A few days ago, a horribly shoddy poster convinced few that a fight between UFC champ Conor McGregor and retired boxing kingpin Floyd Mayweather was finally about to be set in stone.
Ever since McGregor’s public fallout with UFC boss Dana White, rumours of a superbout between boxing’s most arrogant champ and one of the UFC’s biggest names have been spreading like wildfire.
» Mayweather vs McGregor: The latest news, rumours and fight status
Some have even been throwing out figures, saying Mayweather would net nearly $200 million, while McGregor could make nearly $15 million.
Both sides apparently just have to agree on the purse and sign the paperwork — which sources say is imminent — and an announcement is likely to be made in the coming weeks.
One source went as far as to say. “Floyd went mad after Conor said he would crush him and knock him out in 30 seconds, he’s obsessed with making Conor eat his words.”
Now, for those new to Mayweather this all sounds like we’re ready for a titanic match between two of professional sports biggest egos.
However, for those with a vague memory of ‘Money’ Mayweather’s past, this may be sounding slightly familiar.
We’ve been promised big fights by Mayweather before, none bigger than back in 2009 when talks began to see the champ put his perfect record on the line against Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao.
For the whole month of December, boxing fans sat waiting for an early Christmas present, were we about to see two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters square off in their prime?
Short answer, no. Talks broke down over the issue of drug testing as Pacquiao’s side said they were happy to be tested.
Michael Koncz, an advisor for the Pacquiao camp said of Mayweather’s request for Olympic-style drug testing: “our reaction is, ‘So what?’ We know Manny doesn’t take any illegal drugs or anything. And none of this is getting under Manny’s skin or anything. I’m here with Manny, and to him, it’s like a joke. It’s a laughing matter.”
But the Mayweather camp always seemed to be moving the goalposts on negotiations. The testing agreements never seemed to be good enough.
Money even admitted himself he was changing the rules, stating: “I gave him [Pacquiao] a chance, up to 14 days out. But my new terms are all the way up to the fight. They can come get us whenever, all the way up to the fight, random drug test. That’s what it is.”
By the way, these tests were only to be done on Pacquiao, not Mayweather.
We did finally get our marquee bout between the two last year and for those who did not splash out the nearly $100 on pay-per-view I’ll give you my summary.
It was a dud. A dull, dud, snooze-fest of a fight.
But Mayweather got what he wanted, he won and kept his perfect record in tact.
Now Money may have retired with a perfect 49-0 record, but in no way is he the greatest fighter the sport has ever seen and there’s one simple reason as to why.
He ducked the big fight.
Instead of putting his money where his mouth is, he wussed out on losing his perfect record and for that he will always be seen as a chump.
Now we’re back where we were in 2009, but now there is a much more media savvy, arrogant fighter on the other side of the potential card.
Floyd’s boys are out talking to the media again, saying: “Floyd is calling the shots. It’s strictly boxing and Conor will have to lose roughly 25lbs.”
Again, Money is dictating terms and he has an opponent who seems to be saying, ‘make all the terms you want, I’ll see you in the ring.’
Nothing in this world would make me happier than seeing McGregor step into a boxing ring and beat the living daylights out of one of the fastest mouths in sport.
But until this is set in stone, why are we giving Floyd the media attention he so desperately craves?
If you want the spotlight back Floyd, put your big boy pants on and get in the damn ring!
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