BOXING LEGEND FLOYD Mayweather says he has no problem coming out of retirement to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in what some are predicting will be one of the richest fights in history.
“McGregor is a tough competitor. People all around the world demanded this fight so I had to give them what they wanted to see,” Mayweather told BSOTV in an interview that aired Saturday.
“They asked for this fight. I was in retirement, but they wanted me back and I’m back.”
Mayweather was making his first public comments since Wednesday’s announcement of the much-discussed fight which will take place 26 August in the US boxing capital of Las Vegas.
The 40-year-old Mayweather has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015 and improving his career record to 49-0.
The matchup with McGregor gives Mayweather a chance to reach the 50-0 career milestone.
Asked about financial details of the fight, Mayweather said both sides are pleased.
Both parties are very happy,” Mayweather said. “He’s very happy, I’m very happy and I can’t wait.”
But many boxing experts have slammed the event as an exhibition spectacle, pointing to the fact that the 28-year-old McGregor has never had a professional boxing match and only dabbled in the sport as a teenager.
The pair have yet to get together face-to-face since the announcement but they are expected to announce a promotional tour soon that will take them to a couple of major US cities.
“You’re supposed to stand behind your man. Stand behind the fighter that you believe in,” Mayweather said about McGregor’s supporters. “He’s a hell of a competitor.”
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Rolls Royce of a player Carrick. Won every honour a footballer can.
@Brian Dunne: Uh, he didn’t win a World Cup.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: as a club player. Playing in England and Europe before you say he hasn’t won la liga
@Brian Dunne: In your original comment, you didn’t specify club football, you just said ‘every honour’.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: Well now we have it all cleared up. Cheers!
@Brian Dunne: Thanks for clearing that up Brian. Conor really threw a spanner in the works there. Ruined my Sunday to be honest.
A whopping 1-0 win against the mighty Watford
@Running Down The Wing: Finish 2nd and the goalie gets player of the year says it all!
@DL_8_5: I suppose it’s laughable really since the goalkeeper was actually the best player of the season… imagine, the goalkeeper the best player of the whole season. Madness.
@An Observer2: think it’s more laughable that the guy with the golden boot , PFA awards etc only finishes fourth and by the skin of their teeth