Mayweather, UFC star McGregor agree to August fight

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Mayweather, UFC star McGregor agree to August fight

By Rory Carroll

 

FILE PHOTO: Aug 20, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Conor McGregor (blue gloves) reacts to fight with Nate Diaz ()red gloves) during UFC 202 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joshua Dahl-USA TODAY Sports

 

(Reuters) - Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, two of the most popular athletes in their respective sports, have agreed to a crossover fight in the ring on August 26 in Las Vegas, Mayweather said in a tweet on Wednesday.

 

The fight is expected to gross millions of dollars with Mayweather a solid favourite.

 

Mayweather, 40, retired in 2015 with an unblemished 49-0 professional boxing record while boastful Irishman McGregor, 28, is the UFC's lightweight champion.

 

"IT'S OFFICIAL!!!" Mayweather wrote on his Twitter account alongside a short video that included still photos of both fighters.

 

"THE FIGHT IS ON," McGregor tweeted minutes before Mayweather's post.

 

The two fighters have gone back and forth for nearly a year regarding a potential showdown with both men previously stating they each wanted $100 million for the fight.

 

UFC president Dana White told ESPN that the fight will take place at the T-Mobile Arena and that McGregor will weigh in at 154 pounds.

 

Mayweather Promotions will publicize the event, which will be available on Showtime pay-per-view.

 

"I talked to Conor McGregor this morning," White said. "He is absolutely, 100 percent positive that he wins this fight."

 

If McGregor pulls that off, it would rank among the greatest boxing upsets of all time.

 

Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever, and prides himself on his ability to evade punishment with his skilful movement about the ring while making adjustments against opponents on the fly.

 

McGregor, the UFC's reigning lightweight champion and former featherweight champion, is known as much for his bravado as for his explosive knockout power inside an MMA octagon.

 

The Irishman became the first UFC fighter to hold two belts simultaneously when he knocked out Eddie Alvarez in New York last November for the lightweight championship.

 

The UFC stripped McGregor of his featherweight belt shortly after that fight when he announced he would be taking some time off after he and long-time partner Dee Devlin had their first baby in May. 

 

Known for his devastating striking and highlight-reel knockouts, McGregor is also quick and irrational on his feet, but few would back him to beat one of the most complete boxers of all time.

 

A win for Mayweather would move him ahead of former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano, who also retired with a perfect 49-0 career record.

 

(Additional reporting by Frank Pingue and Philip O'Connor, editing by Gene Cherry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-06-15

[nausea]

Well, it will be interesting to see what happens but as it's being fought under boxing rules the word "mismatch" springs to mind.

[tonray]

Mayweather in 6. 

[smutcakes]

Mayweather to carry him to the later rounds to make it seem less of a robbery of the paying public.

[Rigby40]

What a circus show. 

McGregor doesn't have what it takes to compete with a professional boxer, especially someone with Mayweather's level of defense. Even a high volume puncher with fast hands like Manny Pac couldn't take out Mayweather. 

This whole fight is a joke.

The real fight this year is going to be GGG vs Canelo.

[Just1Voice]

Is it going to be strictly boxing, or will MMA rules also apply? 

 

Strictly boxing, I'll take Mayweather.

MMA rules, I'll go with Connor. 

 

[smutcakes]

2 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Is it going to be strictly boxing, or will MMA rules also apply? 

 

Strictly boxing, I'll take Mayweather.

MMA rules, I'll go with Connor. 

 

Its boxing. Connor has a a very very slim punchers chance, it is boxing after all.

[Just1Voice]

13 minutes ago, smutcakes said:

Its boxing. Connor has a a very very slim punchers chance, it is boxing after all.

Strictly boxing is seriously one sided in favor of Mayweather.  

To be a fair fight, it needs to be a combination of both styles. 

 

[smutcakes]

1 minute ago, Just1Voice said:

Strictly boxing is seriously one sided in favor of Mayweather.  

To be a fair fight, it needs to be a combination of both styles. 

 

Of course, if it was a mix it would favor Conner.

There is no way to make it a fair fight, Conner has been chasing it because he wants the money, so the only way he would get it would be to accept its boxing.  PBF gets $100 m for a low quality sparing session.