Floyd Mayweather denied visa over family violence convictions

World champion boxer Floyd Mayweather has been blocked from entering the country over his history of violence towards women, ending plans for a two-day promotional tour due to begin on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Mayweather posted a video of himself on a Carribean Island on Tuesday getting a "fish pedicure".
The collapse of the tour is a blow to prominent publicist Max Markson, who could be facing financial losses after booking venues at Crown casino and Darling Island Wharf in Sydney for events on Thursday and Friday nights.
Interstate fans will now have to cancel flights and accommodation booked to attend the gala dinners, which cost $200 to $1000-a-plate or $2000 to $10,000 for a table.
But Mr Markson had said he would contest the decision. "I think there's room in there to appeal and we will be appealing."
Full refunds will be made available for fans who did not want to wait, he added.
Mr Markson has been struggling to keep the tour on track since its original organisers, Mick Gatto and businessman Brian Amatruda, withdrew their support about two weeks ago.
Mayweather was originally booked for dinner and nightclub appearances in Sydney and Melbourne on January 29 and 30 respectively. They were then deferred to February 5 and 6.
Mayweather, who is the highest paid athlete in the world after making US$110 million ($141 million) last year for only two fights, was denied a visa just hours before he was due to fly to Australia via private plane with a 30-person entourage.
The Department of Immigration has been assessing whether the 37-year-old should be allowed into the country despite a series of criminal convictions for domestic violence and assault committed against several women. The department has previously overlooked the criminal past and dubious character of several international celebrities in order to allow them to visit Australia.
Boxer Mike Tyson and rapper Snoop Lion (aka Snoop Dogg) have been granted visas despite convictions for serious crimes including rape, drug possession, and weapons offences.
But last year, then immigration minister Scott Morrison cancelled the visa of notorious "pick-up artist" Julien Blanc in the wake of community outrage over his seminars on how to emotionally manipulate women into sex.
On Tuesday, Mr Markson told Fairfax Media that Mayweather had passed the "character test" and was only waiting for formal approval of his visa.
But the claim has been denied by an  Immigration Department spokesman. "Mr Markson's claim is incorrect. The application is still under consideration," he said.
Mayweather and his 30-person entourage, which includes security personnel, agent, personal assistant, DJs and assorted hangers-on, had less than 30 hours to reach Melbourne for his first event.
Mr Markson had announced the tour would be postponed on Wednesday afternoon.
"Floyd is in Barbados but I have a plane on standby for him in LA. At worst, we'll just have to postpone the events if the visa doesn't come through in time," Markson said.