Mayweather, McGregor got what they wanted
LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor was drinking Irish whiskey and acting like he had won. Floyd Mayweather Jr. was reminiscing about his early days as a fighter and looking forward to a different kind of business at his strip club.
There were smiles all around, and with good reason. The fighters pulled off an audacious gamble Saturday night, and all that was left to do was to count the money rolling in.
Mayweather estimated his take at $300 million-350 million. McGregor said he likely would clear $100 million, and said he had his accountants on speed dial to make sure it was all collected.
Fans of both boxing and mixed martial arts had to be happy, too. They got a reasonably entertaining fight that settled nothing about the two sports but embarrassed neither fighter.
“I enjoyed it very, very much,” McGregor said. “It was an honor for me to showcase my skills.”
They go their separate ways now, after a fight that had a little something for everyone. Mayweather won by battering McGregor around late until it was stopped in the 10th round, but in reality McGregor was a big winner, too.
He was reasonably competent as a boxer in his first pro fight. He actually controlled the first few rounds, and was never off his feet despite taking a beating in the late rounds.
Mayweather eventually figured him out, and exposed him for the boxing novice he is. McGregor didn’t become king of boxing like he predicted before the fight, but he won millions of new fans and will now likely return to the UFC as its unquestioned star. And Mayweather? Well, 50-0 has a nice ring to it, passing the 49-0 record of Rocky Marciano that serves as a benchmark in the sport. He got a knockout that helped erase the stain from his fight with Manny Pacquiao two years earlier. And, after earning nearly $1 billion in his 21-year career, he can get on with his varied businesses and maybe even train a few fighters himself.
“You won’t see me in the ring anymore,” Mayweather said. “Any guy calling me out, forget it. I’m OK. I had a great career.”
McGregor may have lost but in just a few short months he did what few could have anticipated and made himself into a decent boxer who carried one of the best ever into the later rounds while remaining upright the whole time.
At 29, McGregor is a rare superstar with a quick wit and mouth to go along with his combat skills. The price for his UFC fights will cause UFC chief Dana White some sleepless nights because in a way he is almost bigger now than the organization. The UFC wants its biggest star back in the octagon quickly. McGregor has won titles in two weight classes, but he has never defended either belt, and he hasn’t fought at all since November.
Yet the UFC also just made untold millions from McGregor’s dalliance with boxing while he was under contract. White realizes McGregor will be impressed by boxing money, and White says he is willing to write a check that will keep McGregor in the cage.
“I would rather he did not (box again),” White said. “This is not what he does. He is a mixed martial artist.”
But McGregor said he might venture back into the boxing ring someday if the price is right.
“I’m young, I’m fresh and I’m ready,” McGregor said. “Right now I’m a free agent. I love a good fight and tonight was a good fight. I can’t tell you exactly what’s next but something will be next.”