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File composite photo of UFC competitor Conor McGregor (left) and Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jnr. PA Wire

Mayweather says fight with McGregor is what people want

The 40-year-old boxer has been retired since beating Andre Berto in September 2015.

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.”

(C) AFP 2017

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:26 AM

    I don’t think true fans of boxing or MMA really “wanted” this fight. I’m sure either sports fans would prefer a Canelo rematch and UFC title defence respectively. But of course we’ll all tune in for the curiosity but as an event it is not competitive. McGregor stands absolutely no chance… well except for this “puncher’s chance” that you could literally say anyone with arms has. Even if McGregor had the talent of Ali in boxing it would take him years to hone these skills and build the timing and ring craft to have a competitive fight with a world level fighter. The fight is a money grab, Floyd finally has another dance partner that will earn him 9 figures, and McGregor is all too happy to take a moderate beating for mad money, as I would.
    But sure look it might be a bit of craic.

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    Mute Jamie
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:19 PM

    I’d never buy a ppv or be bothered with either sport but I’d say il watch this fight

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:27 PM

    @Jamie: Exactly. The casual fan is who they are catering to.

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    Mute Tommy Browne
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:11 AM

    Can’t wait for this.
    Biggest fight since Rocky v Hulk Hogan.

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:23 PM

    @Tommy Browne: That was a brutal battle.

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    Mute Tony Stack
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    Jun 18th 2017, 3:02 PM

    @Tommy Browne: Thunderlips I believe

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    Mute Ciarán
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:12 AM

    We stand by him, Win, Lose or Draw!! An inspiration for young peoplein Ireland!!

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    Mute Ciara Baines
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:16 AM

    @Ciarán: Who’s ‘We’?

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    Mute 4OYards
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:30 AM

    @Ciara Baines: Presumably the very large percentage of people in Ireland and abroad who have been inspired by this working class guys journey to the very top of his profession making a lot of money in the process.

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    Mute Cathal
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:46 AM

    @4OYards: not as large a percentage as you’re thinking I’d say

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    Mute ryan o sullivan
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:49 AM

    @Ciara Baines: everyone in ireland bar you , ya gimp

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:16 PM

    What the people really want is Theresa May v Millwall

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    Mute Ruairi O'Bric
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    Jun 18th 2017, 2:53 PM

    @Ollie Watson: what people really want is sunshine, beer gardens and Mondays off.

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    Mute Ollie Watson
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    Jun 18th 2017, 6:17 PM

    @Ruairi O’Bric: nah millwall

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    Mute Leon
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:09 PM

    To be fair, if I was stealing another 100 million I’d at least try to make it seem mess obvious too. Floyd could eat cake every day, not hit the gym once, roll out of bed and beat the snot out for McGregor in a Boxing match. There could be very tragic consequences as a result of this fight. Nick Blackwell’s scare wasn’t too far a distant past, and he’s a very abled boxer, training all his life against a guy he’d a legit decent chance against, yet was completely over matched. I hope John Kavanagh hasn’t turned into a proper tool and knows to look after his fighter when he’s getting lit up.

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:22 PM

    @Leon: That’s another big point people are missing. People talk about Floyd not having knockout power anymore, I still think he has more than enough to so stop Conor early if not even by accumulation alone, but if the fights goes into the late rounds and given how accurate Floyd is, getting your head snapped back 500 times especially when you have no experience in absorbing a proper punch with 10oz gloves is not good for the brain.

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    Mute Kevin O' Brien
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    Jun 18th 2017, 2:18 PM

    @Leon: you’re out of your mind if you think McGregor is gonna be seriously injured in this fight. Prepare to be surprised in August

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 5:17 PM

    @Kevin O’ Brien: out of your mind to think a top level professional boxer who has enough power to command the respect of middleweights could seriously injure a novice? It’s not likely as he will likely knock him out early, but of course it’s possible you mad man.

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    Mute alan clare
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    Jun 18th 2017, 8:43 PM

    Mayweather is stepping into the ring with an Irish man..unbelievable. .well done conor mcgregor..a triumph in itself. .now cheer him on .the man is an athlete and has balls of steel. .and even more importantly conor mcgregor is an ambassador for mma. .He will be back in the octogan by December. .a very rich man either way..and fair play to him I say….

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    Mute Jah
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:13 PM

    Odds are shrinking on both sides. Lots of money being reported on Conor McGregor

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:39 PM

    @Jah: Fools and their money are easily parted

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 6:15 PM

    @Jah: Supposedly 90% of bets on McGregor, but 80% of the money on Floyd. People love a punt.

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    Mute billy Dorney
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    Jun 18th 2017, 4:47 PM

    Joke fight,,,mocking the Ali’s,fraziers,etc of the padt

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 9:49 PM

    @billy Dorney: would you stop

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    Mute Mr Scientist
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:34 AM

    Mayweather isn’t stupid. Theres a why hes only coming back to fight mcgregor easy win. Oh and don’t forget the ridiculous payday

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 12:39 PM

    @Mr Scientist: stupid people hit women

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    Mute Mr Scientist
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:24 PM

    @Gareth: conor wasn’t such an angel in that front in his early years Gareth

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:31 PM

    @Mr Scientist: lol are you trying to say he was a woman beater or do you mean he took recreational drugs like 50% of the country did

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    Mute Brian
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    Jun 18th 2017, 1:45 PM

    @Gareth: So not beating women makes you an angel? Good to know that’s the threshold.

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 2:38 PM

    @Brian: ?

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    Mute Mr Scientist
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    Jun 18th 2017, 2:52 PM

    @Gareth: he was very close to being brought to court for domestic abuse from his Gf in his early 20s.

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    Mute Enda McCallion
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    Jun 18th 2017, 4:44 PM

    @Gareth: Keep up with the news Gareth.

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 9:46 PM

    @Enda McCallion: ?

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    Mute Gareth
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    Jun 18th 2017, 9:47 PM

    @Mr Scientist: i think you’re confused

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    Mute Mr Scientist
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    Jun 18th 2017, 11:10 PM

    @Gareth: na not mate. Used to live around his area. Take your head out of his a*rse

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    Mute Mark Walsh
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    Jun 18th 2017, 5:36 PM

    McGregor is thug with illusions of grandeur…..just like all these fighters he f@@k it up and will be forgotten in a few years

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