On the opening day of the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, retired boxer Floyd Mayweather took the stage to unveil one of the key components of his first-ever boxing club: virtual reality.
The Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Virtual Reality program features Mayweather as a virtual boxing coach, leading participants through a 12-week-long, cardio- and skill-based training experience. The program will be available at "tech-enabled" Mayweather Boxing + Fitness locations, the first of which opens Jan. 27 on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, according to a Jan. 9 media release.
"Boxing gave me a platform to become a world-class athlete, and I'm using those skills to build a global fitness platform that will help people to train better and smarter," Mayweather said in the release. "I've seen how the fitness industry has evolved; and now we're taking it to the next level, not only by incorporating the workouts that I used throughout my career, but also by investing in cutting-edge technology and making that a core part of our offering."
The program guides users through new workouts every week, each of which is progressively more challenging. The program's headset device and hand controls monitor a user's speed, punching intensity and total calories burned.
Mayweather and Mayweather Boxing + Fitness CEO James Williams on Jan. 9 held a press event at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas to demo the program.
"The fitness industry is evolving quickly, and consumers are increasingly demanding more effective ways to train, many of which incorporate new forms of technology," Williams said in the release. "With our flagship gym location set to open this month, we're creating a one-of-a-kind fitness experience that combines the most effective programming in the industry with fully immersive tech experiences – all tailored to the everyday fitness consumer."
Additionally, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is launching a mobile app that will feature activity tracking components, at-home workout programs and a exercise class booking system for Mayweather Boxing + Fitness members.
Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is also rolling out a community giveback program called "Gloves Over Guns," according to the release, which provides free mentoring and training services to local youths.