One of the biggest fights ever just occurred between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Connor McGregor.
The UFC star cashed in on a huge payday by boxing one of the all-time greats the sport has ever seen.
But if you paid that $99.95 pay-per-view, you were duped.
Floyd Mayweather isn’t just considered one of the greatest boxers of his generation—many boxing experts don him as the greatest pound-for-pound boxers of all time.
After all, he was 49-0 heading into the fight.
And his opponent, McGregor, had never stepped into a boxing ring except only briefly as an amateur.
This is about as lopsided as it gets. That’s almost literally like a high school football player trying to stop the reigning defensive player of the year, Khalil Mack. He wouldn’t stand a chance.
But both Mayweather and McGregor touted it as if it was going to be a close fight so they could fool the viewer into paying that $99.95.
When the fight started, McGregor surprisingly won the first 3 (maybe 4) rounds, but then it was all down hill for the Irish sensation.
By the 9th round, Mayweather was connecting punch after punch; McGregor was gassed and kept looking at the clock—not even able to defend himself.
That’s where it ended in a technical knockout.
So if you paid for this spectacle, you were duped for two reasons:
While it seemed to be going well for McGregor in the first few rounds, he’s not conditioned to go 12 rounds and Mayweather knew he would go for the jugular once McGregor had tired himself out.
Mayweather was playing cheap. McGregor kept getting called for the hammer fist, which is legal in UFC but totally illegal in boxing. And Mayweather also kept turning his back on McGregor, which is a boxing-101 no-no.
Boxing experts were the most skeptical of this being a legitimate fight.
International Business Times reported:
Sports pundit Glen Macnow in July described the fight as “the scam of the century.” On Friday’s edition of ESPN’s “Around the Horn,” longtime sports columnist Woody Paige and others on the program essentially echoed similar sentiments that the fight didn’t feel authentic.
They are not alone. Many others have voiced their displeasure that the Nevada State Athletic Association even sanctioned a bout between a boxing legend and boxing novice.
Considering Mayweather has almost never lost a decision on a judge’s card in 49 fights, and against the likes of superstars like Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, Juan Manuel Marquez and many others, it seems inconceivable that someone making his boxing debut would stand even a small chance.
It’s for that reason many experts and sportswriters have noted the clear distinction of this event as a purely money-driven spectacle rather than anything that might resemble a competitive bout.
As Michael Rosenthal of The Ring wrote in June, “Two astute businessmen who stand to make tens of millions of dollars — maybe nine figures — have agreed to collect the money. That’s what this fight is about: money. It has little to nothing to do with boxing.”
Indeed, there have been unconfirmed reports that Mayweather will make $300 million and McGregor will make $100 million for the fight.
The huge sum has prompted a heavy dose of skepticism from boxing enthusiasts who feel that despite McGregor having youth on his side and a two-inch reach advantage that Mayweather will win in clinical fashion.
Mayweather, seeking a nice and clean 50-0 record, has become a very wealthy man through masterful defensive skills and an exceptional counterpunching style. How McGregor will be able to land any punch of significance is anyone’s guess.
“I strongly believe that McGregor is not gonna land a single punch. I don’t see him connecting anything,” famed retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya said, who called the fight a “farce.”
Max Kellerman also believed McGregor wouldn’t land a single punch but they were both wrong.
Although that was Mayweather’s game plan. It doesn’t matter if he connects, just tire him out. At one point, Mayweather even smiled into the camera while he was sitting in his corner when McGregor had won the first 3 rounds.
He knew. They both knew. And that’s why it was a scam.