By Mark Vasto
Syndicated Columnist
So it’s going to happen after all: Floyd Mayweather (49-0) will take on Conor McGregor (0-0) Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be historic on several levels.
If Mayweather wins, he will have a 50-0 record, breaking the 49-0 tie he now shares with Rocky Marciano. Also, it likely will be the highest grossing fight in history, pulling in well north of $600 million when you factor in merchandising and licensing.
Vegas odds have Mayweather as the 6-1 favorite, but 90 percent of the action has been on McGregor, according to Caesar’s Palace. My advice to any sane person? Don’t bet on it. I see the fight working itself out in the following scenarios:
1. Floyd toys with McGregor for 3-4 rounds before viciously knocking him out in the 5th or 6th;2. McGregor is disqualified for kicking or doing something bizarre;
3. The ref stops the fight for humane reasons because McGregor won’t go down, and;
4. Floyd slips on McGregor’s blood and McGregor catches him with a hard left and knocks Mayweather out, scoring the greatest upset in sports history.
That’s my take. Here are a few other educated takes:
Sugar Ray Leonard: “It’s boxing, the dominant boxer wins … they say it’s gonna make a mockery out of [boxing], I don’t think so … not one fight.” (TMZ Sports)
Mike Tyson: “McGregor doesn’t win in a boxing match … [he’s] going to look really ridiculous boxing him.” (Sirius XM Channel 93)
Oscar De La Hoya: “McGregor is not a boxer. And he’s going up against the best boxer on the planet? In our generation? Against Mayweather? And he’s 0-0? It’s impossible! I couldn’t beat him!”
Max Kellerman, boxing analyst: “The lack of respect for the discipline is astonishing. He’s been doing this since he was a baby. The idea that Conor McGregor can win is absurd. Mayweather will be able to hit McGregor anywhere he pleases, whenever he pleases … [he will KO McGregor] whenever he wants, however he wants.”
Joe Rogan, UFC announcer: “[McGregor] is fighting one of the best if not the best boxer ever. Most likely this is not going to work out well for him. The only way it could work out well is if Floyd takes him lightly and Conor clips him, Conor mugs him, Conor does some old-school Bernard Hopkins [stuff] in the clinch.”
Jim Lampley: “McGregor’s style is exactly the wrong style for fighting Floyd Mayweather. He’s not an attacker; he’s a counterpuncher … I’m a hundred percent certain the boxer is going to win.” (Fight Hub TV)
Whenever you enter the ring, the other guy always has a puncher’s chance. A fluke left out of nowhere? It’s happened before. You never know. Think Rocky and Apollo. By the way, what does Rocky think?
Sylvester Stallone (Rocky): “Mayweather would be facing first-degree murder charges [after the fight]. It wouldn’t even be fair.”
I wouldn’t bet on that either, but we’ll see soon enough.
Mark Vasto is a veteran sportswriter who lives in New Jersey.(c) 2017 King Features Synd., Inc.
I was right! #3