‘McGREGOR IS A RACIST’
Mayweather ramps up pre-bout friction after Conor’s slurs
FLOYD MAYWEATHER branded Conor McGregor “racist”, as the pair’s world tour descended into an ugly row.
The two fighters have shared four stages across two continents, culminating in front of 10,000 fans in London last night.
But McGregor’s insults have drawn criticism for their racial overtones.
In Los Angeles on Tuesday, he asked Mayweather to “dance for me, boy”, a term which dates back to the slave trade.
In New York on Thursday, Mayweather alleged that the Irishman verbally abused his family.
McGregor attempted to defuse the row by claiming he was “half-black from the belly button down”.
But on a US TV show later that night, the UFC champion referred to black fighters in the Rocky III film as “dancing monkeys”.
Last night a hoarse Mayweather said: “Racism still exists. It’s all about treating people the way you want to be treated.
“He called black people monkeys, he disrespected my daughter and the mother of my child. I’m not going to stoop that low.”
But UFC president Dana White said: “Everybody is talking about the racial thing, then Conor says about being black from the belly button down, but he’s not racist. Floyd has never been matched verbally, we’ll see if he can be matched physically. You don’t see guys going at each other like this, they’re trying to get in each other’s head and they’re the best at it, it’s been very good.
“He’s going to go in there and try to knock Floyd out, whether it’s to his demise, or whether he wins, it’s going to be an exciting fight.”
Mayweather, who will take his unbeaten record to 50-0 with victory on August 26 in Las Vegas, also revealed he won’t
I’ve never watched tapes of opponents .. they change style when facing me
watch any footage of his opponent, despite McGregor’s unorthodox style.
He added: “I’ve never watched tape of my opponents because, when these guys face me, they change their style.
“Guys have got the best of me in the first round before, but I make adjustments, I have the IQ to do that. He’s a warrior, that’s one thing I know about Conor McGregor – it’s kill or be killed.
“I told him yesterday I’ve got a granite chin, I’ve never hit the canvas. He is awkward, he has youth on his side. I respect him as a man, he has to earn my respect as a fighter.”