McGregor, Mayweather fi ght turning into traveling circus

The fi ght between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather on August 26 has been described as a farce, so it was apt that the roadshow to promote their bout turned into a traveling circus. Acting more like a pair of professional wrestling buff oons than fi ght champions, the two verbally sparred, spewing profanities and racist and homophobic comments at each other, during four inane promotional events in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and London last week.

The matchup is a little intriguing and primed to sell a lot of pay- per- view orders, but it is a pity that the two demeaned themselves so much to promote the fi ght. Instead of any dignity and respect befi tting two champions in their respective sports, McGregor and May- weather traded juvenile insults and profanity nonstop.

It was a wonder that the two, both master showmen in their respective fi elds of boxing and MMA, refrained from blows during the four events which saw them face off repeatedly. The verbal venom spat out included controversial racial comments from McGregor who told Mayweather to “dance for me, boy” and rubbed his head, and the latter calling the former by a homophobic term and taunting him about “only” earning $ 3 million in his last fi ght.

But yet, one can’t help thinking, despite the supposed sav- agery on display, that these two may be putting on a huge show, especially given Mayweather may earn a stupendous ninefi gure amount for this fi ght.

After all, the actual fi ght is an audacious boxing matchup between an undefeated boxing legend in Mayweather, 40, coming out of retirement to take on McGregor, a MMA champion who has never boxed professionally. The value of the bout will be more for the spectacle of two famous fi gures than the actual fi ghting on display.

Granted the Irishman is taller, bigger and younger, but he will be unable to use most of his MMA skills such as wrestling, kicks and throws. Mayweather built up his undefeated record as a defensive specialist, adept at getting out of the way and nullifying his opponents’ best eff orts while tiring them out. He may very well do that against McGregor, who will likely come out swinging for the quick knockout.

At this point, given all the theatrics and disrespect, the fi ght does not even matter that much. These two may be the biggest names in fi ght sports, but their antics were a sad indictment of the times we live in.

For those who want an actual boxing super fi ght, it would be better to save their attention and wallets for September 16 when undefeated middleweight Gennady Golovkin, known as GGG, will take on Canelo Alvarez.