Why I’ll be front and centre for McGregor fight

O I’m having my regular haircut at the local Turkish barber this weekend, when a mouthy pre-teen plonks himself in the next chair and barks: “Gimme a McGregor!” Now, it’s a well-known fact that the barber isn’t fluent in the vernacular, but he knew exactly what the youngster wanted. Such is the cultural reach of Ireland’s biggest sportsman when every kid wants to copy his blade style. Love him or hate him, Conor McGregor (right) is probably the biggest sporting hero Ireland has ever produced – and he’s only getting started. Win or lose against Floyd Mayweather, the Crumlin legend has earned his chair at the high table of Irish greats – not to mention the handy $100m nestling in his back pocket. But while his punches are already proven world-beaters, it’s really his verbal showmanship that has earned him the biggest knockouts. “I don’t feel pressure in a negative way, I like pressure. No pressure, no diamonds.” Was the yawning gap between ambition and achievement ever so eloquently put? And how about this piece of advice for any youngster about to lace his or her boots for the game of life: “Success is never final, just as failure is never fatal – you just keep going. I’m going to the stars and then past them.” In a world of empty bombast and hollow bluster, The Notorious brings it home on time, every time.

And being the true blue Dub that he is, the throwaway quips are only deadly. A few weeks back, he dropped a high six-figure sum on a new speedboat – and promptly christened it ‘188’ in honour of the weekly payment he once collected on the dole. “Living comfortable on the 188,” pretty much said it all.

Will I be staying up to watch the fight next Saturday night? Front and centre, roaring at the screen. C’mon, you good thing! S