Mayweather: I’ll make $300 million for McGregor fight
On Showtime’s All Access: Mayweather v. McGregor, Mayweather says he will make $300 million for fighting McGregor. McGregor is rumoured to make $100 million.
I mean, am I the highest-paid athlete out there? And just coming back? We not talking about no contract. We not talking about no contract for no four years, or no contract for no five years. I can do it in 36 minutes. $300 (million) or better. In 36 minutes. Just being real…They call me ‘Money Mayweather for a reason. Imma get it regardless.
Report: Mayweather, McGregor must fight in 10-ounce gloves
ESPN reports that, according to Nevada State Athletic Commission rules, Mayweather and McGregor, who are contracted to fight at the junior middleweight division limit of 154 pounds, must fight with 10-oz gloves even if they agree they’d prefer 8-ounce gloves. NSAC rules:
Athletes (boxers/kick boxers) weighing-in up to and including 135 pounds must wear 8-oz gloves in competition, while athletes weighing-in over 135 pounds (junior welterweight class and above) must wear 10-oz gloves in competition. However, athletes weighing-in over 135 but (no) more than 147 may wear 8-oz gloves in competition if both athletes agree to do so in writing on their bout agreement (contract).
Duffy: McGregor has to find the gaps to beat Mayweather
Duffy, who beat McGregor in October 2011 with a 38-second submission at Cage Warriors 39, and who then switched to boxing, says the general level of boxing in elite MMA is rudimentary.
The standard isn’t high enough for a boxing match, but MMA is very different. With the small gloves on, you haven’t got to be as technical because it’s easier for the shots to slip through and to get stoppages, and sometimes a wilder fighter can catch you off guard quicker than a technical fighter. It’s just different…It was definitely tough [to learn boxing]. I remember my first session that was officially only boxing, and the intensity and attention to detail in that first hour and a half was crazy. I had a lot to learn. I immediately wondered if I was going to be able to do it, but out of stubbornness, I wouldn’t have been able to give up. The type of fitness is very different. We obviously cover some of that in MMA, but there’s a level of comfort you have to get to. I remember sparring high level guys and there was almost a fight-like nervousness every time you’d go to a new gym…Conor is not going to be able to put pop on every shot and won’t be able to look at the leg to the neck as a target area. The gaps you’re looking for are much smaller. That’s what I learned in boxing – how to spot and open gaps, and to pace myself while doing that. It’s just one of those differences that people take for granted. Conor has some sting on his shot but it’s different with smaller gloves, and obviously, Floyd’s defense is impeccable. Floyd is used to seeing these shots coming, and this is his battleground.
Kavanagh: Why McGregor is not using a boxing coach
Coach Kavanagh says McGregor is not using a boxing coach because they don’t see any value in it.
I don’t know if it’s a gamble or a risk. It’s a calculated risk…I don’t see the sense in bringing in a new person that doesn’t know how [we do things]…The other side to looking at it is that there has been one of the best boxing trainers in the world, and he did train a southpaw for years and years and years…and his result was negative. It didn’t work out. Freddie Roach and Pacquiao. Whatever gameplan [Freddie] had for a southpaw to beat Mayweather didn’t work…Besides a few brief moments, Mayweather was able to handle it. So why would you bring in someone to repeat the same plan, and hope for a different result? We want to do something different altogether. A completely different approach.
McGregor: ‘Pick whatever size gloves you want as well little man’
McGregor responds to Mayweather’s call for 8-ounce gloves.
Another handy 12 rounds today. We are prepared to destroy Floyd. Pick whatever size gloves you want as well little man. I fight with 4oz. I don’t give a fuck about the size of the glove. I am coming sprinting at you with bricks. Know that. Brittle hands.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXSipWvgOFS/
Mayweather to McGregor: Let’s fight in 8 oz glves
Mayweather posts to social media:
Don’t believe what you hear in the media. Don’t believe what you hear on blog sites. If it’s not coming directly from me, then it’s not true. I’m telling McGregor, “Let’s fight in 8 oz gloves”. McGregor can fight in any brand he prefers or chooses. I’ll be wearing 8 oz Grant gloves. Whatever advantage McGregor needs to feel more comfortable in the ring, I’m willing to accommodate. Let’s give the boxing and MMA fans what they want to see.
https://t.co/3uljFZ24hC pic.twitter.com/TOF5iBPoHu
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) August 1, 2017
After party announced
McGregor announces an after party at Encore Beach Club in Las Vegas, to take place after his fight with Mayweather.
Conor McGregor after party announced. $35 for women, $45 for men. Expedited entry: $45 for women, $75 for men. pic.twitter.com/gPeuIbJtXW
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 1, 2017
McGregor’s striking coach: ‘Conor is killing it in sparring’
Roddy, who is McGregor’s striking coach, says he is happy with the progress made so far.
Conor is killing it in sparring. He’s not getting touched, you know what I mean? He can do as many rounds as we want because he’s doing so well. One thing I’ve noticed in camp is that week after week, he becomes twice the fighter he was. I’ve said this before, talking about MMA, that every fight, the ‘New Conor’ would smash the ‘Old Conor.’ Well, that’s happening every week this camp. Knowing what he’s doing, and how much he’ll improve in the next four weeks, I’m excited for people to see it…I honestly believe no one has a better brain in combat sports than Conor. I’ve watched him for 16 years. I’ve watched every single person that’s come into the gym and it doesn’t matter what level they are — straight up boxers, high-level amateurs, Thai boxers, world-class MMA fighters — I’ve watched Conor read them and pick them apart time after time. You can’t coach that. I’ve never seen anybody else able to do it. There’s no doubt to me he can do it to any man. I don’t think people know what’s coming on the 26th. I honestly don’t. I don’t think anybody realizes what is coming.
First PPV commercial released
The first pay-per view commercial is released for the McGregor-Mayweather fight.
Two kings collide. One will reign.
McGregor: To have freedom, you must ‘disconnect each limb from the body safely’
In a psot to Instagram, McGregor talks about the ability to disconnect his limbs from his body.
In order to have complete freedom in your shot selection and direction, you must first gain the ability to disconnect each limb from the body safely. This is a right hand uppercut. But notice the separation in the shoulder joint. From the rotator cuff, to the clavicle, to the collar bone. The entire joint has complete freedom and separation. That whip of a shot is free to go in any direction. The same rules apply for every part of the body. Freedom in the body equals freedom in the strike. Yours sincerely, the greatest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXO4kEGg4Md/
Elba: ‘McGregor has a really good chance of winning’
Elba, who himself has had a professional kickboxing fight, which he won, says he thinks McGregor could beat Mayweather.
In my opinion, I think McGregor has a really good chance of winning that fight. I have a kickboxing background. The agility of kickboxers and MMA is very different from a boxer. I think what’s going to happen is that Floyd — and I love Floyd, he’s a friend — he’s going to fight his fight, but I think McGregor is going to topple that…He’s going to topple his composure, he’s going to throw some things around that Floyd’s not going to be used to. And the other thing about McGregor is that he can strike really, really, really quickly out of nowhere. If Floyd does what he does normally, which is hold a tight fight, I think McGregor’s going to topple that, strike him — if he gets one on his chin, it could be over. Not a lot of people agree with me, I just know kickboxers move differently. Conor’s not going in there to try and box Floyd, he’s going to fight Floyd. That’s a different thing all together.
Cortez: McGregor-Malignaggi sparring got ‘a little out of control’
Cortez, who is in McGregor’s camp to help ease the transition to boxing rules, by overseeing sparring sessions as he would real bouts, says he had to admonish McGregor and Malignaggi during a recent sparring session.
He was in there mixing it up a little bit with Paulie and it was the real thing I had to stop the action and I had to say, ‘Alright guys, you guys are getting a little out of control here, you gotta stop this.’ It got a little rough. They were both roughing each other up and I had to stop the action like as in a regular fight. They were holding too much, they were trying to punch each other. I mean, it got a little bit out of control where I had to call ‘Time!’ [I said] ‘Alright guys, you gotta stop this right now, I want a good clean round, give me sportsman-like conduct. Understand? I don’t want to take any points from either one of you. Understand?’ I looked at them and they said, ‘Okay, alright.’ And I said, ‘Time in.’
And when asked if there had been alot of trash talking:
I had to put a stop to that as well. That’s probably why I had to stop the action.
Malignaggi now respects McGregor after watching him train
Malignaggi says McGregor has earned his respect after helping the Irishman prepare for his Las Vegas fight with Floyd Mayweather.
It makes me respect McGregor to see his work ethic that he’s put into the training camp. Seeing him work hard every day and see that he’s really determined to upset the odds. When you talk to Conor, at first I started thinking this guy doesn’t really think he’s going to win this, it’s just a 100 million dollar fight for him. Then when you really start to talk to him, you start to realise that this guy really believes it down deep inside his heart and he’s got every reason to, because every time he’s been doubted in his life he has been able to overcome those odds and win, no matter what it is. Come out of poverty, become a UFC champion, become a two-time two-weight UFC champion. Whatever it’s been, he’s done it. He has no reason to ever doubt himself, because he is yet to be proven wrong…He’s not going in there to play patty cake, he’s going in there with any other fighter’s mentality. Conor is the kind of guy who is going to come with a different style…It’s going to be up to Conor to throw those little curve balls here and there and throw things a bit out of line for Floyd, and see if he can get Floyd’s respect.
McGregor-Mayweather MC expects a billion people to watch fight
Lennon Jr, the MC who will be introducing McGregor and Mayweather on August 26, says the audience for the showdown will be huge.
There will be an excitement a buzz like there’s never been before. I think the world is tuning in to this event. I also can’t wait to introduce the fighters, sit down and see what happens. I talk to so many people and they keep running through the scenario of what will happen. I think round one is very telling so I am looking forward to getting out of the ring and sitting and watching it…It makes me feel great, the bigger the stage the more I like it and it makes it a lot more fun. We’ve had some big fights before when China tune in the crowd suddenly becomes larger, but this fight, this event has so many people from different walks of life and so many different countries, it’s gong to be huge. It’s like no event, it’s so special and maybe over a billion will see it.
Sky Sports: McGregor-Mayweather PPV will be £19.95 in UK
Sky Sports announces it has beaten BT Sports for the rights to broadcast the McGregor-Mayweather fight on August 26, live on pay-per-view. Ahead of the fight, Sky Sports viewers will be able to enjoy a range of support programming across both TV channels and digital platforms, in addition to all the pre-fight build up from behind the scene. The cost of the event will be £19.95 for UK customers; €24.95 for those in Ireland, across all forms of booking up until midnight Friday 25 August. From then on the cost will still be £19.95 / €24.95 if bookings are made via remote control and online, but will cost £24.95 / €29.95 if booked via the phone. An additional £2 / €2 booking fee still applies if bookings are made via a telephone agent. Cable customers are asked to contact their operator for booking information.Sky Sports:
This is surely one of the most anticipated and intriguing contests we’ve ever seen on Sky Sports Box Office. Can the charismatic Conor McGregor, so formidable in the octagon, make the switch to the ring and create history? What will it mean for Mayweather’s legacy – one of the greatest fighters of all time but coming out of retirement and facing a man at the very top of his game? It’s set to be a huge night in Las Vegas – one you won’t want to miss.
Mayweather and McGregor dwarves to fight in Vegas
In an echo of the McGregor-Mayweather fight, two dwarves are set to fight in Las Vegas’ Hustler Club, on August 5. It’s rumoured that the fight will last a total of 3 rounds and ‘Mini Mayweather’ is currently the favourite as he previously fought Mini Pacquiao.
Eubank Sr.: McGregor ‘is an Irishman. They are a special people’
Eubank Sr. says that McGregor’s Irish spirit may be the deciding factor that gets him the win against Mayweather. Eubank Sr. holds a keen interest in the fight because it echoes the fight he had with Steve Collins two decades ago, when Collins won, unexpectedly. Eubank Sr.:
What everyone is missing, what they’re not thinking about, what is so obvious — everyone is forgetting that he is an Irishman. They are a special people. I’m not bumping them up — I’m not Irish. I’m just saying my observations of the spirit of this people, they are amazing…I’m not talking about Conor McGregor. I’m not talking about an MMA fighter. I’m talking about an Irishman and an Irishman is always to be respected and that is where it is likely, it is possible, that Mayweather Jr. has taken his eye off the target…What is he fighting? You’re not fighting an MMA fighter, you’re not fighting a guy who is maybe limited in traditional boxing. You’re fighting an Irishman and that is enough. How do I know? I lived this.
Jones: McGregor ‘tremendous inspiration to me’
After his victory at UFC 214, Jones talks about McGregor:
Conor McGregor, he has been a tremendous inspiration to me. He has shown me, who has been at the upper echelon of this sport for many years now, he has shown me that these huge paydays are possible. I never thought in my time as champion that we would be able to see fighters making $70 million or whatever he’s making for this (Floyd) Mayweather fight. It’s an inspiration that you can do it. I see it as possible, and that’s what McGregor has done for me.
Sinead O’Connor wants to sing for McGregor in Vegas
O’Connor has offered to perform Conor McGregor’s walk-on song as he prepares to fight Floyd Mayweather, Jr. next month. The Irish star sang The Foggy Dew before McGregor’s UFC entrance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena before a fight in 2015, and now she wants to bring him luck in Las Vegas again. On her personal Facebook account, Sinead has asked McGregor to send her U.S. doctor Nabil Siddiqi an autograph, calling the medic, who has helped her overcome a series of mental health issues:
[He is] the biggest Conor McGregor fan on earth. He totally saved my life so I can keep singing for your fights.
Adams confident she can beat McGregor in boxing ring
Nicola Adams, the double-Olympic gold medalist, says Mayweather will win against McGregor:
I can see the interest, for me, Floyd Mayweather’s going to win hands down. It’s just a show really for everybody, a bit of a performance, a bit of entertainment. It’s not something you get to see everyday, a UFC fighter boxing a top class boxer, I definitely see Floyd Mayweather winning by knockout.
Asked how she’d do against McGregor:
[I’d win] yeah, definitely. Yeah definitely in the boxing ring, I don’t know about in the octagon, but in the boxing ring.