Mayweather, McGregor get down to business
LAS VEGAS: A stony-faced Floyd Mayweather issued a warning to Conor McGregor on Wednesday as the two fighters faced off just three days ahead of their moneyspinning boxing duel.
JEDDAH: The Shuttle Eagles Badminton Club Open 2017 Smashdown ‘Feel the Heat’ Tournament kicked off at the Jeddah International School (JIS) courts here.
Jeff Irasusta, chairman, and Anthony Basilio, tournament director of Shuttle Eagles, welcome the participating clubs and players, while Marissa Cabanilla delivered the brief history of the club and thanked the sponsors and participants for their support of the tournament.
“This sports event enhances the
In stark contrast to their lurid, trashtalking global press tour last month, a subdued McGregor and a stern-looking Mayweather spoke respectfully as they prepared for Saturday’s 12-round boxing contest at the T-Mobile Arena.
Mayweather, who bombarded McGregor with expletives and homophobic slurs during last month’s frenzied publicity blitz, did not swear once during Wednesday’s news conference.
McGregor, the massive underdog for this weekend’s bout, restricted himself to verbally abusing a heckler in the audience who predicted he would be knocked out.
McGregor faces his first ever professional boxing contest against Mayweather, the undefeated former welterweight king who has come out of a two-year retirement to take on the Irish mixed martial arts star.
However, McGregor, the 29-year-old twotime UFC world champion from Dublin, insisted he was ready to stun the world of combat sports by upsetting Mayweather.
“Been to a lot of these crazy press conferences,” said McGregor. “This is a lot more subdued. More business-like, the way unity not only among the Filipino community but among other expatriates as well,” Irasusta said. He also praised the Shuttle Eagles Badminton Club officers and members for the hard work in organizing the tournament and wished all the participants the best of luck.
A total of 21 badminton clubs entered the competition as follows: ABC, BADDICTS, CRTC, Desert Falcons, Faisaliance, FBB, FUSION, IIEE, Indomie, Jaunty, Jaguars, Jeddah Hotshot, KBC, KINC, Mixed Nuts, Red Sea Dragons, SBG, Smash Arabia, Smashing Pirates, Supremo, UAP and some independent players.
Richard Santillan led the oath of sportsmanship and Bert Valderas, assistant tournament director, declared the tournament open. The master of ceremonies of the event I like it. “We are prepared for 12 threeminute rounds of non-stop pace. We are prepared, I will put pressure on him and break this old man. Trust me on that.
“I don’t see him lasting two rounds. I feel I have the decision to end it inside one.”
Mayweather, 40, looked relaxed throughout, even taking time to quietly admonish members of his entourage who had shouted at McGregor.
And rather than the abuse of last month, Mayweather praised McGregor as a “helluva fighter, a stand-up guy and a tough competitor.”
“It’s not going to be an easy fight,” Mayweather said. “It’s going to be blood sweat and tears. “He’s the best at what he do, I’m the best at what I do. It comes down to the two competitors going out there and displaying our skills.”
But Mayweather’s words came with a warning for McGregor.
“After 21 years I’ve been hit with everything and I’m still right here,” Mayweather said.
“And if you give it, you must be able to take it. There have been plenty of guys who talked a lot of trash, but when it’s all said and done, I came out victorious.
“I’ve said it’s not going the distance and you can mark my words.
“Anything and everything in boxing that can be done, I’ve done it. I was born a fighter, I will die a fighter.”
McGregor is hoping his punching power was Richard, Jeremy and Marissa Cabanilla.
A total of 50 games on opening day were played under the supervision of Rey Alemania, technical director, together with Beng Valderas, Jai Irasusta, Maritess Jaramel and Bong Disomimba.
The tournament is mainly sponsored by Toya, Virgin Mobile, Al-Shatira Filipino Chinese Restaurant, EZY shoppe and Fawri Money Transfer Service.
Opening day winners in different levels and categories are as follows:
Flight 6 men’s doubles: AlqeenIan, Jerome-Dave, Ruel-Russel, Meong-Cody, Allan-Rene, RickyGilbert, Rolly-Benjo, John-Jojo, Bobet-Victor
Flight 5 men’s doubles: BongJonel, Rob-Marlon, Nafi-Aries, Mica-Allen can catch Mayweather out on Saturday. But the American veteran warned he had faced plenty of hard hitters before.
“Manny Pacquiao got bombs, Canelo (Alvarez) got bombs, Shane Mosley got bombs. But remember this — I got a great chin. And the same way you give it, you’ve got to be able to take it.”
McGregor, meanwhile, laughed off suggestions from his opponent earlier this week that he may struggle to make the 154-pound limit at Friday’s weigh-in.
“I’ve never missed weight in my life and it won’t be happening this time,” McGregor said. “I’ve had my nutritionist practically living with me throughout camp.”
The showdown between Mayweather and McGregor was confirmed in June after a protracted guessing game about whether the two fighters from different sports would ever meet.
Saturday’s bout could become the most lucrative fight in history according to Showtime Sports television executive Stephen Espinoza.
Mayweather could add another $200 million to his career earnings depending on pay-per-view sales while McGregor, who only four years ago was a struggling former plumber’s apprentice living on welfare, could collect $100 million.
This will be the most widely distributed pay per view in history,” Espinoza said.
“That’s not hyperbole, that’s fact. We are well on the way to a record-setting event.”
Flight 4 men’s doubles: Ari Nugraha-M. Azamul, Bong-Mark, Bilal-Anthony, Dennis-Jonathan, Tareq-Ansar, Jheremy-Nash, RandyAries
Flight 2 and 3 men’s doubles:
Pam-Faith, Sonia-Mark, Iffu-Mark, Densoy-Bob
Flight 5 women’s doubles:
Dhang-Janiz, Sarah-Rose, NinaChristine
Flight 2 and 3 women’s doubles: Dolor-Grace
Flight 6 mixed doubles: RusselDhianne, Nico-Nina, Caesar-Sonia, Dennis-Irma
Flight 5 mixed doubles: SarahHammad, Mica-Cathy, JoenelChristine, Nina-Bong
Flight 4 mixed doubles: MarlonConnie, Asean-Cathy, Bilal-Rose, Faisal-Jicel, Meinard-Sheila
Flight 2 and 3 mixed doubles: Faisal-Yugene