Mayweather confirms he will fight McGregor
Mayweather confirms that he will fight McGregor in an Instagram post.
It’s official.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVVcvO8gIhc/?
McGregor: ‘THE FIGHT IS ON’
The Mac Life announces that Mayweather has signed the contract to fight McGregor on August 26. McGregor confirms with a post to Twitter.
THE FIGHT IS ON. pic.twitter.com/KhW0u3jRft
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 14, 2017
Introduces ‘The Mayweather Challenge’
Mayweather introduces the ‘Mayweather Challenge,’ in which he appeals to people to live authentic lives, while at the door of his private jet.
Ladies and Gentlemen. We better start a new challenge. It’s called the Mayweather Challenge. The Mayweather Challenge is when you’re really living it, when you ain’t frightened and you ain’t lying to the people. When you’re really living the lifestyle that you say you’re living…[Introduces pilots] This is my jet, my pilots. So, listen. We’re tired of people on social media living a certain lifestyle when they really don’t. So the Mayweather challenge is showing the people how you really live.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVTpr42gFIo/
Ward: McGregor vs. Mayweather doesn’t ‘ruin boxing’
Light heavyweight champion Andre Ward says he doesn’t think the McGregor-Mayweather matchup will hurt boxing.
No, not at all. I think you just got to see it for what it’s worth. I think it’s something that’s never been done before in the sport, and I think just enjoy it. You’re going to pay and wanna tune in and be engaged with the spectacle, just understand what you’re getting into. And if it’s also a great fight, for however long it lasts, then that’s a bonus. All this talk about it ruining boxing — this is just something different. You’re going to have people speak out against it, it’s never been done before. But look at all the mainstream press that this situation has been getting over the last year. Every fighter that I see, every interview I do, I’m asked about it. And it’s bringing attention to our sport, casual attention. Mainstream attention.
Jeff Mayweather: Floyd is ‘getting ready for something’
Hee interviews Jeff Mayweather and Kevin Newman about the date, the venue, the weight, and Floyd’s training for the fight with McGregor. Jeff:
Well I don’t know anything. But Floyd is training, so he’s getting ready for something…Now he’s working consistently. Normally he wouldn’t do that unless he’s getting ready for something…To be honest, any time Floyd fights it’s gonna be huge…I’ve heard [they will fight at] 150. Floyd will be comfortable at any weight…It’s a boxing match, it’s not an MMA match, so it doesn’t matter what Conor brings. He’s got two hands just like Floyd.
‘Just tell us the ruleset’
McGregor taunts Mayweather with an image of him in boxing gloves.
Just tell us the ruleset. pic.twitter.com/Ucvf7sdWE1
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 13, 2017
McGregor mocks Mayweather’s age
McGregor pokes fun at Mayweather’s age, comparing him to the boxer’s father.
Man, much respect to Floyd Senior still getting a few rounds in at the gym. I hope I can still train at that age. Respect.
Man, much respect to Floyd Senior still getting a few rounds in at the gym. I hope I can still train at that age.
Respect. pic.twitter.com/Q2jv4Lffgd— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 13, 2017
Mayweather friend says McGregor fight contract has been signed
Joe Biggs says he has heard from David Rodriguez, ex-heavyweight boxer, and friend of Mayweather, that Mayweather has signed the fight contract with McGregor.
https://twitter.com/Rambobiggs/status/874421839807868928
https://twitter.com/Rambobiggs/status/874422279710572546
https://twitter.com/Rambobiggs/status/874424272923615237
Collins: With the right preparation McGregor can ‘stop’ Mayweather
Former WBO super middleweight and middleweight champion Steve Collins, who was one of the earliest sports stars to acknowledge McGregor’s potential, says ‘The Notorious’ can beat Mayweather.
This is a guy that I know for 20 years. He was involved in my career. When he said it could happen if it was put together the right way, I knew it was a possibility. It’s a guaranteed money-maker. Whether it’s through curiosity or belief, or just wanting to see one martial art against another, all the ingredients are there to make this happen. I thought it would have happened sooner, if anything, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if we see these guys in the ring soon…I could tell you how he could beat Mayweather. I can see him doing it. A victory for Conor is something that can definitely happen, and I think he will shock the world. He has the tools and the ability. If he prepares the right way, he won’t just beat Mayweather – he’ll stop him.
Regarding Eddie Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya’s criticism of the fight:
They should all just shut their mouths and concentrate on their own careers. All of these boxers are just jealous because Conor and Mayweather are going to make a fortune. Between the two of them, they’re creating interest that is unprecedented. The guys who are calling this a mockery are just upset because they aren’t in the headlines. If they were in the middle of this and they were fighting McGregor, they wouldn’t be saying any of this. It’s just jealousy.
Mayweather books MGM Grand for August 26
Mayweather has booked the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for August 26th, for a potential superfight with McGregor. Mayweather has fought at the venue for the final dozen bouts of his career. His promotional company have also reserved the arena on August 25 for a weigh-in. The as yet unannounced fight will be shown on Showtime, Mayweather’s long-time broadcaster of choice.
The best McGregor-Mayweather trash talk
TMZ releases a compilation of the best of McGregor-Mayweather trash talk.
Mayweather: When you look at boxing, we have legends!
McGregor: As far as real fighting, Floyd wants none of this.
Jones Jr.: McGregor will damage boxing…if he wins
Jones Jr. is asked for comment on Oscar De La Hoya and Dana White’s spat over the McGregor-Mayweather fight.
You got understand and where De La Hoya comes from. You gotta understand where Dana comes from I understand both sides. It’s not a true boxing event. It’s above boxing…It’s not bad for boxing because the boxer should win. It’s only bad for boxing if the MMA guy get luck and clip the boxer. Otherwise it couldn’t possibly bad for boxing. They are boxing. This guy [McGregor] has an name in MMA, not i boxing. So it gives boxing an advantage…It’s gonna be the event that everyone wants to see.
Mayweather spars six rounds against Haney in prep for McGregor fight
Mayweather has begun sparring for his super fight with McGregor. He posed with young, up-and-coming prospect Devin Haney after taking the 18-year-old six rounds. Haney, who is 15-0 as a professional already and 22 years Mayweather’s junior, is preparing for his lightweight contest with Erick Daniel Martinez on June 24.
White: I’m running the deal
White says that, contrary to recent reports, he is actively running the Mayweather-McGregor negotiations.
We live in a world right now where you can’t believe anything that you read. Who else would be running the Mayweather, McGregor deal than me? What does WME [Ari Emanuel’s talent agency] know about making big fights? Trust me, I’m running the Mayweather, McGregor deal. I’m the only one in it.
McGregor-Mayweather bargaining underway, early fall date in mind
An official familiar with the negotiations says that discussions to make the Mayweather-McGregor superfight are underway. The talks are between the UFC ownership group — Ari Emanuel’s Beverly Hills agency WME-IMG — and Al Haymon, Mayweather’s manager, who is the head of Premier Boxing Champions. At this point, the official says UFC President Dana White is not involved in the talks, and the parties are pushing to make a Mayweather-McGregor pay-per-view bout by “early fall”.
The UFC and McGregor last month struck a deal settling how they’ll split the money their side gains from a bout expected to generate wide riches. McGregor has at least four fights remaining on his UFC contract.
Lobov wonders if Mayweather will fight McGregor
Lobov, McGregor’s sparring partner, wonders if Mayweather will sign up to fight McGregor.
The ball is in Mayweather’s court right now. He’s the last signature that’s needed. He’s talked a big game, so let’s see if it happens now. Let’s see can he deliver now. When it really matters now, will he show up to fight? That’s what everybody wants to see. It’s going to be a great fight, so let’s make it happen.
Tyson: Mayweather a ‘small, scared man’ for Muhammad Ali comparison
Tyson is not impressed by Mayweather’s suggestion that he compares to Ali.
He’s very delusional. Listen, if he was anywhere near that realm of great as Muhammad Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself. OK, he can’t take his kids to school by himself, and he’s talking about he’s great? Greatness is not guarding yourself from the people. It’s being accepted by the people. He can’t take his kids alone to school by himself. He’s a little scared man. He’s a very small, scared man.
https://twitter.com/EditinKing/status/870405878473793536
Hatton: UFC, McGregor facing Mayweather embarrassment
Hatton, who lost against Mayweather in 2007, says McGregor cannot beat his own performance, nor the performance of Oscar De La Hoya, or Canelo Alvarez, when fighting Mayweather.
I couldn’t hit him. Oscar [De La Hoya] couldn’t hit him. Canelo [Alvarez] couldn’t hit him. Conor’s not going to hit him. If he’s the UFC’s biggest name and he doesn’t lay a glove on Floyd — which no disrespect, I could actually see that happen — I think there is only one organisation that is going to come off worse or one sport. I am a boxer but I am fan of UFC. But if he is UFC’s biggest name and what I think happens in the fight, happens in the fight, it could be a bit embarrassing and I wouldn’t like to see that happen to Conor, because I love him to bits. I think he is good for sports, good for entertainment. If the truth be known, I would like Conor to splatter him. My heart says it but my mind says no, he probably wouldn’t [beat him].
McGregor associate: Mayweather fight in September
Abner ‘Skullman’ Lloveras, who was on Team McGregor for the 22nd series of Ultimate Fighter and is quite close with the ‘Notorious,’ claims a date has been set for the Mayweather fight in September. The fight would most likely happen on September 30, so as not to conflict with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin on September 16:
The big news that I want to tell you is that the fight between McGregor and Mayweather has a date. It will be in September.
Kavanagh: Mayweather is a ‘low life’
In a column for The 42, Kavanagh says he has no respect for Mayweather and his gym’s training practices.
When I was in Australia in April, a lot was made of the fact that I highlighted Mayweather’s history of domestic violence during an interview. I’m not sure why people felt this was such a big deal, given that the man has already been convicted of beating up women. That’s a fact. I have absolutely no time for any man with a track record of such behaviour. In addition to that, from what I’ve seen of his gym, it appears to be the type of atmosphere in which bullies thrive. As many people will know, being bullied is what originally led me to martial arts. I’ve sought to create an atmosphere in my gym where people who have been victims of bullying can feel safe. In Mayweather’s gym, the better fighter bullies his training partner. But that’s not how it should work. The better fighter should always be conscious of their duty to pass on their expertise and help their training partners to grow. It should never be a competition in the gym. To me, Mayweather is a lowlife. He’s a guy I’d never want to have any contact with. Regardless of the outcome of this fight, I won’t be shaking his hand.