Mayweather insists his punching power rivals that of McGregor

LAS VEGAS Floyd Mayweather Jr. says it was the first punch of the fight. His promoter thinks it came during the second round.

One shot to the head, and suddenly Manny Pacquiao decided his night might better be spent fighting on the outside.

“I let him know it’s not what you think it is,” Mayweather said. “You’re not just going to run in there. He felt a strength he didn’t expect.”

The knock on Mayweather — and the reason some people give Conor McGregor a chance Saturday night — is that he doesn’t knock out people. Pacquiao never went down either, but Mayweather showed there are other ways to change a fight than putting a fighter on the canvas.

McGregor may find that out early if he goes after Mayweather at the opening bell as expected. The prevailing theory is that McGregor wins the power battle, but there’s more than one fighter with power in this, the most unusual of fights.

“When he gets hit he’s going to find out it’s totally different,” Mayweather said. “The brittle hands, they keep saying that, but when I come across his head he’ll find out that it’s totally different.”

McGregor doesn’t believe that, of course and predicted again Wednesday that the fight would end early with Mayweather on his back.

“I believe one or two rounds, with 8ounce gloves I don’t see him surviving,” McGregor said. “I’m starting to think I’ll toy with him once he goes down.”

Though ticket sales have been tepid, the pay-per-view is expected to be watched by some 50 million people.