Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Offers Franchise Options

It was back in August of 2017 that VRFocus first reported on the work that former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather was doing in order to create a new series of boxing and fitness centres, which would include virtual reality (VR) training from the man himself. Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is now available as a franchise option.

Mayweather Boxing + Fitness has been working with franchise development company The Franchise Maker, who helped the Mayweather brand through the franchising process, which will provide options for existing fitness-related businesses to convert into a Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Centre.

Floyd Mayweather

“The Franchise Maker has been instrumental in getting our franchise program approved to franchise so quickly,” says James Williams, CEO of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. “Dave (of The Franchise Maker) has been an integral partner in the development of our FDD, and guided us through the franchising process with diligence, skill and a true passion for the long-term success of our brand.”

Part of the experience for customers of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness is the opportunity to use VR technology to come face-to-face with Mayweather, who will act as a virtual trainer in order to teach customers boxing combinations and lead them through an intense, but fun cardio workout.

In addition, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness studios offer class-based boxing and fitness workout programs, along with one-on-one training, all of which use wearable technology for heart-rate performance monitoring.

Franchises will be offered to qualified individuals, with options for existing businesses or new start-up businesses for a low franchise fee. Mayweather will be waiving the entire franchise fee to help existing fitness-related business owners convert into a Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Studio.

Further information on Mayweather Boxing + Fitness can be found on the official website. Future coverage of businesses making use of VR technology will be here on VRFocus.

January 13, 2018

This Week in VR Sport: Live VR Sports Streaming and Floyd Mayweather’s VR Training

The world of sport just can’t get enough of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Sports are usually the first to adapt to new technologies, and broadcasters all over the world are jumping on the VR streaming bandwagon, as you’ll read below.

But VR isn’t just good for viewing sport, as Floyd Mayweather’s boxing and fitness gyms reveal VR training, which we’ve gone into more detail about below.

The adoption of the technology is definitely exciting, and we are of course seeing brand new announcements every week. For more sports news, read on below…

Virtex Arena Brings AR to the Super Bowl

During the downtime between plays, it’s easy to get impatient. Heck, you want to see your team toss around the old pig skin, not wait for them to slowly get into position. If you’re sick of waiting around when watching your favourite game of good old American Football, then the Virtex Arena app just might be for you.

The Virtex Arena app allows you to play a small football kicking videogame which you can play simultaneously with other impatient fans. The AR videogame takes place on the actual field, and the app adjusts according to where you are in the stadium. Users can also play the game at home, of course!

The app also keeps you updated on scores and who’s winning, to keep players engaged in both games going on.

Floyd Mayweather’s Gyms Reveal VR Training

Floyd Mayweather

Displayed at CES 2018, Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather’s latest venture is a VR Training program to assist those who can’t quite make it out to the gym.

Mayweather’s new gym chain is opening up in Los Angeles, the VR training program spans a full twelve week program of sessions which feature the man himself as your coach and personal trainer.

“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,” explains Mayweather. “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 app uses a HTC Vive headset and controllers, and we hope we can get something similar on our home VR devices soon.

NBC to Live-Stream 2018 Winter Olympics in VR

For the very first time you’ll be able to view the Olympics live in VR in the US. This year, the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea will be streamed live to VR viewers in the US.

This is the very first time the Winter Olympics has been recorded in VR. In 2016, NBC did make available over 85 hours of VR content for the Rio Olympics, but most of that delayed by a day, instead of live streamed.

Americans interested will have to be NBC subscribers, mind. Not everything in life is free!

Powered by Intel True VR, users will be able look around stadiums in 360-degrees, and you’ll be able to watch VR replays of all previously streamed events during the games.

Variety reports that the VR schedule will include the opening ceremony, closing ceremony, alpine skiing, curling, snowboarding, figure skating and more.

“The Olympics have long been an opportunity to showcase emerging media technology,” Gary Zenkel, president of NBC Olympics, said in a statement. “With the help of Intel’s industry-leading virtual reality technology, NBC Olympics will deliver a transformative experience that will bring to Olympic fans an entirely new perspective on the speed, thrills, and excitement of an Olympic Winter Games.”

There’s lots of exciting things happening in the sporting world, for all of the latest on sports in VR or AR, make sure to keep reading VRFocus.

January 9, 2018

Floyd Mayweather’s Boxing + Fitness Gyms Reveals VR Training

It was back in August last year that we first brought you details of the connection between former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather and virtual reality (VR) with the then announcement that Mayweather was planning to open up several gyms and fitness centres, as well as that he was planing the launch of a Mayweather Boxing & Fitness VR experience that would, it was said, allow people at home to follow along with Mayweather’s workout routine. Allowing you to feel the burn alongside “Money” Mayweather himself.

The VR experience and its accompanying mobile app, were to be part of an initiative to maximise the number of people who could access a high-quality training experience and also be assistance to those who do not have access to traditional gyms, for whatever reason. Today that proposal has become a reality, and it has become so at the 2018 edition of the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Coming to Mayweather Boxing + Fitness locations individual users will be able to virtually train one-on-one with the undisputed champion.

Available at Mayweather Boxing + Fitness tech-enabled gym locations, the flagship location of which will be opening later this month in Los Angeles, the virtual workout is just one mere session but spans a full twelve week program of sessions which feature Mayweather as your coach. These are in addition to the standard boxing workouts available at the gyms.

“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,” explains Mayweather, who will be demonstrating the app at a press event later today and even challenging some of the press to see if they’ve got what it takes to be a boxer. “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.”

Mayweather will be joined at the event by James Williams, the CEO of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness. Speaking on the launch he said, “The fitness industry is evolving quickly, and consumers are increasingly demanding more effective ways to train, many of which incorporate new forms of technology. 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.”

The VR fitness program covers a variety of workouts that will increase in difficult as the weeks progress, provides both high intensity cardio training and boxing skill-based workouts with the headset, an HTC Vive and its controllers, tracking movements and allowing the calculation of punch intensity and tracking the number of calories burned.

VRFocus will be bringing you more details on the VR training on offer as we get them. For more stories about VR, sport and fitness check out most recent edition of This Week In VR Sport.