalah, went to save lives on Oct. 7 and was initially thought to be taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.
“I know what it means to be a father; I’m a huge fan of my dear father and I pray every day for peace to come and for the return of Dolev to his dear children,” Mayweather said.
In June, Yehud was declared dead after his body was identified in Israel.
Also during his trip to Israel in March, Mayweather toured the Magen David Adom blood bank in Ramla and dedicated a fleet of MDA medicycles, called “The Floyd Fleet.”
