Anatomy of the $700m superbout dreamt up by a comedian

THE SPORT

It took the mind of a comedian to dream up the concept of Floyd Mayweather fighting Conor McGregor. McGregor was a guest on Conan O’Brien’s talk show two years ago, when he played along with a question about who would win if they fought. Everyone laughed – because they knew it would never happen. Next weekend, he and Mayweather will meet. And, unlike sporting freak shows of the past, most notably when Muhammad Ali fought Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki, this has been sanctioned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. That means Mayweather, who retired after matching Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 win-loss record, will surpass it if he beats a boxing novice. Criticisms of the fight’s credibility and fears for McGregor’s wellbeing were dismissed by the executive director of the NSAC. Bob Bennett said the Irishman had a size and age advantage on Mayweather and that his UFC win over Nate Diaz last year had been “pretty much” a boxing match. Insisting health and safety was his “priority”, Bennett told the Sierra Sun: “Is there a precedent for this fight? No. Is it an anomaly? Yes. I take full responsibility and accountability for it.” The NSAC also approved smaller, lighter gloves for the fight, closer to those used by McGregor in UFC.

THE PURSE

The only reason this fight is happening at all, with both men forecast to earn eight- or nine-figure sums just for turning up. Any doubts over whether Mayweather needed the money, given his career earnings of $700million (£544million), were quashed last month when he asked the Internal Revenue Service if he could delay paying a tax bill from 2015 until he received his share of the McGregor fight purse. The precise size of that purse will depend mostly on global pay-per-view subscriptions, topped up by revenue from ticket sales and

sponsorship. Income generated could exceed $700 million, with the purse beating the $300 million from Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao in 2015, which itself smashed all records. How much more of it Mayweather will earn than McGregor – it is accepted he will take the bigger share – is the subject of conjecture given the contract has a confidentiality clause. However, some estimate that the man who frequently lives up to his “Money” nickname could net as much as three-quarters of any split, or around $230 million, leaving McGregor with $70million.

THE TV DEAL

For all its detractors, there is no disputing the appetite for this fight, with pay-per-view subscriptions tipped to surpass the $400 million thought to have been generated by the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. The involvement of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s biggest star will ensure his sport’s growing army of fans will fork out to witness the event, which boxing will hope helps attract a younger audience amid fears it stands to lose more than most from the huge growth of mixed martial arts. Those wishing to watch Showtime’s exclusive coverage in America will have to pay $89.99 for the privilege – $99.99 in HD – although that was similar to the figures charged for MayweatherPacquiao. UK fans will be relieved to hear it is available on Sky Box Office for a more reasonable £19.95, especially given its coverage will not begin until after midnight.

Telephone bookings after midnight on Friday will increase to £26.95 (online purchases remain at £19.95) before reverting back at 7am next Sunday. The fight will also be repeated in full at 10am and 5pm that day.

THE VENUE

This fight could have sold out the likes of Wembley Stadium or an American football ground many times over, but promoters went out of their way to secure the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The venue was sought because it could accommodate 2,000 spectators more than the MGM Grand, the scene of every previous Mayweather fight.

But the T-Mobile Arena was already booked for the day of the bout by a new three-on-three basketball league, the Big3, co-owned by rapper Ice Cube, and a “generous offer that we could not refuse” was required to convince him to relocate.

Given Mayweather has not fought outside Vegas at all since 2005, next weekend’s fight was always destined to take place in the home of big-time boxing. It is arguable that an outdoor stadium would have generated larger gate receipts, but a smaller venue often equals more expensive tickets and they do not get more expensive than seats that range from $500 to $10,000 for this bout.

Dana White, the UFC president, last week claimed the total netted from that would touch $100million, close to the record $103million for a Super Bowl.

THE PROMOTION

The hype has been unprecedented, but whether it has set a new high or new low is open to debate. The history of boxers behaving deeply offensively in the build-up to a fight is a long one. But, in a supposedly more enlightened society, some of the antics of the fighters ahead of next weekend’s fight can no longer be excused by ignorance. A four-day “world tour” of Los Angeles, Toronto, Brooklyn and Wembley’s SSE Arena saw both men vie for the most grotesque headline. At the opening event, where he wore a suit with a profanity written into the pinstripes, McGregor told Mayweather to “Dance for me, boy!” an expression with racial overtones. In New York, the Irishman then appeared to refer to black people as “dancing monkeys” on a chat show. Mayweather responded at Wembley by accusing McGregor of racism – which his opponent denied – before branding him a “faggot”.