Floyd Mayweather Jr. will justify his status as heavy favourite among the oddsmakers when he meets Conor McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, August 26.
Mayweather is favoured to win at -400 (bet $400 to win $100), while th…
Floyd Mayweather Jr. will justify his status as heavy favourite among the oddsmakers when he meets Conor McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, August 26.
Mayweather is favoured to win at -400 (bet $400 to win $100), while the odds for a McGregor win are +300 (bet $100 to win $300), according to Joe Osborne of OddsShark.
The headline fight is set to start at 11 p.m. ET/4 a.m. BST, although the actual bell may not sound for the bout until closer to 5 a.m. BST, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Mayweather isn’t just the projected winner among the oddsmakers. Several fighters, both from the boxing and mixed martial arts disciplines, believe the 40-year-old will overwhelm UFC star McGregor.
Among them, former IBO Welterweight champion Chris van Heerden, who sparred with McGregor, doesn’t rate the Irishman’s chances. Specifically, Van Heerden believes Mayweather’s punching power will prove too much for McGregor, per an interview with Fight Hub TV (h/t Luke Brown of The Independent): “We’ve seen over and over and over it doesn’t take much for these MMA fighters, once they get tagged on the jaw, to go down.”
Significantly, Van Heerden also pinpointed the training in combination punching boxers experience as a clear advantage for Mayweather. It’s a strong argument because it speaks to the main difference between both fighters.
Mayweather boasts a wealth of experience in the ring that McGregor cannot match. The former’s hand speed, timing and anticipation will help control the pace and keep McGregor at bay and prone to some telling shots.
Of course, McGregor has proved his ability to land big punches of his own during his career in the Octagon. ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael and Brett Okamoto both give southpaw McGregor the advantage as the bigger puncher. Yet many of his other skills from the world of UFC will likely be wasted in the boxing ring.
It’s the view of Michael Page, a mixed martial artist who is trying to make the switch to boxing. Page recently told James Edwards of The Independent why he’s found the transition so challenging: “Because I punch anyway, I have good technique, but we don’t have as much specific work on our arms and our shoulders. The struggle for me is the endurance, the muscular endurance and being able to be able to do it for such a long period of time.”
Page’s point is one more reason why McGregor will flounder if Mayweather is content to drag this fight out. Given the latter’s excellent defensive work and the patience to pick his shots, McGregor’s stamina could well be tested.
In fact, the odds are -140 for Mayweather to win in over seven rounds, per Justin Hartling of OddsShark.
Frankly, it would be a surprise if the fight lasts even that long, given the disparity in boxing experience and skill between the two fighters. Instead, Mayweather should score a knockout stoppage sooner.
Conor McGregor is the clear underdog for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, August 26.
The prop bets favour Mayweather winning by a knockout or stoppage.
As for the undercard, one of the high…
Conor McGregor is the clear underdog for his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, August 26.
The prop bets favour Mayweather winning by a knockout or stoppage.
As for the undercard, one of the highlights will be Nathan Cleverly defending his WBA light-heavyweight title against Badou Jack. Gervonta Davis will fight Francisco Fonseca in another key bout on the undercard.
Shawn Porter and Thomas Dulorme also meet, while female fighter Savannah Marshall will also feature.
The latest odds at the time of writing have Mayweather backed at -400 (bet $400 to win $100) to win, per Joe Osborne of OddsShark. Meanwhile, the same source has McGregor’s best odds at +300 (bet $100 to win $300).
Justin Hartling of OddsShark also broke down the prop bets, the best of which involves Mayweather winning by knockout, TKO or disqualification at a short -150.
Such strong odds in favour of an outcome of this type are a reflection of the feeling Mayweather will make quick work of McGregor. It’s a reasonable bet since Mayweather is the highly decorated boxer with the experience and skill to overwhelm a novice between the ropes like McGregor, no matter how determined the latter is.
One of the more intriguing prop bets has Mayweather winning by majority decision, valued at +2000. Naturally, the 40-year-old has better odds to win by a unanimous decision at +300.
The highlight of the undercard will be Jack moving up a weight class to take on Cleverly. Jack has already impressed by battling to a draw with James DeGale.
The former super-middleweight champ is a fighter on the rise, but Cleverly has the greater motivation in his first title defence. Expect the Welshman to see off Mayweather’s prospect by decision.
Davis is expected to overwhelm Fonseca. Per MailOnline’s Anthony Hay, Davis has 17 knockouts to his credit from 18 pro fights and is being “tipped to fill the gap left by Mayweather when he hangs up his gloves.”
Similarly, Porter boasts the punching power to take down Dulorme without the fight going the distance. Porter has been priming himself for a title shot against Keith Thurman since stopping Andre Berto in April, per ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael.
Expect the welterweight contender to impress in Las Vegas. A win for Porter will leave him to set his sights on the title, per Metro‘s Phil Haigh: “Porter has publicly called out fellow former welterweight champ Danny Garcia and victory over Dulorme could just get him what he wants.”
Also looking to impress is Marshall, whom Mayweather opted to promote back in May. It’s a smart decision since Marshall is a two-time Olympic champion.
The 26-year-old middleweight will get off to a winning start on her pro debut.
If the oddsmakers are to be believed, the bouts on the undercard may well turn out to be more intriguing than the main event, with Mayweather still fancied to dominate McGregor without too much fuss.
Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a money fight in more ways than one. Vegas has set the odds, and fans will lay down their hard-earned cash on this battle.
And it won’t just be the fight itself they bet on this Saturday. Much like the Super B…
Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a money fight in more ways than one. Vegas has set the odds, and fans will lay down their hard-earned cash on this battle.
And it won’t just be the fight itself they bet on this Saturday. Much like the Super Bowl, there will be ample prop bets enticing their wallets to come out and play.
Steven Rondina and Nathan McCarter are here to look at some interesting lines and props available for the marquee bout. Get your betting slips ready.
In case you’re unfamiliar with how odds work, a +150 line means a $100 bet will win you $150 ($250 total), and -150 line means you need to bet $150 to win $100.
Sit back and prepare yourself with the odds and props of this weekend’s colossal clash.
On Saturday, August 26, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor will meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in perhaps the biggest crossover in professional fighting history.
UFC lightweight champion McGregor will make his boxing debut and at…
On Saturday, August 26, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor will meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in perhaps the biggest crossover in professional fighting history.
UFC lightweight champion McGregor will make his boxing debut and attempt to become the first man to beat 11-time boxing world champion Mayweather, who has come out of retirement to put his 49-0 record on the line.
Despite the Irishman’s lack of experience in regards to the sweet science, the American would have you believe it is he who is the underdog ahead of the clash.
Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, Mayweather believes McGregor’s youth and reach make him the favourite for their bout:
The Notorious, 29, is 11 years Money’s junior, and while he rarely appeared at risk of losing his unbeaten record during the latter years of his career, his powers did wane somewhat.
His last knockout victory came against Vicor Ortiz in 2011, and that was just his second since 2005.
Mayweather said, “I’m not what I used to be,” adding: “I’m older. I’m not the same fighter I was two years ago. I’m not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step.”
The 40-year-old also pledged to be more aggressive than usual and step out of his comfort zone: “This can’t be a defensive fight. I have to go to him. I owe the public because of the [Manny] Pacquiao fight. They weren’t pleased with that. They’re gonna be pleased with this fight here.”
Sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd doesn’t buy it, however:
Indeed, for all of McGregor’s talent in the Octagon, that doesn’t necessarily translate into the boxing ring, so it’s in the interest of both fighters to sell it as a close contest.
Mayweather’s defensive skills are legendary, though, so it does seem unlikely he’d abandon the platform his 49-0 record was built on or that McGregor can overcome it given his lack of boxing pedigree.
MMA writer Patrick Wyman believes the distance between them to be significant in terms of ability:
The Notorious has a great deal of power on his side, and he’s capable of absorbing strikes, but at most he only has a puncher’s chance of knocking out Mayweather, even if Money follows through on his pledge to come out swinging.
If the fight goes the distance—which seems likely given Mayweather’s struggles to knock out his opponents in recent years—the American’s superior boxing ability should shine through to a decision win.
Scorecard prediction: Mayweather wins via unanimous decision, 117-111, 118-110, 118-110
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor lineup has taken a note from the UFC, where the Irishman is a star.
That’s because the card for the megafight is surprisingly stacked for a boxing event. The main fight is undoubtedly the marquee specia…
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor lineup has taken a note from the UFC, where the Irishman is a star.
That’s because the card for the megafight is surprisingly stacked for a boxing event. The main fight is undoubtedly the marquee special, but fans of quality boxing will want to make sure to tune in at 9 p.m. ET when all the action is scheduled to kick off.
There’s an interesting blend of up-and-coming stars, mid-tier champions and contenders looking to bounce back. One thing they’ll all have in common is the ability to impress in front of plenty of fans. The over-under for PPV buys is set at 4.9 million, per Darren Rovell of ESPN.
Even if a fraction of those viewers tune in, that’s a huge spot to gain some notoriety and capitalize on the spectacle.
Here’s a look at the complete schedule and predictions for some of the biggest fights that will lead up to the McGregor-Mayweather showdown.
Main Card (9 p.m. ET)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA, 49-0) vs. Conor McGregor (IRE, debut), light middleweight
Gervonta Davis (USA, 18-0) vs. Francisco Fonseca (CRC, 19-0-1), IBF super featherweight title
Nathan Cleverly (GBR, 30-3) vs. Badou Jack (SWE, 21-1-2), WBA (regular) light heavyweight title
Andrew Tabiti (USA, 14-0) vs. Steve Cunningham (USA, 29-8-1), USBA cruiserweight title
Preliminary Card
Juan Heraldez (USA, 12-0) vs. Jose Miguel Borrego (MEX, 13-0), welterweight
Kevin Newman (USA, 7-0-1) vs. Antonio Hernandez (USA, 9-1-0), super middleweight
Savannah Marshall (GBR, debut) vs. Amy Coleman (USA, debut), women’s super middleweight.
Gervonta Davis vs. Francisco Fonseca
If you’re looking for a powerful lefty who is able to turn out the lights with just one punch, Gervonta Davis might be your man on Saturday night. The 22-year-old southpaw draws the co-main event spot when he defends his IBF super featherweight title against Francisco Fonseca.
On the surface, one would think this is a close matchup between two undefeated fighters. Don’t be fooled, this is a showcase spot for Davis, who has a bright future.
Davis is a young champion with dynamite in his hands. His perfect 18-0 record is highlighted by 17 stoppage wins. His knockouts have been featured on both Showtime and Premier Boxing, so it’s a natural progression that he should be showcased on pay-per-view for the first time with his promoter Floyd Mayweather anchoring the card.
Fonseca is also undefeated, but this is a massive step up in competition. This will be his first fight stateside, and while Davis is fighting his third unbeaten opponent in a row, Fonseca’s recent resume includes guys with sub-.500 records.
Look for Davis to put his exciting speed and power on display in an exciting finish.
Prediction: Davis by fourth-round TKO
Nathan Cleverly vs. Badou Jack
For boxing purists who aren’t thrilled about the idea of a novice boxer getting the chance to fight the Money man, the light heavyweight matchup between Nathan Cleverly and Badou Jack is the main event.
Cleverly will look to defend his WBA light heavyweight title after beating Jurgen Brahmer to win the title last October. Clev won the bout in the sixth round due to a dislocated elbow for the German, but the bout was close up to that point.
While Clev is officially the champion, it isn’t as though he’s on a hot streak. The iffy win over Brahmer combined with a unanimous-decision loss to Andrzej Fonfara leaves the champion’s form in a questionable place heading into his title bout with Jack.
Still, he understands the magnitude of the opportunity.
“Every fight is big because each fight is important in its own right,” Cleverly said, per Daniel Matthews of the MailOnline. “(But) on an exposure level…this fight is exceptionally important and (in) helping me break through to elite level, it is the most important fight.”
The challenger will present a difficult task for the reigning champion. Jack is moving up to 175 pounds from 168 pounds, but he does so with some impressive performances to his name. He was the WBC World Super Middleweight titleholder but vacated the belt to chase this one after fighting James DeGale to a draw.
How he’ll look in the new weight class is an interesting storyline to watch, but he’s been consistently more impressive than Cleverly in recent performances.
Cleverly might be used to boxing at the heavier weight, but there’s only a one-inch reach advantage for the champion. That’s not going to be enough to consistently stick the challenger on the outside, and Jack will be able to score at close range.
Prediction: Jack by unanimous decision
Andrew Tabiti vs. Steve Cunningham
Kicking off the main card will be a matchup that once again looks to showcase an up-and-comer. Andrew Tabiti has the opportunity to take a huge step forward in becoming a serious threat in the cruiserweight division.
Tabiti is not only getting the opportunity to fight in front of plenty of fans on Saturday, but he’ll do so against a veteran who has a lot of credibility in Steve Cunningham. The 41-year-old is a two-time champion in the division and longtime contender.
Cunningham’s days as an elite-level fighter in the division are over, though. He is 1-2-1 in his last four fights, with the sole win coming in a six-round bout with Felipe Romero by decision.
That isn’t a great harbinger of things to come against the 27-year-old Tabiti. The Chicago native has shown the ability to end fights with his power, as 12 of his 14 wins have come by way of stoppage.
Cunningham is by far the most experienced and accomplished fighter Tabiti has faced, so he might be able to test him in ways that he hasn’t been tested before. However, it shouldn’t impact the final result. Tabiti will take advantage of the opportunity.
The unpredictability of combat sports is what makes its disciplines so popular. And it’s why the prospect of illustrious boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking on MMA specialist Conor McGregor has captivated the sporting world.
Although many expect May…
The unpredictability of combat sports is what makes its disciplines so popular. And it’s why the prospect of illustrious boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. taking on MMA specialist ConorMcGregor has captivated the sporting world.
Although many expect Mayweather to coast to victory in the boxing ring on Saturday, plenty will tune in for this spectacle to be a part of history. And in the case of McGregor, a man who has regularly broke new ground in the UFC, it’s difficult to predict with any confidence what might happen.
Factor in the vibrant personalities of both men and the money set to be at stake, and it’s a sporting occasion not to be missed at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Here’s how the bookmakers are seeing things and a look ahead to what will be a highlight of the 2017 sporting calendar.
Outright Odds
Floyd Mayweather Jr.: 1-4
ConorMcGregor: 3-1
Figures courtesy of lines monitored by OddsShark and accurate as of Aug. 20.
Preview
Given the unprecedented nature of this fight, it’s difficult to imagine how the contest will pan out. McGregor, after all, has never been involved in a professional boxing bout.
Mayweather has been involved in 49, and every time he has entered the squared circle, he’s emerged victorious. The man known as Money is rated as the finest boxer of his generation and arguably the most skilled defensive fighter the sport has ever seen.
It means that even on the back of almost two years of inactivity—his most recent outing was against Andre Berto in September 2015—he is anticipated to have more than enough to beat a boxing novice. As we can see, courtesy of ArashMarkazi, Mayweather is putting pressure on himself to end this one inside the distance:
That’s not something he has done since 2011, when a potshot on Victor Ortiz helped Money earn a fourth-round knockout.
The question that’s being asked by the combat sports cognoscenti is, how does McGregor approach this one?
After all, if this is a pure boxing bout, Mayweather will win comfortably. The Irishman must do something the great man hasn’t encountered previously in his distinguished boxing career. You can bet The Notorious won’t just want to hang with his rival; he’ll want to spring one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.
McGregor made it clear via Instagram in the buildup to the contest that he is ready to “destroy” his unbeaten opponent (Warning: post contains NSFW language):
Still, as you’d expect, his training process has not been without controversy. McGregor was sparring with former boxer Paulie Malignaggi in the buildup to the fight, and the latter left the camp. Malignaggi was said to be unhappy with some images that were leaked showing the Irishman getting the better of exchanges, per Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting.
The former WBA welterweight champion has since criticisedMcGregor‘s fighting style, suggesting he “whimpers like a girl when he gets ripped to body.” Sports journalist Raj Bains noted how the needle between the former training partners has become quite the sideshow:
Defeating Mayweather will surely prove to be too great a challenge for McGregor. The Irishman has power, is the naturally bigger man and is adept at landing left hands. But they are talents he only knows how to use to the fullest effect in MMA.
Although Mayweather is adamant that anything other than a win inside the distance would not be good enough, it’s easy to envisage a scenario in which he makes this fight all about him.
There is little chance of Money taking too many chances, getting within range of McGregor too often or fighting on the inside. If he stands back, picks his shots and counters effectively, he will cruise to victory and show up his opponent.
