Floyd v Conor: Let the £140m circus begin...
BOXING’S KING OF BLING TAKES ON CAGE FIGHTER
ONE is a career boxer and the highest-paid sportsman ever, who likes to flaunt his wealth. The other is a former apprentice plumber who once dreamed of playing football for Manchester United.
Two years ago, Conor McGregor confidently declared he would beat the finest boxer of his generation, Floyd Mayweather, in “less than 30 seconds”.
The UFC star, the box-office king of the mixed martial arts world, has now finally got his chance in what is expected to be a £140million super fight.
The Irishman, nicknamed The Notorious, is expected to earn in excess of £62million for the 12-round fight. His opponent will take home the lion’s share, swelling his fortune by £78million.
But boxing insiders say the purse predictions may be “just their basic” pay as lucrative television money is expected to push the earnings much higher.
After the August 26 fight was announced, the chief executive of Mayweather Promotions Leonard Ellerbe was asked if the fight could gross half a billion dollars.
“Yes, of course, why not?” Ellerbe replied. “It’s a very, very hot fight, and a fight that the fans want,” he said.
The fighters announced the bout on social media after months of back and forth between the two camps.
McGregor, 28, in his usual bombastic style, took a swipe at his opponent, posting a picture of himself alongside one of Mayweather’s 64-year-old father – making the point that he felt his opponent was now past his best.
At 40 years old, Mayweather stands on the precipice of sporting history.
Currently with a record of 49 fights with no losses, he is tied on the most professional wins without defeat with
legendary US heavyweight Rocky Marciano. But despite the hype around the fight, not all fans are pleased Mayweather has chosen a man with no professional boxing experience to try to make history.
Critics believe the bout will be a one-sided affair, pointing to how McGregor, although inarguably one of the quickest strikers in UFC history, will face one of the greatest defensive technicians to ever put on the gloves.
They add Mayweather would suffer the same fate if he were ever to enter the caged octagon in which mixed martial artists fight. Mark Seltzer, to world heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua and ex-world champ Carl Froch, likened the fight to a Las Vegas show. He told the Mirror: “The mega millions fight is made – however it is more comparable to a Vegas show. It’s showmanship and, above all else, it’s showbusiness.
“Such a fight could not and would not ever be sanctioned in the UK.
“McGregor is a boxing novice – as Mayweather would be in the MMA world. The two disciplines should never meet.”
Dad-of-one McGregor will be contractually prohibited from “going rogue” and elbowing or kicking his opponent during the big-money showdown, to be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mayweather, a five-division world champion, having won 10 world titles in four different weight classes, has not fought since September, 2015.
After winning that fight, against Andre Berto, he announced his retirecorner-man ment for the second time. But, three months ago, he finally stated that he was coming out of retirement specifically to fight McGregor.
The flamboyant American loves posting pics of huge piles of cash, his stable of supercars and his £7million watch collection.
By contrast, McGregor has only in recent years began to enjoy his wealth after coming from a working–class background in Dublin.
As a youngster, he would return home from his Gaelic-language school to play football in the street, dreaming of playing for Manchester United.
When he outgrew his kit, he turned to boxing, training at local Crumlin Boxing Club alongside pro fighters.
He began to concentrate on MMA after beginning a plumbing apprentice, although his dad said at the time he should stay on the tools.
“I did a year in that and it just wasn’t for me, you know?” McGregor recalled. “It’s either all or nothing in this game. If you’re not training twice a day, if you’re not dedicated, you’re not going anywhere.”