ALMOST LAST WORD

“I’M OLDER. I’M NOT THE SAME FIGHTER I WAS TWO YEARS AGO. I’M NOT THE SAME FIGHTER I WAS FIVE YEARS AGO. I LOST A STEP.”

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., to ESPN, dismissing the notion that he’ll annihilate Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Conor McGregor on Aug. 26. False modesty? Ticket sales hype? This is a different approach from their recent promotional tour when the 40-year-old predicted a victory against McGregor, 29. He said then that the UFC lightweight champion didn’t stand a chance of marring his 49-0 record.