Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor
Date: Saturday, 26 August (local) Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Conor McGregor claimed he has never seen Floyd Mayweather in worse physical shape as the pair exchanged words at a raucous weigh-in in Las Vegas.
McGregor weighed in at 153lbs for Saturday's 154lb fight, with Mayweather 149.5lbs, before a face-off that drew roars from the thousands in attendance.
McGregor screamed in the face of his rival and paraded around the stage as Mayweather cut a reserved figure.
"He looks blown out, full of water," said McGregor, 29.
"That's the worst shape I've ever seen him in. I am going to breeze through him, trust me."
The build-up to the T-Mobile Arena bout has at times resembled a soap opera but finally, at around 04:00 BST on Sunday morning, they will at last fight.
If we get a bad result, which for us is McGregor knocking Floyd out in the first four rounds, we could lose around $20m, by far the worst boxing result in the state's history
Mayweather, who has come out of retirement for a 50th and final bout, said: "I know what it takes when it's a fight of this magnitude.
"Weight doesn't win fights, fighting wins fights. It won't go the distance, mark my words. This will be Conor McGregor's last fight also."
Some in Las Vegas thought McGregor's more conservative performance at Wednesday's final news conference intimated he might be coming to terms with the realities of making his boxing debut against one of the greatest fighters of his generation.
But playing to a crowd filled with Irish colours and songs, he revelled in his reception - and in the boos for Mayweather - beating his chest and screaming repeatedly.
"Look at me, I am in peak physical condition," he said, adding he would weigh close to 170lbs on fight night.
Many from within boxing have rubbished the match, choosing to refer to it as an "event" rather than a fight. But the dissatisfaction of the boxing purist looks unlikely to affect the mass audience, with the bout being screened in more than 220 countries, according to Showtime executive vice president, Stephen Espinoza.
That global reach could see the record of 4.6 million pay-per-view buys - set when Mayweather beat Manny Pacquiao in 2015 - beaten.
Watching the fight costs a minimum of £20 in the UK but around £75 in the US. This, added to ticket sales, merchandise and sponsorship, makes for a healthy pot. Tickets are also on sale to watch in bars on the Las Vegas strip, while more than 400 cinemas across the US will broadcast the event.
It all means more than $600m (£466m) could be generated, with Pacquiao-Mayweather's reported haul of around $620m in sight. Mayweather is expected to make around $300m, McGregor $100m. Not bad for 36 minutes of work or less.
There have been reports 'Money Man' has not taken McGregor seriously. This week 5 live boxing analyst Steve Bunce said only a "cocktail of age setting in and underestimation of his opponent" could pose any danger to the favourite.
Mayweather's father, Floyd Sr, this week told media his son had lost "a lot" of his ability since retiring in 2015. But a 50th career win from 50 fights would carry his son past the late Rocky Marciano's perfect 49-fight record, rounding off a dominant professional career that began after he had won bronze at the 1996 Olympics.
Mayweather has boxed 387 professional rounds, McGregor none.
26 of Mayweather's 49 wins were on points but in 23 of those wins he was given the decision unanimously.
Mayweather has suffered one knockdown in his career. He took an eight count against Carlos Hernandez in 2001.
The odds
Betting markets have bemused those who give McGregor no hope as his price has shortened in recent weeks. At around 10-3, the boxing debutant is actually a shorter price than many of the fighters Mayweather dealt with before retiring in 2015.
Las Vegas is expecting more than 1,300 private jets to land before for the weekend's action and the high rollers who hit the city's famous strip traditionally bet big on Mayweather in his home city.
"If we continue as we are, we will rival the $50m record staked in the state of Nevada, set when Mayweather beat Pacquiao," said Jay Rood, who runs the sportsbook at the MGM Grand.
"If we get a bad result, which for us is McGregor knocking Floyd out in the first four rounds, we could lose around $20m, by far the worst boxing result in the state's history."
Closer to home, one Irish bookmaker claims an individual has placed £650,000 on McGregor in a bid to win £2.8m. And while we are talking betting, Mayweather has said he will tweet a picture of his betting slip when he wagers on himself.
'I don't think he'll get lucky; Floyd doesn't let you get lucky'
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