Expect heavyweight numbers from Saturday’s bout

LAS VEGAS And now the real fight begins, and Conor McGregor is smart enough to let someone else battle on his behalf.

He’s talking about money. He’s talking about making sure he will get all he deserves after his megamoney matchup against Floyd Mayweather. Not that McGregor doesn’t trust the Mayweather camp in being straight with him — he realizes he needs an advocate to make certain he isn’t being cheated out of the millions that will be coming his way.

“We’ll count the gate … We count the pay per view. We count everything,” McGregor said. “We’ll send the auditors in there like they’re f------ sharks. I’m clearing $100 million for this. There’s lots of sharks in this game — and we’re counting now.”

Despite not being close to a sellout, the live gate was announced as record breaking on Saturday night, US$80 million in all. Those aren’t numbers the promoters can play with: They have to be accounted for through the Nevada State Athletic Commission and numerous taxation bodies in the U.S.

Mayweather Promotions boss Leonard Ellerbe said he expected a pay-per-view record, even though the bout was delayed while problems in California and Florida had to be worked out. The bout was sold in 225 different countries.

“We expect a record,” Ellerbe said.

Mayweather is guaranteed US$100 million for the bout, but said Sunday morning he believes US$300 million will be his payout. That will help him settle the US$29 million he owes the U.S. government in back taxes.

When asked his relationship with McGregor, he was more than pragmatic: “After $300 million, I can’t say I don’t like him. I have to say we’re friends.”

The scorecards from the three ringside judges were hardly kind to McGregor, who trailed 89-81, 89-82 and 87-83.

“I would have liked to seen the final bell,” McGregor said. “I think I deserved that.”