Tag: Preview/Prediction

Mayweather vs. McGregor: PPV Start Time, Undercard Odds and Picks

All eyes in the sports world will be on Las Vegas Saturday night when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor strap up the gloves and finally settle their feud in the ring. 
The biggest draw in boxing and the biggest draw in the world of MMA …

All eyes in the sports world will be on Las Vegas Saturday night when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor strap up the gloves and finally settle their feud in the ring. 

The biggest draw in boxing and the biggest draw in the world of MMA meeting in the ring seems like something that would only be simulated on a video game, but that’s the spectacle the sports world will be given on Saturday. 

It’s a fight that is expected to make $700 million in total revenue, per Telegraph Sport. The two stars will draw plenty of high-profile fans, betting action and pay-per-view buys, as the biggest star in MMA attempts to unseat the king of boxing in his own sport. 

 

To the surprise of no one paying attention, Mayweather Promotions is using the big event to give some shine to their own. The undercard of the bout is marked by Mayweather clients who will get the opportunity to shine in front of a massive pay-per-view audience. 

Here’s a look at the card, with the latest odds from OddsShark:

Date: August 26, 2017

Time: Pay-per-view card will begin at 9 p.m. ET

              

Fight Card

Main Card (9 p.m. ET)

  • Floyd Mayweather Jr. (49-0, -450) vs. Conor McGregor (debut, +325), light middleweight
  • Gervonta Davis (18-0, -5000) vs. Francisco Fonseca (19-0-1, +1400), IBF super featherweight title
  • Nathan Cleverly (30-3, +325) vs. Badou Jack (21-1-2, -450), WBA(regular), light heavyweight title
  • Andrew Tabiti (14-0, -300) vs. Steve Cunningham (29-8-1, +230), USBA cruiserweight title

Undercard (7 p.m. ET on Fox)

  • Yordenis Ugas (19-3, -190) vs. Thomas Dulorme (24-2, +155), welterweight 
  • Juan Heraldez (12-0, +180) vs. Jose Miguel Borrego (13-0, -230), junior welterweight
  • Kevin Newman (7-1) vs. Antonio Hernandez (9-1), super middleweight 
  • Savannah Marshall (pro debut, -5000) vs. Sydndey LeBlanc (pro debut, +1400), super middleweight

Note: All odds from OddsShark in moneyline form (-400 means a $400 bet would win $100; +400 means a $100 bet would win $400)

           

Fight Predictions

Mayweather Decision McGregor

This is obviously the one that everyone is paying to see. After all the hype and hoopla, we will finally find out what happens in the ring. 

At this point, all the storylines are old hat. McGregor supporters are sure that the Notorious’ understanding of the fight game combined with his powerful left hand are going to be enough to shock the world. Especially with Mayweather at 40 years old and staring down retirement. 

There are also those—mainly boxing purists—who think there is no way that McGregor could possibly have success in boxing. They are two different sports. A basic barbarian like McGregor could never have the nuanced striking of a lifelong boxer. 

Both sides have merit to their argument, and the truth is probably in the middle. 

McGregor has some advantages in this bout. Those who have given Mayweather trouble in the past were either powerful punchers or southpaws. McGregor is both. 

The ultimate reality is this: McGregor could be a decent boxer and still fail to beat Mayweather. If beating Money is a litmus test for good boxers, then we won’t have any to watch once he walks away from the sport. 

Expect McGregor to have some moments early in the fight. His timing and movement will be a new challenge for Mayweather to figure out. If world champion boxers like Carl Froch give the MMA fighter a chance, then there’s probably some legitimacy to McGregor’s challenge:

 

Mayweather has seen plenty of challenges throughout his 49 fights, though. None have resulted in a loss. It’s hard to see McGregor being the one who pulls it off. After surviving a scary moment or two in the early going, Mayweather should take command as the fight wears on and notch another victory. 

Prediction: Mayweather by decision

           

Gervonta Davis Outclasses Francisco Fonseca

There’s a reason why the odds are so lopsided in the evening’s penultimate fight. It’s a showcase for Gervonta Davis. 

Davis is a 22-year-old and the blue-chip prospect who could be the future of Mayweather Promotions. He’s the youngest champion in the sport, as he’ll put the IBF Junior Welterweight title on the line. 

“Tank” is a star to keep an eye on because he has a great back story—coming from a rough upbringing in Baltimore, Maryland—is good on camera and has the skills in the ring to be a marketable fighter. Seventeen of his 18 wins have come by way of knockout. 

He’s already featured in advertising by major companies like Under Armour:

 

His stock will only rise, as Fonseca just doesn’t have the experience of the favorite. The Costa Rican has fought mostly in his native country against less-than-impressive competition. 

Davis should showcase his explosiveness early in a knockout win. 

Prediction: Davis by fourth-round TKO

 

Badou Jack Takes Decision from Nathan Cleverly

For those who follow boxing, Badou Jack and Nathan Cleverly might just be the best matchup on the card. The WBA Light Heavyweight title fight features a champion in Cleverly who has been a part of the light heavyweight title picture against a guy in Jack who is coming up from a title reign at 168 pounds. 

Yet, Jack is the favorite and the pick to go with in this fight. 

That’s because Cleverly—while a solid fighter—has accomplished a lot in the ring through his grit, toughness and pressure. He’s a grinder. 

Jack is a naturally gifted puncher. 

Tony Bellew, who has fought Cleverly twice, wouldn’t describe the champion in the same way. 

“Cleverly is not a hurtful puncher; he never has been,” Bellew said, per Sky Sports. “But he’s got a fantastic engine, a fantastic work rate, and is somebody who can grind out a win.”

While the early rounds are the ones to watch in McGregor-Mayweather, it’s the late ones here that will define the fight. Jack’s power and explosiveness will create separation early, but as he slows, Cleverly might be able to ground out the later rounds and make it an interesting decision. 

Still, it’s hard to argue with Jack’s form recently, and Cleverly’s last win was ended by an injury. Not anything the champion did to earn the belt. 

Prediction: Jack by decision

 

Andrew Tabiti Finishes Steve Cunningham

This is another case of a Mayweather fighter being put in a good position to succeed. Andrew Tabiti will put his perfect 14-0 record on the line against veteran Steve Cunningham in cruiserweight action. 

Tabiti has shown he’s ready for a step up in competition after claiming the NABF Cruiserweight title in a win over Quantis Graves. Now he’s going to turn his sights on scoring a knockout win over the 41-year-old Cunningham, per Showtime Boxing:

 

This is a good spot for Tabiti. Cunningham is a former titleholder and has fought some high-level competition in multiple weight classes. To fight someone with a little bit of name recognition on a card this big is an opportunity to win over some new fans. 

It’s likely he’s going to do what he’s saying he’s setting out to do. Expect the Mayweather fighter to make this one-sided and work towards a finish in the middle rounds. 

Prediction: Tabiti by sixth-round TKO

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Mayweather vs. McGregor Predictions: Projecting Round-by-Round Winner

The boxing showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor is almost upon us, with the anticipation reaching a boiling point as everyone tries to predict whether the biggest star in boxing or the biggest name in mixed martial arts will emerge …

The boxing showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor is almost upon us, with the anticipation reaching a boiling point as everyone tries to predict whether the biggest star in boxing or the biggest name in mixed martial arts will emerge triumphant on Saturday.

Mayweather remains the betting favorite, though the margin isn’t as steep as one might expect considering McGregor has never fought in a professional boxing match. OddsShark shows bookmakers have Mayweather at -450 (bet $450 to win $100) after closing his last fight against Andre Berto at -3000, per the website.

It speaks to McGregor’s popularity in UFC and the job he and Mayweather have done convincing bettors this will be more than an exhibition. He’s been a knockout artist in mixed martial arts, with 18 of his 21 career victories coming via knockout or TKO.

Here are some round-by-round predictions of what to expect from the fight, along with some analysis.

             

Round-By-Round Predictions

Round 1: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 2: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 3: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 4: Mayweather 10, McGregor 8

Round 5: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 6: McGregor 10, Mayweather 9

Round 7: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 8: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 9: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 10: Mayweather 10, McGregor 8

Round 11: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Round 12: Mayweather 10, McGregor 9

Final Scorecard: Mayweather 119, McGregor 107

        

The first three rounds will tell the viewing audience all it needs to know about how real McGregor’s chances are in this boxing match.

To say McGregor’s preparations for this fight have been under heavy scrutiny would be an understatement. Here’s side-by-side footage of the UFC lightweight champion and Mayweather that shows the apparent gulf in boxing skill between the two, via BlackSportsOnline:

Mayweather is showing speed with his punches and moving ability. McGregor looks like he walked into a room with a bag and decided he wanted to give boxing a shot. 

In addition to what the videos seem to show, former boxer Paulie Malignaggi recently went on a Twitter rant about his sparring sessions with McGregor, suggesting he beat up McGregor 24 hours after getting off a flight. This came after images were released seeming to show the UFC star knocking him around.

Because no one seems to know what’s going on with McGregor’s boxing skills—or in Malignaggi’s case, seemingly trying to set up his own bout with McGregor—Mayweather could end this fight quickly.

The biggest thing working in McGregor’s favor, as far as avoiding the knockout goes, is Mayweather has not displayed much power late in his career. The 40-year-old has one knockout in his past 10 fights, dating back to 2009.

Unfortunately for McGregor, Mayweather makes up for his lack of knockout power by not getting hit. Lyle Fitzsimmons of CBSSports.com broke down some career numbers for Mayweather in September 2015, showing Manny Pacquiao was only able to connect on 19 percent of the punches he threw during his meeting with Money.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see this fight end in a unanimous decision for Mayweather, but McGregor is such an aggressive striker he could have one round wherein he connects on two or three big shots to convince the judges he did enough to win.

Match length also belongs high on the list of reasons this fight will be so different to anything McGregor is accustomed to. He’s used to training for UFC fights, which go a maximum of 25 minutes over five rounds. However, he’s only gone the distance twice in 24 career MMA bouts.

Boxing is paced differently, with 12 three-minute rounds. McGregor is also asking a lot of his body because even though he’s fought at 155 pounds in the UFC, his first seven fights with the promotion were in the 145-pound featherweight division.

Nothing about this fight suggests McGregor can win. He’s going against the worst kind of opponent because Mayweather doesn’t change his style and won’t get overaggressive to attempt for a flashy knockout.

All Mayweather cares about is that zero in the loss column next to his name. He will keep that record intact against McGregor on Saturday.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor Results: Round-by-Round Analysis and Recap

After all of the hype and bluster, we have finally made it—Mayweather vs. McGregor is finally here.
UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor looks to shock the sporting world with a victory over 49-0 Floyd “Money” Mayweather. Bleacher Report will …

After all of the hype and bluster, we have finally made it—Mayweather vs. McGregor is finally here.

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor looks to shock the sporting world with a victory over 49-0 Floyd “Money” Mayweather. Bleacher Report will have complete coverage of the fight when the bell rings.

Who walks away with the money belt and bragging rights? Can McGregor do the improbable? Will Mayweather get to 50-0? All questions will be answered tonight. The UFC meets boxing under the bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada, and the sporting world is waiting with bated breath to see how it all pans out.

Return this evening for complete round-by-round analysis of the highly anticipated clash of kings. The pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET.

Begin Slideshow

Mayweather vs. McGregor: Undercard Schedule, Online Odds and Picks

For many people, Las Vegas will feel like the center of the universe on Saturday, when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor finally step into the ring for their supremely hyped boxing match.
They are two bold, outspoken, controversial stars, both of…

For many people, Las Vegas will feel like the center of the universe on Saturday, when Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor finally step into the ring for their supremely hyped boxing match.

They are two bold, outspoken, controversial stars, both of whom have had enormous success in their respective sports and command the attention of fight fans and casual viewers alike. It’s Mayweather’s skill, expertise, defense and precision against McGregor’s puncher’s chance and relentless self-belief. 

While the superfight could go wrong in so many ways—a drawn-out defensive battle, a Mayweather cakewalk or perhaps sullied by a foul—fans plunking down nearly 100 dollars can take comfort in knowing they are getting some extra value on the main event undercard. 

Though none of these fights are especially remarkable in their own right and could be featured on just about any other card, they could prove to be entertaining. 

Here’s the viewing info for fight night and a look at the undercard and latest online odds, courtesy of OddsShark.com (as of Saturday, August 26 at 9 a.m. ET).

 

Mayweather vs. McGregor Fight Info

Date: Saturday, August 26

Time: 9 p.m. ET (main card)

Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas

TV: Pay-per-view ($99.95) Showtime

Live Stream (pay-per-view): UFC.tv, ShowtimePPV.com

 

Mayweather-McGregor Undercard Odds

Badou Jack (-400, bet $400 to win $100) vs. Nathan Cleverly (+300, bet $100 to win 300), light heavyweight

Andrew Tabiti (-325) vs. Steve Cunningham (+250), cruiserweight

Gervonta Davis (-5000) Francisco Fonseca (+1400), junior lightweight

 

Gervonta Davis (18-0, 17 KOs), an undefeated rising star out of Baltimore, will forfeit his IBF World super featherweight title after failing to get under the 130-pound weight limit, per the Baltimore Sun‘s Childs Walker. Davis is a powerful 22-year-old southpaw who has established himself as something of a knockout artist in his young career, but he’s set himself back a bit here in Las Vegas. 

Bloody Elbow’s Mookie Alexander pointed out that Davis needed “three attempts to make weight for his first title defense against Liam Walsh back in May.”

 

A too-heavy Davis will seemingly carry extra power into the ring against his opponent, Francisco Fonseca (19-0-1, 13 KOs), another undefeated young pro out of Costa Rica. The oddsmakers heavily favor Davis in this bout. A good showing will make some forget about the early-career weight issues, but he’s going to have to show more discipline (or more likely, just bump up a weight class or two) as he moves forward. In any case, Davis should win this one with a mid-round knockout.

For people who want to see a couple big fellas slug it out, Andrew Tabiti has you covered when he takes on Steve Cunningham in a cruiserweight contest. 

Tabiti is the favorite here, as he puts his NABF cruiserweight title on the line and looks to pick up the division’s vacant USBA strap in the process, per BoxRec. Tabiti has an 85 percent KO rate in 14 pro bouts, making the 27-year-old Chicagoan a good bet to delight fans with some thunderous punching. 

Cunningham is an aging journeyman pro, with eight losses in his career and just 13 knockouts in his 38 career fights. Cunningham has also been knocked out once, by Tyson Fury in 2013. The 41-year-old does sport an 82-inch reach, per BoxRec, which could be useful in keeping Tabiti at bay. He’ll likely have to be at the top of his defensive form and show great stamina if he is to pick up a win on Saturday night. Look for Tabiti to come through with a late-round technical knockout.

The contest between Badou Jack and Nathan Cleverly promises a good bit of action. These are two pros who have both won some entertaining fights, and Saturday’s meeting is made all the more intriguing as it sees Jack bump up to the light heavyweight division after having world-title success in the super middleweight ranks. 

Jack is going after Cleverly’s WBA world light heavyweight title, which the latter won off Jurgen Braehmer last year. Cleverly hopes that winning this bout on such a prestigious stage will elevate his career.

“Now we’re back here, on the big stage, in a big fight, with massive pressure, and I love it,” he said, per ESPN.com. “This will be my best ever win. The winner goes on to be elite.”

For his part, Jack doesn’t appear unfazed by the move up to a bigger division, and he appears to be looking for a brawl, per Showtime Boxing: 

Jack is a crafty, hard-punching opponent who has picked up fine wins against the likes of George Groves and Anthony Dirrell. This bout is going to be a tough contest, and it has great potential as a scene-stealer before the main event.

In the end, look for Jack to eke it out on points, though a late-round knockout for either boxer is also in the cards here.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor: Fight Card Highlights and Online Odds

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will put his perfect 49-0 record on the line Saturday when he steps into the ring with Conor McGregor for the Irishman’s first career professional boxing fight.
McGregor is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, but he will be forc…

Floyd Mayweather Jr. will put his perfect 49-0 record on the line Saturday when he steps into the ring with Conor McGregor for the Irishman’s first career professional boxing fight.

McGregor is the reigning UFC lightweight champion, but he will be forced to do all of his potential damage to Mayweather with his fists, which is something few veteran boxers have been able to do over the years.

Mayweather is arguably the greatest defensive fighter in the history of boxing, however, McGregor has little to lose, which suggests he’ll showcase a level of aggression that “Money” may not be accustomed to.

Here is a closer look at the odds prior to Saturday’s clash, along with a rundown of the entire card and a preview of the much-hyped main event.

          

Where: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

When: Saturday, Aug. 26. Main card starts at 9 p.m. ET.

Watch: Showtime PPV

          

Mayweather vs. McGregor Odds (courtesy of OddsShark.com)

Mayweather betting line: 19-100

McGregor betting line: 41-10

Mayweather money line: -525 (bet $525 to win $100)

McGregor money line: +410

           

PPV Fight Card

Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor

Gervonta Davis vs. Francisco Fonseca for the IBF junior lightweight championship

Nathan Cleverly vs. Badou Jack for the WBA light heavyweight championship

Andrew Tabiti vs. Steve Cunningham for the USBA cruiserweight championship

             

Mayweather vs. McGregor Preview

Despite being at a huge disadvantage in terms of boxing experience, McGregor has been vocal about his chances of winning during the build toward the fight.

He has never lacked in confidence over the course of his MMA career, and that remains true now that the 29-year-old has moved into boxing.

According to Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, McGregor believes his time in the Octagon will translate into boxing success: “This is legacy. This is people doubting me, questioning my skill set—talking as if I’m a novice, talking as if I haven’t been doing this my entire life. I’ve been fighting since day one and I’m the best there is. I can fight in many forms. This here is Bruce Lee [stuff], that’s where my mind is at.”

McGregor isn’t stepping into the ring with an ordinary fighter, though, since Mayweather is arguably among the greatest of all time.

While he is 40 years of age and hasn’t fought in two years, Mayweather’s defensive ability is legendary, and making solid contact figures to be a huge challenge for McGregor.

As if Mayweather needed any added motivation, he revealed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he has placed a bet on himself to win:

One of the biggest talking points leading up to the fight was which gloves Mayweather and McGregor would be permitted to wear.

McGregor publicly favored eight-ounce gloves, and after an announcement was made backing his preference, he was even surer about his ability to take down Mayweather, per James Dielhenn of Sky Sports: “Now the gloves are eight ounces, I don’t believe he makes it out of the second round. Part of me is hoping that he can last—part of me wants to show some skill and dismantle him. But I don’t see him absorbing the blows in the first two rounds.”

Conventional wisdom suggests McGregor will throw everything he has at Mayweather in an attempt to knock him out since winning on the scorecards is unlikely.

Few have ever mastered the sweet science of boxing like Mayweather, which means he should know all the tricks of the trade needed to diffuse whatever McGregor comes up with.

Because of his significant edge in the boxing realm, Mayweather will prevail Saturday and do so in convincing fashion.

Prediction: Mayweather wins by fifth-round knockout.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Mayweather vs. McGregor: Tale of Tape, Fight Records and More for Both Fighters

After months of build-up, Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will consummate their deal to punch each other’s faces and collect copious amounts of cash. 
The matchup between the two has crossed the threshold of mere boxing match. It’s a spect…

After months of build-up, Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will consummate their deal to punch each other’s faces and collect copious amounts of cash. 

The matchup between the two has crossed the threshold of mere boxing match. It’s a spectacle. A must-see event. The kind of fight that usually only gets talked about and debated, not allowed to give the average fight fan the closure of results. 

Fight fans have seen high-level boxers attempt to cross over to MMA. An athlete like McGregor looking to capture boxing fame after proving his worth as an elite mixed martial artist is brand-new. 

As with many Floyd Mayweather opponents, fans have their reasons for thinking the Notorious can pull off the upset. He’s big, he’s younger, he’s a southpaw, he’s got legitimate power. The list goes on. 

But none of the opponents before him have been able to shock the world. Now millions will tune in to see if McGregor is truly the guy to get it done. Here’s a look at the tale of the tape between the two, a look at what can be gleaned from their past fights and a final prediction for this superfight. 

 

How McGregor Got Here

Conor McGregor‘s record in the cage is 21-3, but that only tells part of the story. He didn’t just get to this massive fight and pay day on the strength of his record. Truth be told, there are several MMA fighters who have had better records. 

Anderson Silva, for example, was a champion for much longer in MMA. Although the rumors of a boxing match with Roy Jones Jr. always lurked in the shadow, it never came to fruition. 

There are two reasons why this fight is happening for the Notorious. 

One, he has a skill set that few in MMA have shown in the cage. His legacy as an elite featherweight and lightweight has been built on his excellent striking, and 18 of his 21 wins have come by knockout. Of those knockouts, the overwhelming majority have come from his punches. 

More important is the second reason, though: McGregor‘s ability to flat-out sell anything he does. If McGregor said he could be the best in the world at sharpening pencils, he could sell at least half a million pay-per-views of him doing that for 30 minutes. 

He’s the undisputed king of self-promotion, and this foray into boxing is the perfect example. 

McGregor went from being one of the top MMA fighters in the world to a pay day that many boxers chase their entire career. 

      

How Mayweather Got Here

Mayweather’s record tells the story here. Money sits at 49-0 heading into the megafight and stands to make a crazy amount of money to add to his $700 million in career earnings thus far. 

Mayweather’s marketability comes from the aura of invincibility he has created by going undefeated over the course of more than 20 years in the fight game. 

Money might not be the most entertaining fighter to grace the ring, but he’s not so bad at self-promotion either. The 40-year-old has created an image of himself that is brash and controversial. Much like McGregor, it’s hard to tell if more people tune in to watch the guy get beat than any other reason. 

Those who have hoped that Mayweather would lose have been disappointed. He’s taken on a wide variety of boxers in a large swath of weight classes, and none have been able to figure out the Mayweather puzzle. 

In this case, Mayweather is coming off a two-year layoff. The last time he fought was Andre Berto in September 2015. Six months earlier, Mayweather finally took on Manny Pacquiao, leaving many fans disappointed with the lack of action in that bout. 

The wily promoter says it’ll be different this time around.

“I’m doing this for myself and my family, but I want to give everyone a great show,” Mayweather said, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. “Everyone deserves a good show. The Pacquiao fight wasn’t exciting enough. That was on Pacquiao, but I have to give the fans a great show this time.”

Take that as you will. Mayweather has made a career out of fighting to preserve his undefeated record. It’s hard to believe he’ll engage in a way that could put him at risk of losing that zero. 

       

Prediction

It’s difficult to be certain about this matchup because we’ve never seen anything like it. Boxers have made the crossover to MMA, but we’ve never seen an MMA fighter of this magnitude fight a boxer as skilled as Mayweather in a boxing match. 

The first few rounds will tell the story. 

McGregor‘s inexperience could play as an advantage of sorts. Having never boxed professionally, he’s going to have a different rhythm than most boxers with punches coming from different angles and unorthodox movement. 

Even seasoned boxers like Juan Manuel Marquez are curious as to how the early rounds are going to play out. 

 

But if McGregor finds himself swinging at air like so many Mayweather foes before him, he’s in for a long night. Mayweather might not have the pop to put him away. The Notorious takes high kicks to the head and haymakers with four-ounce gloves; he will be wearing eight-ounce ones Saturday. 

Instead, Mayweather will give him the boxing equivalent of water torture. Drip by drip and missed punch by missed punch, Mayweather will take over as the later rounds progress and earn the nod on the scorecards. 

Prediction: Mayweather by decision

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