Floyd to face Conor in August bout

BOXING legend Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts icon Conor McGregor confirmed plans for a long-awaited showdown on Wednesday, triggering both criticism and anticipation for what is set to be one of the richest fights in history.

Mayweather and McGregor – kingpins of their sports – will climb into a boxing ring to face each other at Las Vegas’s TMobile Arena on August 26.

The 40-year-old Mayweather will be aiming to reach the 50-0 milestone while McGregor is a heavy underdog in the 12round boxing match. A victory for the Irishman would be a monumental upset.

“Floyd is the greatest of all-time and Conor is the master of our sport,” said MMA promoter Dana White.

“I thought it would be impossible deal to do but it was the right fight at the right time and we got it done.”

Leonard Ellerbe, chief executive of Mayweather Promotions, said they decided to end Mayweather’s 23-month retirement because the clamour for the 154-pound (69.8kg) showdown had been impossible to ignore.

“There is not one place I go to with Floyd where he doesn’t get asked the question, ‘Floyd are you going to fight Conor McGregor?’ All Floyd thinks about is fighting Conor McGregor and whipping his a**,” said Ellerbe.

Mayweather announced the fight on his Instagram account with a graphic saying “IT’S OFFICIAL!!!” showing pictures of both fighters and listing Las Vegas as the location while McGregor sent out an earlier tweet stating “THE FIGHT IS ON.”

McGregor is the top pay-per-view draw in UFC while Mayweather had been the moneyspinner in some of boxing’s biggest bouts, including matchups with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao and US star Oscar De La Hoya. Mayweather earned $250million (R3-billion) for his fight against Pacquiao.

“There is a different feel from the Pacquiao fight. It is the unknown factor [of fighting a MMA star],” said Ellerbe.

Neither Mayweather or McGregor have competed this year. Mayweather retired from pro boxing in 2015 after defeating Andre Berto, while McGregor (21-3) defeated Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.

White said the key to finalising the fight was luring Mayweather out of retirement.

Despite having little or no boxing experience, White insists his MMA client McGregor is confident of victory. McGregor is UFC’s only simultaneous twodivision champion.

There will be no titles on the line, but it is an opportunity for both to cash in financially. — AFP