LET'S START THE SHOW
Mayweather, McGregor have last dance before main event
LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor still have plenty more to say.
There are still tickets to be sold to one of the most-anticipated boxing matches in years. There are still pay-per-views that haven’t been purchased.
The hype for Saturday’s megafight still seeks new heights — and may succeed.
With four days until the two meet in the ring, Mayweather and McGregor were involved in a scuffle during Tuesday’s Grand Arrival in front of the T-Mobile Arena after walking past each other, with each fighter’s entourage having to separate the stars, following several shoves between the two camps.
“I saw him, and I said, ‘ What are you afraid of a faceoff today?’ McGregor said. “He didn’t say anything, and the big ghouls he sur- rounds himself with started pushing and shoving, and then it was a pushing and shoving contest. ... He can’t walk around the place without being surrounded by these donkeys, [but] look, he’s in the ring on his own.
“I’m already the true king of fighting. I’ll be the king of boxing now, also.”
Entering his first professional boxing match, the UFC lightweight champion again predicted he would annihilate the best boxer of his generation, and end the 40year-old’s undefeated career in minutes, but what likely scares Mayweather (49-0) more is hearing McGregor, 29, threaten to illegally unleash moves from his mixed martial arts background.
“[Mayweather] commented, ‘I hope the referee keeps it fair,’ and all I heard was, ‘Please, ref, keep me safe,’” McGregor said. “I may make him beg me to follow the rules here.
“I believe he’ll be unconscious within one round. ... I don’t see him surviving. I’ll flatten him. ... After that, I’m starting to think I’ll toy with him.”
Even with the biggest moment of his career approaching, and Mayweather seemingly stealing all of his focus, McGregor still found time for another heated confrontation, with former sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi, who was seen knocked to the ground in pictures of their sessions — footage which the boxer claims was purposefully misleading.
“Did you bring your balls this time?” Malignaggi shouted at McGregor, who responded, “You bet your ass we will [fight].”
Gloves weren’t needed. McGregor and Mayweather’s faces were enough, already plastered all over town — on posters and billboards and cabs — to build up the fight that seemed like it would always be fantasy.
Hundreds of fans stood in the brutal sun for more than two hours, enduring the near 100-degree heat just off the Las Vegas Strip for a glimpse of the greatest spectacle in the city. There was countless “The Money Team” gear — Mayweather’s brand — and several UFC shirts, with some fans holding umbrellas, and others carrying Irish flags.
Over and over, an announcer described it as “the biggest fight in combat sports history,” which he proclaimed is “expected to shatter every record imaginable.”
Long before McGregor arrived, the crowd was calling for him — “We want Conor” — and when he strolled in wearing a purple suit, he rewarded their patience, walking around to greet the fans, and making two girls cry by touching their hands.
“We take over wherever we roll in,” McGregor said. “I’m ready to fight now.”
When Mayweather arrived first, practically every person raised their phone, even if they weren’t sure yet where to point it, while multiple kids were placed on parents’ shoulders.
For minutes Mayweather was invisible, obscured by the dozens of cameras sprinting towards his face. The crowd booed, unable to see the boxing legend, then quieted as he grabbed the microphone.
“I told you before that this isn’t going to go the distance,” Mayweather said. “So if you’re going to bet, bet that it won’t go.”
They are betting you will be watching. Neither is used to being wrong.