Tag: boxing

The highly anticipated bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor is nearly upon us, concluding months of buildup and back-and-forths between the two camps.

Money remains the favourite, per OddsShark.com, as he seeks a record-breaking 50th win. His current record of 49-0 is tied for the best unbeaten mark in boxing history, shared with heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano.

Here’s a look at the latest projections:

Floyd Mayweather: 1-4 to win

Conor McGregor: 3-1 to win

Mayweather has been favoured to beat the UFC lightweight champion since the moment the fight was announced, with almost all pundits and analysts pointing at his perfect record and the fact his opponent has never fought as a professional boxer.

While McGregor is known for his excellent standup game in the UFC, his technique is built for the Octagon and not the ring. His hand speed and power are both fantastic for an MMA fighter, but whether that will translate to boxing is anyone’s guess.

As shared by ESPN’s Arash Markazi, Mayweather believes The Notorious should consider lasting the distance a victory of sorts:

At 40 years old, Mayweather’s last fight was nearly two years ago, a decision win over Andre Berto in September 2015. The last fighter to arguably test him was Marcos Maidana in their first meeting, in May 2014.

Money has never stood out with his power, impressing instead with awesome defence, footwork and hand speed. That hand speed will be the main question mark after a lengthy layoff, and the veteran has conceded he’s no longer the same fighter he was, per ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith:

But those comments could be mind games or Mayweather trying to hype a fight most assume will be a one-sided affair.

On top of his boxing skills, McGregor will also have to answer questions regarding his conditioning on Saturday. The Irishman gassed badly in his loss against Nate Diaz at UFC 196, and while he lasted the distance in the rematch at UFC 202 a year ago, he had to slow down during the middle rounds.

Against Mayweather, he will likely come out firing, knowing his best chance of winning will be by way of the early knockout. Once Money finds his pace and figures out the right distance, his ability to move in the ring makes him almost impossible to beat in the latter rounds.

Given Mayweather’s lack of knockout power, a decision seems likely, although the veteran will want to prove a point by knocking out the MMA star. But his perfect record should be more important than a statement win, so expect the American to be careful once he settles in.

            

Prediction: Mayweather by unanimous decision.

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As the superfight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather creeps closer and closer, the last bit of drama between the two is set to take place on the scales. 

The UFC champion and boxing superstar will weigh in to make the bout official on Friday night before the festivities on Saturday. 

The weigh-in’s represent the last part of the hype surrounding the fight. It’s one last chance for the two to generate some more buzz (if that’s possible) and maybe rope in a few more pay-per-view buys (as if they need the extra). 

Here’s all the info you need to check out the pre-fight ceremony and the latest odds for each of the fights on the main card. 

Weigh-in info

Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

Time: 4:30 p.m. ET

Tickets: Tickets available at ticketmaster.com

          

Fight card schedule, odds (courtesy of OddsShark)

Floyd Mayweather (-400, bet $400 to win $100) vs. Conor McGregor (+300) Super welterweight

Badou Jack (-450) Nathan Cleverly (+325), light heavyweight

Gervonta Davis (-3500) Francisco Fonseca (+1700), junior lightweight

Andrew Tabiti (-275) vs. Steve Cunningham (+200), cruiserweight

           

The weigh-in may be a bit more than ceremonial hype if Floyd Mayweather has the inside scoop on the McGregor camp. Just a few days ahead of the weigh-in, Money expressed doubt that the UFC star is going to be able to make the 154-pound limit for the fight. 

“I don’t think he’s gonna make the weight,” Mayweather said in an interview with FightHype.com. “Even if he does make the weight, that’s even better, but if he doesn’t make the weight, we’re still gonna fight. But it’s gonna be a heavy fine. Give me that money.”

The veracity of Mayweather’s concern might be questionable. McGregor has routinely fought at the 155-pound limit in MMA and was the titleholder in the 145-pound weight class. It isn’t as though this will be his first trip down to 154 pounds. 

In MMA it isn’t uncommon to lose 10 pounds in the days before the fight. With no issues on the scale for McGregor before, there’s little reason to believe that he won’t be able to make the weight on Friday night. 

Still, the fact that McGregor appears to be on his MMA weight cut schedule goes against what his nutritionist George Lockhart said leading into the fight. 

“For an MMA fighter to reload, they’ll gain 15, 18 pounds, which gives them that advantage (on fight night),” Lockhart said, per Abbey Subhan and Chamatkar Sandhu of MMA Junkie. “Boxing, I want him actually walking in close to weight the week of the fight. Walking in, weighing in and maybe gaining a couple [of] pounds after that.”

McGregor‘s size and power are some of the advantages that have been touted as reasons that the MMA fighter could shock Mayweather. While Money has mostly made his career at weights under 147 pounds, McGregor has proved to be an effective fighter anywhere from 145-170 pounds. 

Lockhart‘s idea of having McGregor focus on being lighter and quicker is well taken, though. Come Saturday night, he’s going to see a level of hand speed and footwork that he doesn’t see in the MMA world. 

McGregor does have size on Mayweather, but Abel Sanchez who trains boxing superstar Gennady Golovkin doesn’t believe power is his best friend in this matchup. 

“He has to make Floyd uncomfortable, and the only way he can make Floyd uncomfortable is to throw shots. He’s a bigger guy than Floyd, but if he’s waiting to land one on the chin, it may be all night,” Sanchez said, per UFC.com. “So he needs to hit him anywhere. Just piss him off and hopefully, while you’re moving your hands, he makes a mistake and you catch him.”

McGregor is getting credit for having power. His chances are predicated on his ability to knock fighters out, but the Irishman doesn’t necessarily have the raw power to connect. His power comes from great positioning and timing. 

Neither of those things are easy to achieve against Maweather. Money has had some struggles with southpaws so there is a chance that McGregor is able to catch him in a mistake, but that outcome isn’t likely.

It’s much more likely that Mayweather is able to pick apart the Notorious over the course of a 12-round fight. If there’s someone who is going to be frustrated Saturday night it’s going to be the man making his professional boxing debut against a man who is headed toward a 50-0 record.

Prediction: Mayweather by decision 

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Oddsmakers and betting companies will have a field day this week, as anticipation builds for the boxing match between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The latter is the favourite to win―by quite a margin―but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any prop bets worth taking.

Here’s a look at some of the most intriguing―and lucrative―props being offered. All odds are courtesy of OddsShark.com and accurate as of August 22.

       

Mayweather To Win Rounds 10 (20-1), 11 (22-1) and 12 (20-1)

Yes, Mayweather hasn’t fought since his win over Andre Berto in September 2015, and he has since turned 40. But Money has always been exceptionally good at controlling fights in the latter rounds, and at no point in his career has conditioning been an issue for the veteran.

The same can’t be said for McGregor, who gassed in both of his fights with Nate Diaz―one loss and a win thanks to a late rally―and has only gone past the second round once since his decision win over Max Holloway in 2013.

There’s little doubt the 29-year-old Irishman has been hard at work converting to boxing, and per SportsCenter, he said he’s prepared for any kind of fight:

But most analysts agree his best chance at winning lies in an early stoppage―his entourage has to believe the same and be focused on a fast start. If The Notorious can’t end the fight before the championship rounds, Money appears a safe bet to close things out late.

        

Mayweather Win by DQ (14-1) or McGregor to Throw a Kick (13-2)

Could McGregor resort to illegal tactics if he can’t hit Mayweather early? Normally, it would be ludicrous to suggest such a thing happening, but this is no ordinary fight.

Inside the Octagon, McGregor‘s instincts have always been among his best weapons, and if things go wrong on Saturday, they may well kick in. The Irishman isn’t used to being schooled by technically great opponents, and it’s not like Mayweather has never faced guys with his power or speed, per Indy Sport:

This is far from a safe bet to make, but adventurous punters hoping to win big and observe some high drama in the process could try their luck.

          

McGregor to Win by KO, TKO or DQ (13-4)

Punters backing The Notorious are almost certain to bet on a stoppage, as a decision win for the Irishman―who has never fought as a professional boxer before―seems extremely unlikely.

The odds for a win by KO, TKO or DQ are still fairly solid, and there are pundits and good fighters out there who believe in McGregor‘s chances. Compatriot Michael Conlan is one of them, via bet365:

Mayweather has struggled with lefties in the past―Zab Judah had him in all kinds of trouble in 2006, when he was in his prime―and his shoulder-roll defence works best when he has the advantage in reach, which won’t be the case on Saturday.

Combined with his age and lengthy absence, it is possible McGregor could hurt Mayweather. It isn’t likely, but in order to win big, you sometimes have to bet big.

        

Prediction: Mayweather by unanimous decision, winning eight rounds or more.

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Conor McGregor is just 3-1 to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday when they fight at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, though Money is still the favourite at 1-4.

The American isn’t backed nearly as much as he was when betting first opened, however.

According to OddsShark, Mayweather opened as the overwhelming favourite at 1-25, while McGregor was just 19-2, but the Notorious is being backed far more than he was previously with the fight fast approaching.

The 49-0 American hasn’t fought since his retirement almost two years ago, and at age 40 that could play a role in how he fares.

Meanwhile, the UFC lightweight champion, 29, is something of an unknown quantity in terms of what he’ll bring to the boxing ring, and that may be resonating with bettors despite his lack of professional boxing experience.

Some might also have been taken in by his superlative skills in the Octagon. MMA writer Patrick Wyman looked at McGregor‘s strengths and style:

He’s not lacking for confidence, either. McGregor has taken to social media to echo the post about Jose Aldo shortly before delivering his infamous 13-second knockout:

Neither fighter is favoured to end the bout as quickly on Saturday, but the Irishman does have the edge in the odds at 14-1 to win in the first round, while Mayweather is 16-1.

However, the latter remains the favourite to win either via knockout at 77-100, compared with 13-4, or by decision at 5-2.

McGregor is 5-1 to win via the judges, but if the fight goes the distance it’s difficult to imagine him having outclassed Mayweather over 12 rounds.

Money is among the most skilled fighters the sport has ever seen, as he proved by equalling Rocky Marciano’s unblemished record, and his defensive talent is such that for all McGregor‘s power, it may mean little as landing significant strikes will likely prove difficult.

Bloody Elbow’s Mookie Alexander believes those backing McGregor are unaware of just how good Mayweather is:

The boxer isn’t quite the force he once was, having knocked out just three opponents in the last 12 years, and McGregor is undoubtedly capable of absorbing strikes, so a knockout victory is relatively unlikely.

However, Mayweather’s talent in the ring is almost unrivalled. His age and lack of practice over the last two years works in McGregor‘s favour, but it’s not likely to bridge the significant skill gap between them.

Prediction: Mayweather wins via decision

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