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. The visa application was denied a few hours later. "The Government takes very seriously its role in protecting the Australian community from the risk of harm by non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct and/or conduct that is of serious concern," Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said. The Mayweather tour has been plagued with problems since it was announced by Markson in mid-January. Fairfax Media first reported that Mayweather could be banned last month.

The famously fickle boxer's schedule changed repeatedly, making it difficult for organisers to sell tickets for two dinners and two nightclub appearances. The problems led backers Mick Gatto and Brian Amatruda to end their involvement as sponsors in the last week of January. Markson, who was originally brought on as a publicist, decided to run the tour on his own. "Floyd's representative kept changing the dates and times, so we pulled out. This isn't something that you can organise in a few days," Mr Gatto said. Fairfax Media understands that Mr Markson was forced to move the Melbourne event from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to Crown's Palladium for financial reasons when the duo withdrew. It is unknown whether Mr Markson paid the boxer's appearance fee in advance, which is usually around $500,000.

The announcement that Mr Markson was planning to bring Floyd Mayweather to Australia also provoked outrage amongst anti-violence campaigners, media personalities, and members of the public. A Change.org petition opposing his visit has so far received more than 46,500 signatures. "He is a thug, a wife basher, a brute and a bully," 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell said on air. "This bloke should not be in the country, and if he is he should be ignored." Other opponents include Sharri Markson, media editor of The Australian and Mr Markson's daughter, who described the boxer as "complete scum" on social media. "I think there's little worse than men who are violent to their partners in front of their children," Ms Markson tweeted last month.