McGregor capable of shocking upset?
Brash Irishman, UFC champion stepping into ring for 1st time tonight
LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor has already won.
Even if the loquacious Irishman takes the one-sided beating that most expect him to receive from Floyd Mayweather in the boxing spectacle of the summer, the UFC champion has earned life-changing wealth simply by getting into the Vegas ring.
Getting knocked out wouldn’t change that the most famous man in mixed martial arts would still have an unprecedented perch as a powerful player in two combat sports.
UFC President Dana White puts it succinctly: “Conor can do whatever Conor wants to do with his life after this. Everything is possible. He’s the unicorn.”
McGregor seems constantly mindful of the enormity of what he has achieved simply by making this showdown happen, and it fills him with glee.
With no competitive boxing experience since adolescence, McGregor managed to talk his way into a pay-per-view fight with Mayweather, the unbeaten champ in the final bout of a perfect 21-year career.
A fight that started as a barstool argument and then turned into a social media phenomenon has improbably evolved into a real, actual sporting event that will create untold millions in wealth, much of it going into the fighters’ pockets.
There’s no telling just how much it will be yet, but McGregor is widely expected to make between $75 million and $150 million — depending on pay-per-view sales.
“It’s absolutely amazing to be involved in it,” said McGregor, whose cocky public veneer often gets lowered in private. “I’m very grateful. The city of Las Vegas is going to benefit massively from it, as is (Mayweather).
“Everyone involved, we’re all living good. Life is so good, and I’m grateful.”
Sure, an embarrassing loss would hurt McGregor’s pride, and a brutal knockout could be physically damaging.
But if he loses, he’ll have plenty of time for healing and strategizing on his new 100-foot yacht in Ibiza starting next week.
“I’m already at that Forever Money stage,” McGregor said. “The fact of the matter is I don’t have to worry about money. My focus is simply on using this opportunity to its fullest and demonstrating my skills to the world.”
If McGregor beats Mayweather, or even keeps it close, another boxing match could be irresistible.
First things first, McGregor must figure out how to beat Mayweather at his own game — something the best boxers in the world have never done.
Of course the hard-hitting McGregor has a chance — and there are several tactics he could employ to pull the biggest upset in boxing history.
“The people who don’t believe it don’t know anything about fighting,” said White, who admittedly has a slight bias here. “This isn’t going to be a boxing match. This is going to be a fight.”
It’s also a fight between a 29-yearold southpaw in his prime and a 40 1/2-year-old veteran who hasn’t fought in nearly two years.
To stand a chance, McGregor needs to get into Mayweather’s face — both before and during the fight. He needs to charge forward from the opening bell and force Mayweather to think defensively all night.
McGregor certainly needs to throw hundreds of punches from every angle with the goal of setting up the vicious left hand that has turned out the lights on MMA foes.
And if none of that is successful, McGregor could bend the rules to their breaking point in hopes of goading Mayweather into a brawl.
None of it is guaranteed to work. But it’s definitely worth a shot.
If successful, McGregor could end up boxing Paulie Malignaggi, a disgruntled sparring partner.