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To start with, it was just a ridiculous rumour…
Then Floyd began to respond to Conor’s callouts to add real substance to the notion that the fight could happen, and on June 14th, after many months of teasing, it was finally announced that the lucrative crossover contest was confirmed for August 26th in Las Vegas.
And here we are now, just hours away.
Boxing fans are expecting the five-weight world champion to play with The UFC star and teach him a boxing lesson.
If the ‘Money Man’ can toy with someone like Canelo then he is sure to provide the debutant with a masterclass this weekend.
MMA fans are adamant that Conor will be the first to knock out Floyd, which the Irishman has vehemently claimed that he will since the very start.
It’s got to be his only real chance of winning because he can’t be going into the fight expecting to outbox him for 12 rounds!
Although Mayweather is the overwhelming favourite to win McGregor’s braggadocio has seen him dominate the vast majority of the pre-fight headlines, and odds on the Irishman have shortened in recent weeks.
A McGregor victory would be one of the greatest sporting upsets in history but very few pundits are willing to stick their necks out and tip him for the triumph.
I said these very words back when this crazy crossover contest was confirmed and I stand by them now, “Just enjoy the madness.”
Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s fight:
What time?
This Saturday night, August 26th, if you live in the United States, but us Brits will be have to watch at silly o’clock on Sunday morning.
It’s impossible to provide an exact time for when things will get underway but the Showtime PPV telecast will begin at 2am BST, which means Mayweather and McGregor will more than likely be in the ring sometime between 4-5am BST.
It could be fractionally later, depending on the earlier schedule of fights, but it definitely won’t be any earlier.
Already in Vegas, enjoying brunch. Thanks @TMobile can't wait for the weigh-in later today ? #TMobileTuesdays pic.twitter.com/vrOWNr9onI
— ? (@chrisalcazar7) August 25, 2017
Where is it?
Where else? Vegas baby! The ‘Boxing Capital of the World’ was the only place it could ever be.
To be specific, the venue is the T-Mobile Arena, located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.
The T-Mobile Arena can seat 20,000 people for boxing and MMA events, meaning it is fractionally larger than their famous neighbour, the MGM Grand.
It’s a relatively new venue, only opening its doors last year, but has already staged a number of high-profile events, such as Canelo Alvarez v Amir Khan and, more recently, Sergey Kovalev v Andre Ward.
Next month, boxing fan’s real fight of the year will take place there – Canelo Álvarez v Gennady Golovkin.
Where to watch it?
Sky Sports have won the rights to show the fight in the UK, and it will be available to watch on pay-per-view for £19.95 or €24.95 if you live in the Republic of Ireland.
Odds?
Mayweather is the favourite, of course, and McGregor is the underdog – we have spoken to BoyleSports’s Leon Blanche – who is in Las Vegas for the fight.
“From our point of view it would be a catastrophic result, there is really no money on Floyd in comparison.
“McGregor is predicting he is going to get the job done in round 2, which was 28/1, and then he is also saying he will have it won in four rounds.
“What you can say about McGregor is that his rise in the MMA was remarkable, he is very dedicated and he believes in himself but maybe this is taking it one step too far. But you just never know.
“I would be surprised and I think Floyd will win. It might be won on points, they are both super fit and it could be a long night, but we just have to wait and see.
“In my opinion Mayweather is the best defensive boxer of all time, I have never seen anyone better than him and so it will be hard for McGregor to connect, so you have to fancy him.
“Floyd is a counter-puncher, which is why I think it could be a long night.
“But in the end I have to go with Floyd to win, and probably on points.”
What are their records?
Mayweather is currently equal to Rocky Marciano’s record of 49 fights unbeaten, which is one of the finest records in boxing history.
Not known for being heavy-handed, 26 of those victories have come by way of knockout.
McGregor, meanwhile, boasts a professional record of 21-3 and a UFC record of 9-1. At UFC 194 he knocked out Jose Aldo in just 13 seconds to become the UFC Featherweight Champion, and at UFC 205 he knocked out Eddie Alvarez for the UFC Lightweight Championship to become the first fighter in the history of the company to hold titles in two weight divisions simultaneously.
The Irishman has never been knocked out in his career – with his three professional defeats all coming via submission – and began boxing as a 12-year-old at Crumlin Boxing Club in Dublin under two-time Olympian Phil Sutcliffe.
Has Floyd ever been hurt?
Yes, momentarily against DeMarcus Corley in 2004, De La Hoya in 2007, and Shane Mosley in 2010.
Chop Chop, a former WBO light-welterweight World champion, caught Floyd flush with a right hand that stunned him and managed to land a further one-two to the head before he backed onto the ropes and recovered his senses.
Sugar Shane had the best success by forcing Floyd to take a knee for a split-second in the second round of their fight, which again was not considered a knockdown.
Marcus Maidana also staggered him with an overhand right as the bell sounded for the end of the first round in their first fight in 2014. It was convincing enough for the Argentinian to check back over his shoulder to see what damage he’d inflicted as he made his way back to his corner.
In his 20-year professional career, he was only knocked to the canvas once by Carlos Hernandez in 2001 – a fight he won by a unanimous decision.
It wasn’t counted as knockdown, however, but his glove certainly connected with the canvas. You could argue that the right hook to the temple only knocked the, then, 24-year-old off-balance rather than out of his senses.
What are the rules?
This is a boxing match, so normal boxing rules apply. No spin kicks allowed!
How much will the fight make?
The fight will almost certainly be the most valuable fight of all-time, expected to gross almost 5 million PPV buys, which would net a cash windfall of $475million.
Sponsorship would likely top $20million, while the projected Nevada betting on the fight stands at $30million.
Mayweather is likely to end up $100million richer with McGregor slated to earn around $75million.
Has MMA and boxing fought before?
Muhammad Ali actually fought professional wrestler Antonio Inoki in Tokyo in 1976 in an exhibition match, ending in a highly-contentious draw that saw the Japanese fighter on his back kicking Ali’s legs with The Greatest throwing just six punches.
Golden Gloves winner Jimmerson fought against Brazilian jiu jitsu star Gracie at the first ever UFC in 1993.
Not wanting to damage his jab hand, Art wore one boxing glove but was taken to the ground by Gracie, forced to tap out in under two minutes. He quickly returned to boxing.
1988 Seoul Olympic gold medallist Ray ‘Merciless’ Mercer destroyed former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia within nine seconds with a one-punch KO at Adrenaline III in 2009, becoming the first man to ever knockout Sylvia.
Ricardo Mayorga thought he had stopped mixed martial artist Wesley Tiffer in the cage, only to be disqualified because of an illegal knee to the spine.
Once-great James Toney talked up his chances inside the Octagon but it took UFC legend Randy Couture just three minutes to beat him via an arm-triangle choke.
