CON OF THE CENTURY
MAYWEATHER v McGREGOR
FORMER WBC lightweight champion Jim Watt wouldn’t open the curtains to watch Floyd Mayweather take on Conor McGregor if they were trading punches in his back garden.
The meeting between unbeaten Mayweather – who has won world titles in five different weight divisions – and the Ultimate Fighting Championship legend McGregor in Las Vegas on August 26 is set to gross over £390million.
But Watt reckons it’s the greatest mismatch since Mike Tyson knocked out Lou Savarese in 38 seconds at Hampden 17 years ago.
And although the bout is set to smash pay-per-view records Watt won’t be tuning in, claiming it would only be feeding Mayweather’s ego.
Watt, 68, who stepped down from his job as fight analyst for Sky last year, said: “I wouldn’t waste my money on it.
“This fight isn’t good for Floyd and it isn’t good for boxing. I could understand the thinking behind it if Floyd was short of cash but he made over £156m just for fighting Manny Pacquiao so that isn’t the reason.
“During the last few years of Muhammad Ali’s career some of the people in his camp were desperately pleading with him to retire but Ali loved what he did.
“He also loved the limelight and maybe Floyd has been out of it for too long – he told us he was retiring after he beat Andre Berto back in September 2015.
“I suspect he just loves being the centre of attention. He likes the buzz that goes with the big fight nights but this bout with McGregor isn’t boxing.”
Another motivation for Money Mayweather could be to take his professional record to 50-0 – one better than the former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano managed.
Watt said: “It might go down as that but boxing people won’t count it. This is like when Ali fought that Japanese wrestler in the 1970s, the difference being Ali did it for a laugh.”
Meanwhile, Tyson believes the Mayweather-McGregor fight is laughable and said: “I don’t give McGregor a chance.
“Him boxing Floyd doesn’t make it interesting. If he fought with MMA rules and Floyd boxing, now that would have been interesting.”
Watt agrees. He said: “I can’t raise any interest in it. Floyd’s had a great career. You couldn’t accuse him of ever avoiding anyone, he fought every opponent we wanted him to although maybe not when we wanted him to.
“I really wish he hadn’t bothered with this though – Floyd couldn’t spend the money he has and certainly doesn’t need the fame because he’s a boxing icon.
“When I first heard of this bout I thought it was a publicity stunt and he was helping to raise McGregor’s profile.
“McGregor may be well known in his little world but Mayweather is recognised wherever he goes so I was surprised when the fight was actually announced. You should never say never in boxing but this bout is a pointless exercise and a waste of everybody’s time.”
At 28 the Irishman – the UFC’s lightweight champion – is 12 years younger than his opponent but Watt insists that won’t help him.
Watt said: “Floyd will win. But that won’t prove or achieve anything apart from providing the pair of them with a small fortune.”
Mayweather is expected to earn £78m while McGregor’s share will be closer to £58m.
Watt added: “You don’t just turn your back on those numbers. Hell, if somebody offered me that sort of money to make a comeback you’d see these old legs pounding the Kirkie Road again.”
Money talks in boxing and Mayweather’s nickname has been well earned. He was the highestpaid athlete in the world in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the year he announced he was quitting.
He spends £1500 each week on haircuts alone and his betting on American sports is legendary. But with earnings of well over £550m during his 19-year pro career he can afford to take a few losses.
Only golfer Tiger Woods and F1 star Michael Schumacher raked in more during their careers.
Armchair fans will pay through the nose to watch the fight live. But it will be a triumph of hype over experience.
If Hall of Fame heroes Oscar de la Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Shane Mosley, Arturo Gatti, Jose Luis Castillo and Pacquaio can’t lay a glove on Mayweather, ring rookie McGregor certainly won’t.