Middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather will play in the NBA’s McDonald’s All-Star Celebrity Game Friday night in New Orleans. It’s a part of a boxing hiatus for Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs), which has seen him travel to Arizona, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

The break comes following Mayweather’s 10th-round knockout of Ricky Hatton (43-1, 31 KOs) Dec. 8, 2007. The game will air on ESPN at 7 p.m.

“This is the first real break I have taken in my entire career,” he said. “It feels great to stop, make appearances, talk to kids and at the same time enjoy my time off.  If you think I was good before, wait until I come back from this.”