Advertisement

McGregor's boxing bout with Mayweather is finally going ahead

The Dubliner, a pro boxing debutant, will face the undefeated former world champion in Las Vegas this summer.

9Vdx901l Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.

IRISH MIXED MARTIAL arts champion Conor McGregor is set to land the biggest payday of his career later this year.

McGregor, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s current lightweight champion, will swap MMA for boxing to take on Floyd Mayweather in the ring.

The long-rumoured bout was confirmed this evening by both fighters on social media, following an initial report by Yahoo Sport’s Kevin Iole.

McGregor, who will enter the bout as a massive underdog, is set to take on Mayweather in a boxing match on Saturday, 26 August at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

UFC president Dana White told TMZ that the event will be co-ordinated by Mayweather’s company, Mayweather Promotions, and it will feature an undercard of boxing bouts. Mayweather and McGregor will contest a 12-round fight with 10-ounce gloves.

According to White, both fighters will be tested by the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the UFC boss expects McGregor to make approximately €100 million from his involvement. Forbes recently reported that the 28-year-old Dubliner has earned $34 million in the past 12 months, making him the world’s 24th-highest-paid athlete.

White told ESPN’s Sportscenter that the fight will be contested at 154 pounds. Mayweather competed at between 130lbs and 154lbs during his boxing career. McGregor is the UFC’s champion at 155lbs but he has also held the 145lbs title.

Fancy Combat / YouTube

McGregor has taken the UFC by storm since his debut in 2013, setting MMA records for gate receipts and pay-per-view buys while substantially increasing the amount of mainstream interest in the sport.

However, while the MMA star — who trains at Naas Road’s Straight Blast Gym — once boxed as an amateur in his teens, he has no professional experience in the ring.

Having won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Mayweather — who turned 40 in Febraury — embarked on a professional career which saw him become the most successful boxer of his era and one of the greatest of all time.

After winning all 49 of his pro bouts, Mayweather will aim to take his record to 50-0 against McGregor. Mayweather hasn’t fought since defeating Andre Berto via unanimous decision in September 2015.

McGregor’s last MMA outing resulted in a second-round TKO victory over defending UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 at Madison Square Garden last November.

Legendary sports broadcaster Fred Cogley has died at 82

Confederations Cup games in Russia can be abandoned via anti-discrimination measures

Close
156 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute BMJF
    Favourite BMJF
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 11:19 AM

    Would have helped Argentina if they put the best team on the pitch!! They left two of Europe’s best strikers in 2017/8 season off the starting line up….bizarre

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 11:47 AM

    @BMJF: and left another one at home.

    55
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian
    Favourite Brian
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 11:53 AM

    @BMJF: 100+ goals in 17/18 on the bench or at home

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 12:08 PM

    “unimpressed with the coaches tactics”? Sure was it not Messi picking the team

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian
    Favourite Brian
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 12:14 PM

    @Jim: do you use the Messi pic to try to make your comments look balanced?
    He is definitely at fault too but no Messi was not picking the team unless you believe everything the tabloids say

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim
    Favourite Jim
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 12:06 PM

    Excuses excuses most of the players play for top clubs in europe dybala augero huigian Di Maria all top players for their clubs

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian
    Favourite Brian
    Report
    Jul 1st 2018, 12:13 PM

    @Jim: do you realise none of those players started yesterday barring Di Maria who was absolutely terrible all tournament barring the goal out of nowhere?

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal O'Donoghue
    Favourite Cathal O'Donoghue
    Report
    Jul 2nd 2018, 11:29 AM

    Maradona had Messi and a decent squad in 2010. How’d that go?

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.