Here it is. The fiasco the fans have been looking forward to and the press has been dreading has arrived. Floyd Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) comes out of retirement for a huge payday against UFC star Conor McGegor (0-0) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev. It’s the debut for McGregor in the boxing ring. He’s 21-3 in MMA with 18 KOs and one submission.
Because no one with any knowledge of the sport believes this fight will last long, Showtime PPV has put a couple of solid undercards with this one. Gervonta Davis (18-0, 17 KOs) will defend his IBF Junior Heavyweight belt against Francisco Fonesca (19-0-1, 13 KOs). Nathan Cleverly (30-2, 16 KOs) will defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Badou Jack (21-1-2. 12 KOs). I’m not sure what will make it on the PPV, but I’ll start the live blog when Jack and Cleverly hit the ring.
As always, scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for the press release from Showtime PPV.
Press Release: Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor Press Conference Quotes
Unbeaten boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather and UFC star “The Notorious” Conor McGregor went face-to-face for the first time on Tuesday, in a highly anticipated press conference in front of over 11,000 fans at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles as the two global stars discussed their Saturday, August 26 showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event that will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME PPV.
The fighters posed for the first face-off of the unprecedented event that has captured the imagination of sports fans around the world. Mayweather and McGregor will meet in a super welterweight contest that serves as the first time champions from boxing and MMA will meet in a sanctioned boxing match.
The Mayweather vs. McGregor world tour will continue on to Toronto, New York City and London as the superstars deliver all the spectacle of the summer’s biggest event directly to the fans who demanded it.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Tuesday:
FLOYD MAYWEATHER
“Everyone knows I’ve never backed down from anybody. You line them up, and I knock them down like bowling pins. On August 26, I’m knocking Conor out.
“I am guaranteeing you this. You are going out on your face or on your back. So which way do you want to go?
“Twenty one is the number. They ask me why is that the number? Because that’s how long I’ve been kicking ass. I don’t care about a ring or an octagon. Put me in there and I’m going to kick ass.
“It takes two warriors to bring an event like this together. The two biggest forces in combat sports made this happen.
“This was something that the fans wanted to see. I spoke to my team and said that the Mayweather-McGregor fight can be the biggest fight in history. That’s what we’re here to turn into reality.
“McGregor is a professional, stand-up fighter. The only loss he took was when he was on the ground. He’s a tough competitor and I’m taking him very seriously.
The fights are on Showtime PPV at 9 p.m. Watch them with me and if you can’t watch them, follow along and I’ll tell you what happens.
