The list of perks demanded by Mayweather for his planned Australian tour - aborted last week - were extravagant enough to make a prima donna like Mariah Carey blush.

Celebrity publicist Max Markson's bid to bring the 37 year old down under meant agreeing to a list of demands that outlined in minute detail everything from his taste in snacks and music, to his personal grooming needs and dislike of paying taxes.

While it is standard for international celebrities to stay in the presidential suite, Mayweather's rooms in Melbourne and Sydney had to be stocked with Cristal champagne and a bottomless supply of gummy bears, M&Ms, fresh fruit and juices.

Despite being bald, the fighter demanded that both hotels have a barber skilled in cutting African-American hair available 24-hours-a-day. He also wanted a butler, chef, makeup artist and a women's hairdresser on call.

Mayweather's 31-person entourage – which included a Miss Universe winner, personal DJs, a mascot, agent, security guards, personal assistant and other assorted hangers-on – required a full floor of rooms.

The promotional tour was supposed to include gala dinners at Crown's Palladium in Melbourne and Darling Island Wharf in Sydney, where fans would pay $200 to $1000 to be in the presence of the 10-time world champion.

But Mayweather reserved the right to refuse to take photographs with anyone other than selected top-paying VIPs. All questions during an audience question-and-answer session would have had to be vetted and approved in advance.

Later in the evening, the nightclubs Studio 3 and The X-Studio would have to turn over the stage to Mayweather's personal DJs – DJ Jaybling and DJ Efeezy - for the entire time he was there.

Any breach of these conditions would have been punishable by a steep fine.

"How can you possibly guarantee you can find a barber like that three in the morning? Because that's exactly when Floyd would ask and there'd be all manner of drama when it didn't happen," a source said. "Also, he's bald, so what was the point?"

Mr Markson's ability to fulfil the wish list was not put to the test. Mayweather's visit was cancelled on Wednesday after his visa application was rejected by the Immigration Department due to his convictions for domestic violence.

The government has declined to comment further on the case. Fairfax Media understands that immigration officials were unimpressed that Mayweather has never publicly expressed remorse for hisconduct.

"They gave a scathing report. It specifically made reference to a interview he'd given where he was dismissive of his history of violence towards women," a source said.

But Mr Markson remains confident that Mayweather will eventually receive a visa. "He's definitely contrite from what I am aware of and he represents no threat to Australia," he said.

The visa denial caps what entertainment industry insiders claim was a disorganised bid to bring the world's highest paid athlete to Australian shores.

Sources say Mayweather's representatives repeatedly changed tour dates, demanded outrageous financial advances and failed to deliver on what was supposed a landmark event.

"His representative said Floyd would finally make the announcement that he was going to fight Manny Pacquiao while he was here. It would have been the biggest thing in the world of boxing," they said. "But it was never guaranteed. It was a tease."

Mayweather's representatives, Total Entertainment Artist Management, did not respond to a request for comment.

Mr Markson said Mayweather was a genuine superstar and that it was "normal" to provide an extensive list of services to celebrities travelling with such a large entourage. "He didn't ask for anything unusual at all."

cvedelago@theage.com.au