Tomorrow afternoon, UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor will look to complete the biggest upset in the history of modern sports.
More Mayweather versus McGregor
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» Five talking points
» Fight report: Mayweather by TKO
» What Mayweather said to McGregor
» Watch video highlights
» Re-live the fight with our live blog
Leicester City’s fairytale ending to the 2016 Premier League soccer season drew worldwide headlines after the 5000-to-1 dark horse lifted the trophy.
Dubbed the “biggest upset in the history of sports”, the unbelievable story has spawned books and documentaries, and there is even a movie in development.
For my money, though, Leicester City’s underdog story wouldn’t even compare to McGregor punching Floyd Mayweather’s lights out.
What separates Leicester City winning its first title in the 132-year history of the club from what McGregor plans to do on Sunday is that The Foxes actually played soccer.
McGregor is not a boxer. He has never boxed, not as an amateur or a professional.
The 29-year-old Dubliner is an outstanding mixed martial arts fighter, but in a one-dimensional boxing match, he has no chance – not even the puncher’s variety – against an undefeated, five-weight world champion.
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The reality is, Mayweather versus McGregor is a gross mismatch, one that has rightly sparked a debate about the incompetence and possible negligence of the Las Vegas regulating body, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) for even allowing this contest.
NSAC, the same commission that refused to sanction a bout between Andre Ward and Aussie super middleweight Rohan Murdock in 2015 because it deemed the Western Australian puncher with an 18-1 record to be in over his head, has green lit a fight that pits the greatest boxer of this generation against a guy literally making his pro debut.
The Las Vegas-based group has since continued to bend over backwards to accommodate the star fighters by allowing Mayweather and McGregor to compete wearing eight-ounce gloves during the spectacle of a super fight, overturning its own rule that fighters above 147-pounds are mandated to wear 10-ounce mitts.
“I do not like the Nevada State Athletic Commission being used as a pawn in a social media battle,” chairman Anthony Marnell said before agreeing to be used as a pawn in a social media battle.
The glove change, while ultimately a marketing ploy, is a major victory for Team McGregor on Sunday.
The brick-fisted Irishman is a proven knockout puncher in four-ounce UFC gloves, and that should translate to boxing gloves, even with double the padding.
Earlier this year, McGregor uploaded a photo of his left hand, captioned “this left hand made me millions,” and he’s not wrong. He won three UFC titles with that fist and it is his only realistic ticket to beating Mayweather.
If you’ve ever seen a Mayweather fight, though, you will already know that he’s basically unhittable, and that’s against actual elite boxers.
McGregor’s window to finish this fight or even land a knee-buckling blow is narrow, likely the first few rounds while Mayweather is still collecting data. After that, his power will diminish, his reflexes will slow, and he will be exposed as a sitting duck.
(AP Photo/John Locher, File)
In the lead-up to this multi-million dollar fight, Mayweather is telling anyone who will listen that he’s “lost a step” and that he’s “not the same fighter.”
The 40-year-old pugilist has doubled down this week, boasting about partying all week at his Las Vegas strip club, Girl Collection, and chowing down a double whopper from Burger King while the UFC’s camera crew watched on.
“He’s a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he’s taller, has a longer reach, he’s a bigger man from top to bottom. He’s a lot younger, so youth is on his side,” Mayweather told the New York Post.
‘And I’ve been off a couple of years. And I’m in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor.”
Don’t believe a single word of it.
Mayweather has refused to release any footage of him preparing for this fight. And if you ask me, it’s because if the public saw those clips, it would shatter the illusion that he’s a peg below the fighter we saw box circles around Andre Berto two years ago.
Mayweather-McGregor is a true once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, but to steal a Dave Chapelle quote, it has “all the suspense of a Globetrotters game.”
Mayweather toys with him, embarrasses him, dances around him, smiles at him, and ultimately, lights him up like a Christmas tree.
I give McGregor little chance of surviving 12 rounds – almost none. Boxing’s former king should separate him from his consciousness by the sixth or seventh round.
chris
Guest
"For my money, though, Leicester City’s underdog story wouldn’t even compare to McGregor punching Floyd Mayweather’s lights out". So a potential one lucky punch from McGregor would override Leicesters achievements over 38 rounds in one of the toughest football leagues in the world. Laughable.
Simoc
Guest
Well I think you predicted it perfectly.
Tony
Guest
It is a circus, and if Mayweather is even half the boxer that he was 5 years ago it should be a walk in the park. The real fight happens in three weeks from now, and nobody has said a word about that fight, but it's the one every true boxing fan wants to see, two undefeated champions at the top of their game.
AZ_RBB
Guest
But the thing is, McGregor isn't fighting the best. Mayweather is at least 5yrs past his best. If he really wanted to show that he is better than most boxers then he should have fought Canelo or GGG. Probably a good thing he isn't because either could have hurt him quite badly and possibly effected his MMA career. But no doubt tomorrow will be a lot of fun to watch from an entertainment perspective.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
I'm really looking forward to this actual fight for a few reasons, increasingly it is becuase I'm growing sick of previews where really all that can be said is that in all reality Mayweather should take this easily but McGregor has the slimmest of slim chances in the opening rounds and a hell of a left hand (Heck, I even wrote one saying pretty much that because, well, why not). In the end this is an interesting fight to me because while boxers coming to MMA is an obviously ludicrous idea due to how important and potentially overpowered wrestling is in MMA the other way around hasn't really been explored at the highest level since MMA graduated from underground to mainstream sport. This match pits one of the best stand up fighters in MMA against one of the best technical boxers ever so will be an interesting case study in just how transferable MMA boxing is to actual boxing and how the skill level of an MMA fighter actually matches up at the top end of the more specialised sport. I would be interested in this if it was a guy with a mobile filming it in a gym, the fact it is on a big stage and both fighters are treating it seriously just adds extra to it.
Garry Edwards
Guest
You've said it all Stagman! Agree wholeheartedly.
AZ_RBB
Guest
No doubt. This is just a curtain raiser for Canelo-GGG. Tomorrow will be an awesome television and entertainment event. But Canelo-GGG will be one of the best and most important sporting events of the year
Mic
Guest
McGregor will be getting his arse kicked by round 2. He will lose his cool and kick Mayweather in the face. Fight over.
Justin Faux
Expert
I know I'm in the minority here, but Canelo-GGG is still my number-one priority on the combat sports calendar.
Justin Faux
Expert
I have spoken to people around McGregor over the past few months. They all believe he can do it. It's not fake, he's not just here for a cash grab. He believes he can do it.
Farqueue
Guest
Its gunna break records and I will watch it for free at local bar cause im overseas and beers are $1 and I got nothing else to do but I'm amazed at how many people have been sucked in by this. It will come out after the fight that they had plenty of friendly meetings and agreed on how to milk as much money as possible . Its a shame that the biggest middleweight bout in a long time is being overshadowed by the circus.
Justin Faux
Expert
I feel like the circus has already jumped the shark, personally. This is fun and all, but I'm looking forward to it being all over.
Justin Faux
Expert
The chances of McGregor landing an "illegal MMA move" in this fight is almost nonexistent. There are provisions in the contract that indicate he will lose a giant chunk of his purse if he does. Mayweather has suggested it's 90%, but that sounds outrageous.
Sideline Commentator
Roar Guru
Think you're wrong about one thing: McGregor genuinely thinks he can win. One of the few, admittedly.
stagman
Guest
Who cares!!! This nothing more than 2 big mouthed dumbasses blowing wind up each others arses. More Fake Sport and American bullsh-t!!!
rock86
Guest
Agree with this article, how this bout even went ahead is ludicrous. In saying that, I'll probably sit down to watch it, with Mayweather schooling McGregor. In saying that though, let's be clear, I think McGregor gives himself realistically no chance of winning - it's always been about the money - and all parties will make ridiculous amounts from this bout, so they've both already won.
morebeer
Guest
McGregor will be belted into next week.
Mattyb
Guest
Agree with the article. Pretty ordinary that this fight is going ahead,I just can't see how a non boxer will defeat a boxer that other great actual boxers havnt been able to.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
My fearless prediction: By the end of this bout, the shark will have well and truly been jumped.
Dan
Roar Rookie
What chance Justin, that the narrative for the fight goes as predicted for the first 2 odd rounds - with McGregor looking to land the knockout blow but Mayweather putting on another defensive clinic - and then as McGregor tires just continually closes the space and gets DQ? Is that a potential outcome for a rematch and another squillion dollars or do you think there will be a clause in the original contract about earnings and DQ?