Conor, Floyd on the money
CONOR McGregor v Floyd Mayweather is ON, with a date, venue and fight rules named, plus confirmation from both fighters on social media and multiple US media reports.
August 27 ( AEST) is the date, while T- Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will be the venue.
McGregor’s social media post amounted to the first post- announcement swipe from either fighter – it pictures Floyd Mayweather Sr rather than the champion “Money”.
The fight will be boxing rules, 12 three- minute rounds at 154 pounds with 10- ounce gloves, sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Mayweather Promotions will be the lead promoter for the entirely boxing card, and TV network Showtime will air the megafight on pay- perview.
It also gives Mayweather ( 49- 0) the chance to reach 50 professional wins unbeaten. It is McGregor’s first boxing match ( 21- 3 MMA).
McGregor, who negotiated in conjunction with the UFC, is in line for easily the biggest payday of his career while Mayweather will bank another monster earn in a blockbuster expected to reap hundreds of millions of dollars.
Mayweather wanted no less than $ 100 million, while McGregor will also take a massive slice but will also be making money for the UFC.
UFC president Dana White, who made the bout in negotiations with McGregor, Mayweather and “Money’s” longtime adviser Al Haymon, said the deal went smoothly despite being touted as a nightmare.
“Negotiations went smooth, Floyd is surrounded by some smart people and we got this thing done. The impossible deal is now done,” White told ESPN’s SportsCenter.
“It will be in a ring, it’s a boxing event. Mayweather Promotions will build the undercard for it.
“Conor McGregor is a guy who’s done a lot of good things over here ( UFC), for the sport and for this company. He wanted this and obviously the fans wanted it too.
“Not only for him – at the end of the day, my job is to make fights that the fans want to see.”
White said McGregor would not be totally outmatched by Mayweather, despite having never fought in a professional boxing match.
“I talked to Conor McGregor this morning ... he is absolutely 100 per cent positive that he wins this fight,” White said.
“Floyd Mayweather’s 40 years old, he’s always had problems with southpaws. Conor McGregor is 27 years old ( 28), he is a southpaw and whenever Conor hits people, they fall.”