The Citizen (KZN)

Locked ’n loaded

Floyd Rolls up at Vegas strip club

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– Floyd Mayweather has been taking an unorthodox approach to his prefight preparatio­ns to face Conor McGregor – with a late-night visit to his strip club.

USA Today reported Mayweather was out at the club he owns in Las Vegas – Girl Collection – at 3.30am on Thursday after arriving in a white Rolls-Royce.

Quoted by the newspaper, Mayweather insisted his nocturnal activities would not interfere with his preparatio­ns for the fight against mixed martial arts star McGregor.

USA Today said Mayweather greeted patrons at the club before retiring to a VIP section with four dancers.

He told the paper he had decided to open a strip club when he was serving a twomonth prison sentence in 2012, following a conviction for domestic abuse.

Whether you love it or loathe it, you have to admit that the Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor “Money Fight” has captured the sporting world’s imaginatio­n. Many boxing purists have dismissed it as a publicity stunt, a freak show and an insult to the sport, while mixed martial arts fans are licking their lips in anticipati­on of tomorrow morning’s 12-round multimilli­on-dollar fight in Las Vegas.

It is expected to be the richest fight in history, surpassing the $600 million generated by Mayweather’s 2015-fight against Manny Pacquiao. It will be watched in more than 200 countries.

The Money Fight is what everyone is talking about. Can the Irish mixed-martial arts superstar, the 5/1 underdog, upset an experience­d boxer who has proved so difficult to close down when facing big-name boxers?

Successful boxers of the calibre of Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley and Pacquiao have all failed to break through Mayweather’s defence over the years, prompting many experts to write off McGregor.

Mayweather may be 40, yet his flawless, unbeaten record in 49 fights is testament to his pedigree.

He is meticulous in his planning for a big fight, but he hasn’t fought in two years since calling time on a 21year career in 2015.

There’s also the unpredicta­bility that McGregor brings, having built up a fearsome reputation in a short period of time. The 29-year-old Irishman’s rise to stardom is a wonderful rags-to-riches story. Before he was discovered in 2013, McGregor was on the dole. Now he is a multimilli­onaire and ready for his biggest fight yet – in the unfamiliar surroundin­gs of a boxing ring.

“It's mind-blowing. But I never forget the struggles. I never forget where I came from. I never ever forget the hard times,” said McGregor. “I pinch myself because I am surrounded by luxury. But make no mistake – it’s luxury built on sacrifice.”

The trash-talking is done. Ring the bell for the first round.

 ?? Picture: Getty Images ?? Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr, left, and UFC lightweigh­t champion Conor McGregor, who meet in their superfight at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in the early hours of tomorrow morning.
Picture: Getty Images Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr, left, and UFC lightweigh­t champion Conor McGregor, who meet in their superfight at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

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