Floyd Mayweather v Conor McGregor: Ahead Of The $600M Fight

Conor McGregor claimed he has never seen Floyd Mayweather in worse physical shape as the pair exchanged words at a raucous weigh-in in Las Vegas.

McGregor weighed in at 153lbs for Saturday’s 154lb fight, with Mayweather 149.5lbs, before a face-off that drew roars from the thousands in attendance.

McGregor screamed in the face of his rival and paraded around the stage as Mayweather cut a reserved figure.

“He looks blown out, full of water,” said McGregor, 29.

“That’s the worst shape I’ve ever seen him in. I am going to breeze through him, trust me.”

The build-up to the fight at the T-Mobile Arena has at times resembled a soap opera but finally, at about 04:00 BST on Sunday, they will at last fight.

Mayweather, who at the age of 40 has come out of retirement for a 50th and final bout, said: “I know what it takes when it’s a fight of this magnitude.

“Weight doesn’t win fights, fighting wins fights. It won’t go the distance, mark my words. This will be Conor McGregor’s last fight also.”

Some in Las Vegas thought McGregor’s more conservative performance at Wednesday’s final news conference intimated he might be coming to terms with the realities of making his boxing debut against one of the greatest fighters of his generation.

But playing to a crowd filled with Irish colours and songs, he revelled in his reception – and in the boos for Mayweather – beating his chest and screaming repeatedly.

“Look at me, I am in peak physical condition,” he said, adding he would weigh close to 170lbs on fight night.

Record numbers?

Many from within boxing have rubbished the match, choosing to refer to it as an “event” rather than a fight. But the dissatisfaction of the boxing purist looks unlikely to affect the mass audience, with the bout being screened in more than 220 countries, according to Showtime executive vice-president Stephen Espinoza.

That global reach could see the record of 4.6 million pay-per-view buys – set when Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 – beaten.

Watching the fight costs a minimum of £20 in the UK but about £75 in the US. This, added to ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorship, makes for a healthy pot. Tickets are also on sale to watch in bars on the Las Vegas strip, while more than 400 cinemas across the US will broadcast the event.

There will also be live commentary from Las Vegas on BBC Radio 5 live and the BBC Sport website and app.

It all means more than $600m (£466m) could be generated, with the reported $620m haul from Pacquiao-Mayweather in sight. Mayweather is expected to make about $300m, McGregor $100m.

Mayweather dominance – in stats

There have been reports ‘Money Man’ has not taken McGregor seriously. This week, 5 live boxing analyst Steve Bunce said only a “cocktail of age setting in and underestimation of his opponent” could pose any danger to the favourite.

Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr, this week said his son had lost “a lot” of his ability since retiring in 2015. But a 50th career win from 50 fights would carry his son past the late Rocky Marciano’s perfect 49-fight record, rounding off a dominant professional career that began after he won bronze at the 1996 Olympics.

Mayweather has boxed 387 professional rounds, McGregor none.

26 of Mayweather’s 49 wins were on points but in 23 of those wins he was given the decision unanimously.

Mayweather has been knocked down once in his career. He took an eight count against Carlos Hernandez in 2001.

The odds

Betting markets have bemused those who give McGregor no hope as his price has shortened in recent weeks. At about 10-3, the boxing debutant is actually a shorter price than many of the fighters Mayweather dealt with before retiring in 2015.

Las Vegas is expecting more than 1,300 private jets to land before for the weekend’s action, and the high rollers who hit the city’s famous strip traditionally bet big on Mayweather in his home city.

“If we continue as we are, we will rival the $50m record staked in the state of Nevada, set when Mayweather beat Pacquiao,” said Jay Rood, who runs the sportsbook at the MGM Grand.

“If we get a bad result, which for us is McGregor knocking Floyd out in the first four rounds, we could lose about $20m – by far the worst boxing result in the state’s history.”

Closer to home, one Irish bookmaker claims an individual has placed £650,000 on McGregor in a bid to win £2.8m. Mayweather, meanwhile, has said he will tweet a picture of his betting slip when he bets on himself.

BBC