Winner of bout claims gaudy ‘Money Belt’
LAS VEGAS — A belt will be on the line after all when Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor meet Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena. The WBC has created The Money Belt, which will go to the winner of the otherwise non-title boxing match.
The Money Belt is made of 1.5 kilograms of 24 karat gold; 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires, 160 emeralds and crocodile leather.
“The WBC has had in Floyd Mayweather the most loyal champion in our history,” WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said during Wednesday’s press conference at the MGM Grand. “He conquered five titles in five different divisions. In order to celebrate this great event the WBC has created The Money Belt to go to the winner.”
The WBC has a custom of making special edition belts. Mayweather won “The Diamond Belt” when he defeated Miguel Cotto; “The Gold Belt” when he outpointed Canelo Alvarez and the “Emerald Belt” when he beat Manny Pacquiao.
“Floyd Mayweather represents boxing and has come out of retirement to face Conor McGregor, the superstar of mixed martial arts who represents the UFC,” Sulaiman said. “The UFC has stood behind Conor and the WBC stands firm in support of Floyd.” Mayweather didn’t want any followers to talk trash to McGregor from the audience during the press conference. When someone yelled “You’re going to get knocked out” as McGregor took to the podium, Mayweather signaled for quiet. While Mayweather took a professional approach thanking supporters of the fight, McGregor continued to be brash and bold predicting an early knockout. “I will break this old man. Trust me on that,” McGregor said. “I don’t see him lasting two rounds.”