Conor McGregor v Floyd Mayweather Preview, Betting Tips and Odds
Mayweather v McGregor, UFC v Boxing, make no mistake this fight has captured the imagination of sports fans around the world as the two go head to head in the biggest fight in the history of combat sports. McGregor, a Betsafe ambassador, has left no stone unturned in his training camp at the UFC High Performance Institute which has consisted of high altitude training, sparring sessions, water treadmill’s, cycling through the Nevada desert and more. Hall of Fame boxing referee Joe Cortez, a veteran of over 170 world title bouts, has also been drafted in to oversee McGregor’s sparring sessions, another thorough approach by the McGregor camp to ensure their man is in perfect shape come fight night. Add to the mix that the superstar Irishman has only needed to focus on one discipline, boxing, as opposed to several like in MMA, then one could be forgiven for thinking that come Saturday we could witness the biggest sporting upset of all time. Boxing News have a look at the fight in more detail below exclusively for Betsafe.
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McGregor v Mayweather: Backstory
Conor McGregor was just making his name in MMA when he started calling out Floyd Mayweather’s. The Irishman, seduced by the ludicrous amount of money the boxing king was making with a safety first approach, recognised the marketability in this showdown before anyone else.
For a long time, Mayweather ignored him as he merrily dominated his last few boxing rivals. Until last year when (as McGregor’s version of events goes) the now-retired American superstar approached Conor’s team and said he was open to the idea. Negotiations began tentatively, the media – and in turn the public – were teased with the contest’s progress before it became clear early in 2017 that this unthinkable ‘fight’ was nigh.
What we’re left with is one of the greatest boxers in history, and the owner of spotless 49-0 record, taking on a debutant with minimal boxing experience. Not only that, this is not an exhibition fight, or a hybrid of boxing and MMA, this is a sanctioned boxing match that will go down in the record books. Frankly, the Nevada State Athletic Commission should hang their heads in shame.
McGregor v Mayweather: It’s exciting though, right?
WELL, there’s certainly a buzz. Or a deafening racket depending on your opinion. The recent world tour, which went from Los Angeles to London via Toronto and New York, highlighted the appeal in this bout.
That appeal, if you don’t delve too deeply, is understandable; the apparently unbeatable Mayweather, the cocksure fighter many fans love to hate, is coming out of retirement to take on the loveable MMA superstar whose jackhammer left hand, if it lands, might just upset the odds.
But delve a little deeper before laying a mountain (or even a pebble) of cash on the underdog. To say McGregor hasn’t boxed before isn’t true because he did so as an amateur, at novice level, while he was a teenager, but his experience – compared to Mayweather’s – is chronically low.
Even if this fight was set for 2020, and the Irishman could spend the next three years learning the trade, he would still be an outrageous novice compared to his opponent, who has been boxing since he was a toddler.
Not only that, Mayweather is not just experienced, he’s one of the most naturally gifted fighters in history, and a defensive genius to boot.
Does McGregor have a chance?
HE has a chance because he’ll be in the same ring and, as the old saying goes, you have to be in it to win it. But, no, his chances of victory are somewhere between zero and zilch.
But for those desperate for evidence that McGregor can score the biggest surprise since an iceberg got the better of RMS Titanic in 1912, there are some flickers of hope.
Mayweather certainly seemed to be ruffled by McGregor’s antics at the aforementioned world tour and, for a man used to winning the war of words at this point, the Irishman’s mouth may have given the veteran food for thought. Whether it’s enough to actually distract him when it matters most is another matter entirely, though.
The other factors those with McGregor-tinted glasses on may say are in the underdog’s favour are:
Mayweather’s age. At 40, he’s 12 years Conor’s senior and he hasn’t fought since 2015 when he dominated the overmatched Andre Berto. McGregor’s youth, coupled with his rough and ready style, has led some to believe an upset could be on the way.
The other is Floyd’s ‘problem’ with southpaws and McGregor’s lively left hand. It’s true that Mayweather has been stung by left hands in the past, but the defining truth is that he’s never really had that much trouble winning those fights.
Even if he were 50, it’s likely the American – who reads an opponent better than almost anyone – would neutralise McGregor’s crude attacks with the minimum of fuss.
So Bet on Mayweather?
THE odds on a Mayweather victory are not particularly tempting (for good reason), but if you have thousands going spare, there’s few better ways to make some easy money. However, for a nice return without re-mortgaging the house, perhaps spread your cash round some specific rounds that Mayweather will win.
Some have said it would be a moral victory if McGregor hears the final bell. It would also be a surprise. Even at 40, Mayweather will not find his opponent hard to hit, and it will be a whole new world of hitting for the Irishman. It’s unlikely he’ll see the finishing blow coming, and given he tires in the Octagon after three rounds (which last five minutes, admittedly) chances are he’s going to be exhausted after a similar amount of time chasing Mayweather.
The pick here is for Floyd to drop the bomb for a farcical win in the fifth, but anything from the fourth to the ninth is perfectly feasible.
Should you still want to bet on McGregor, then just pick any round. They’re all as unlikely as each other.
About John Dennen
John Dennen is a respected sports writer for Boxing News, the oldest boxing publication in the world. Established in 1909, Boxing News’ reputation as the market authority comes from over 100 years of experience in the hardest game.
