Fighters trade compliments instead of insults
It’s not going to be an easy fight. There will be blood, sweat and tears [on Sunday]. Kearney happy to retai i
Steve Keating
Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather declared a truce yesterday after weeks of vicious verbal attacks, offering praise instead of profanities at the final media conference ahead of their much anticipated fight.
Since the bout between undefeated boxer Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion McGregor was announced in June, the two men took part in a profanity-laced world tour to hype a contest that has been met with both skepticism and excitement.
The final press conference ahead of the fight on Sunday (NZT), however, was closer to a love-in than a battle field with Mayweather complimenting the man who has questioned everything from his manhood to his fashion sense.
“Conor McGregor had a hell of a career, he’s still got a hell of a career,” Mayweather said. “He’s a hell of a fighter, he’s a stand-up guy, a tough competitor. It’s not going to be an easy fight. There will be blood, sweat and tears [on Sunday].”
McGregor was far less effusive in his compliments but, after months of mercilessly attacking Mayweather, said he welcomed the pause in hostilities.
“There’s been a lot of crazy press conferences, this is a lot more subdued, a lot more business-like, the way I like it . . . sometimes,” said McGregor.
After the two had turned the air blue with profanity during the media tour, Floyd Mayweather Mayweather went yesterday’s entire press conference without swearing.
McGregor could not hold his tongue but saved his venom for a member of Mayweather’s “Money Team” who taunted him from the audience, telling him he was going to be knocked out.
“Not by you, whoever you are,” countered McGregor. “Tell that bitch to
Michael Burgess
Former head coach Andrew McFadden will be re-signed at the Warriors as assistant for another year, though there are likely to be other changes within the coaching structure.
McFadden has been part of Stephen Kearney’s coaching team since September, after being moved aside from the top job following the Warriors’ failure to make the top eight in 2016.
McFadden’s retention raised a few eyebrows, as it is highly unusual in the shut up,” the Irishman growled while looking at Mayweather, who later chastised the member of his team.
The restrained tone of yesterday’s media conference underscored the high stakes of what is expected to be the richest fight in boxing, with McGregor in line for a US$100 million ($138 million) payday and Mayweather as much as US$200 million.
While boxing purists and pundits have denounced the fight as nothing more than a laughable cash grab, it has nonetheless captured the fascination of fans. Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza said the fight, which will be distributed in more than 200 countries, is on track to smash pay per view records. — AAP NRL — and indeed professional sport around the world — for a former head coach to remain involved at a club once he has lost the top job.
Rick Stone, who stayed on at the Newcastle Knights after Wayne Bennett took his job, is one of the few other examples in the NRL.
However, Kearney pronounced himself happy with the arrangement, after the duo talked things over in Brisbane just before the long-time Kiwis boss was unveiled as the new Warriors coach, and indicated that McFadden