The Freeman

Entreprene­ur brothers bet $880T on Mayweather to give winnings to charity

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Gavin and Joe Maloof are so confident Floyd Mayweather Jr. will beat Conor McGregor that they bet $880,000 on it.

And if the Maloof brothers are big winners along with Mayweather on August 26, they are giving the proceeds of their whopping wager to charity.

The wealthy entreprene­urs and former Sacramento Kings owners revealed their extraordin­ary bet to The Associated Press on Sunday (Monday Phl time), two days after they placed the wager at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The bet is thought to be the biggest yet made on the fight, which is expected to be Vegas’ biggest spectacle in recent years.

The Maloofs will make a $160,000 profit if Mayweather — a minus-550 favorite Friday — remains unbeaten against McGregor, the UFC champion making his pro boxing debut.

“I know a family that’s going to be watching this fight very, very closely,” Maloof said with a laugh.

Gavin Maloof told the AP that the family will donate the proceeds to multiple charities in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles, where sister Adrienne Maloof is active in charity work, in the name of Never Too Hungover, their widely distribute­d hangover prevention drink.

“We have a huge opportunit­y to help a lot of people in charities, so we decided to do it,” Gavin Maloof said. “It’s a neat way to enjoy the fight, and it’s a fun way to promote our product.”

Mayweather and Gavin Maloof are longtime neighbors, living down the street from each other in a tony Las Vegas suburb. Gavin went to a recent workout at Mayweather’s gym and emerged with overwhelmi­ng confidence that age hasn’t eroded the 40-year-old unbeaten champion’s skills, even after a two-year layoff.

“So I called my brother, Joe, and said, ‘We should put a wager on Floyd, because I don’t think he’s going to lose,’” Gavin said. “Not to take anything away from Conor. He’s good. But I just like Floyd a lot.”

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