Floyd Mayweather 'could be banned from going to Australia'

Mayweather's extraordinary career has seen him become the best-paid sportsman in the world, despite several convictions for battery and domestic violence - one of which saw him jailed, in 2012.

His horrendous behaviour towards women could mean that he misses out on the chance to cash in on his fame Down Under in a series of planned dinner appearances, beginning next week.

In December 2011 the WBC, WBA and The Ring welterweight champion was sentenced to 90 days in jail for misdemeanour battery, and served the time between June and August 2012. The incident for which he was jailed saw him twist the arm and pull the hair of former girlfriend Josie Harris as two of their three children looked on.

Under Australian law his convictions mean that his visa application must be approved by the country's immigration minister, Peter Dutton - and while he had hoped that would be a formality, a petition asking Dutton to deny the visa has already attracted over 35,000 signatures.

[REPORT: ]

"His assaults are sickening to read about," reads the petition on change.org.

"He's alleged to have slammed a car door on a woman, then repeatedly punched her in the backseat. And he still seems completely without regret – cockily saying to journalists after one incident 'there are no pictures'...

"Allowing a chronic perpetrator of violence like Floyd Mayweather to visit Australia sends a terrifying message – that vicious, repeat abuse isn't serious.

"It says if that if you're high-profile and successful enough the abuse doesn't matter. That it can be swept under the carpet. That's just wrong."

[REPORT: ]

Mayweather's tour comes a few months before his long-awaited 'super fight' against Manny Pacquiao - which is expected to take place on May 2.

His promoter in Australia, Max Markson, has defended his man's conduct.

"He is no danger or threat to Australian society and is bringing his 14-year-old daughter and her mother along," Markson said in quotes cited by the Daily Mail.

"He hasn't offended for almost four or five years and has become a bigger star in terms of boxing, in fact he's the highest paid sports star in the world."

Markson added that Mayweather will confirm his participation in the Pacquiao fight while in Australia - and that the subsequent publicity for the nation should persuade Dutton to allow the visa application.