MAYWEATHER EXPECTS TO KNOCK OUT MCGREGOR

Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes he will have failed if he is unable to knock out Conor McGregor in the Aug. 26 superfight between the biggest stars in boxing and mixed martial arts. The boxing clash at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is due to be held over 12 rounds, yet if McGregor lasts that long it will be seen in many quarters as a victory for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s lightweight champion. Mayweather agrees. “I would say so,” Mayweather said at his official media workout Thursday. “If the fight goes the distance, it is a win for him. But I don’t think that is going to happen. He is going around saying that it will be over in four rounds, and he might be right. But it will be because I say so, and not him.” The possibility of a knockout might have been increased by a preliminary agreement that 8-ounce gloves will be used for the contest. Typically, fights taking place at 154 pound and above use 10-ounce hand gear, but both fighters have agreed to an exception, which is expected to be rubber-stamped by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. “The people should expect entertainment, and that is what I am going to give them. They have to understand that this is a show. One of the biggest shows in history. No one is going to be disappointed.” Mayweather’s business adviser, Leonard

Ellerbe, said he has never seen the fighter so motivated to secure a knockout. Of Mayweather’s recent opponents, Victor Ortiz was knocked out with a controversial cheap shot in 2011 and

Ricky Hatton was stopped in 2007. All of his other victims have lost on points. “I can’t see any way this goes 12 rounds,” Ellerbe said. “I just don’t see it. Either McGregor is going to hit Floyd with a shot and knock him out or Floyd is going to do the same to him.”