Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

A19
SPORTS Thursday 15 June 2017

Mayweather coming back to fight UFC star McGregor Aug. 26

By TIM DAHLBERG
AP Boxing Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Floyd
Mayweather Jr. will come
out of retirement to meet
UFC star Conor McGregor
in an Aug. 26 boxing
match that will feature two
of the top-selling fighters in
the world.
The two fighters both an-
nounced the fight Wednes-
day, after months of spec-
ulation about whether
Mayweather would be
lured back to the ring at
the age of 40 to face a In this Nov. 11, 2016, file photo, Conor McGregor stands on a scale during the weigh-in event for his fight against Eddie Alvarez
mixed martial arts fighter in UFC 205 mixed martial arts at Madison Square Garden in New York; and in this Sept. 12, 2014, file photo, Floyd Mayweather Jr.
who has never had a pro poses on the scale during a weigh in for a fight against Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas. Associated Press
boxing fight.
Oddsmakers immediately handle the pay-per-view. happening,” UFC chief richest in boxing history and be using 10-ounce boxing
made Mayweather a big “Really we haven’t seen Dana White said on ESPN. reportedly made him more gloves instead of the small-
11-1 favorite in a fight that anything in modern history The two fighters are ex- than $200 million. er UFC gloves and he will
will take place in a box- that resembles it, it’s impos- pected to do a press tour Though oddsmakers make not be allowed to use the
ing ring and be governed sible to predict how many shortly before going into fi- Mayweather a big favorite, leg kicks or takedowns that
by boxing rules. It will take sales this will do.” nal training for the fight. The the thought of the fight has are used in mixed martial
place at 154 pounds. Espinoza said the fight cost of tickets and the price excited many in the MMA arts.
“It’s official,” Mayweather came together quickly af- of the pay-per-view has not world. It has also intrigued Even if the actual bout may
said on Instagram next to a ter McGregor and the UFC been decided, though the some in boxing, though not shape up as a great
video poster of both fight- reached agreement last pay-per-view is expected most dismiss McGregor’s matchup, the run-up to the
ers. month on their end of the to be at or near the $99.95 chances under boxing rules fight will. Both fighters are
“THE FIGHT IS ON,” Mc- deal and Mayweather’s charged for Mayweather’s against one of the greatest noted for their ability to sell
Gregor tweeted several team pushed for the fight in 2015 fight with Manny Pac- defensive fighters in history. their fights, and both have
minutes earlier, posting a recent days. quiao that drew a record Oddsmaker Nick Bogda- exchanged in trash talking
picture of himself next to “All parties were motivat- 4.4 million pay-per-view novich, who set the 11-1 and more to promote their
one of Mayweather’s fa- ed and reasonable and buys. line at the William Hill chain bouts.
ther, Floyd Sr. thrilled we could get every- Mayweather will come off of sports books, said the “As with every Mayweather
Mayweather, who retired thing done,” he said. “The a two-year retirement in a odds would be even more and McGregor fight part of
in September 2015 after sky’s the limit on this.” bout that McGregor has lopsided if it wasn’t for the the appeal is the spectacle
winning all 49 of his pro McGregor, the wildly pop- been pushing for nearly deluge of small bets ex- and outsize personalities
fights, will face the Irish UFC ular UFC star, is 21-3 in UFC that long. pected to come in from who are participating in it,”
superstar at the T-Mobile fights, and is coming off a It finally came together and UFC fans on their fighter. Espinoza said.
arena on the Las Vegas win in November against Nevada boxing officials on “Realistically if we were just The pay-per-view revenue
Strip. He had tweeted a Eddie Alvarez in which he Wednesday approved the putting up a number and for the event would likely
picture of himself sparring became the promotion’s date for a Mayweather didn’t have to take bets gross tens of millions of dol-
in recent days to show he first two-division champion. Promotions bout. on it, Floyd would be 100- lars. It comes less than a
was already getting ready Though he hasn’t boxed Mayweather last fought in 1,” Bogdanovich said. “But month before Gennady
for the bout. professionally, McGregor September 2015, beating this will be a very, very big Golovkin and Canelo Al-
“This is really an unprec- did box while growing up Andre Berto and then an- betting fight for sure, one of varez meet in a highly an-
edented event,” said Ste- and is known for his striking nouncing his retirement. His the biggest ever.” ticipated fight Sept. 16 that
phen Espinoza, who heads expertise in UFC. fight before that, a decision Adding to McGregor’s could rival it for pay-per-
Showtime Sports, which will “The impossible deal is now win over Pacquiao, was the challenge, the fighters will view buys.q

Seattle’s Bennett continues to support Kaepernick’s efforts

By TIM BOOTH sidering the silence he’s re- building this organization “If he feels that this is not and spending time with
AP Sports Writer ceived from the rest of the is built around community. the right situation because his family, but didn’t want
RENTON, Washington (AP) NFL, Bennett said. I’m not surprised that the we have a starting quar- to risk any fines for missing
— Outspoken Seattle Se- “I don’t know what the Seahawks were one to look terback, then that’s his the mandatory minicamp.
ahawks defensive end Mi- factors were in (why) the at Kaepernick and give choice,” Bennett said. “I Bennett also said Wednes-
chael Bennett has been a Seahawks didn’t sign him,” him an opportunity even to think he’s able to have day he’s been in contact
supporter of Colin Kaeper- Bennett said. “I know the try out.” that choice because he’s with Kaepernick through
nick this offseason in his at- Seahawks were the only Bennett was in full support shown that he’s of a win- the offseason in an at-
tempt to land a job in the team to step up and give of his franchise on Wednes- ning pedigree. He wants to tempt to help the former
NFL. him an opportunity to do a day during the second day make sure he doesn’t have San Francisco quarterback
Bennett’s support wasn’t (visit). of Seattle’s minicamp, from that competition behind his with some of his initiatives.
enough for his team to sign “If you look at the way the his praise for considering quarterback, I think it’s justi- Never one to hold back an
Kaepernick. But the fact the Seahawks move, if you Kaepernick to coach Pete fiable.” opinion, Bennett said there
Seahawks brought Kaeper- look at the way our team Carroll’s reasoning why the Bennett skipped Seattle’s is no logical explanation for
nick in for a visit was worthy moves, if you look at the Seahawks didn’t sign the OTAs earlier in the offsea- why Kaepernick doesn’t
of acknowledgement con- people that work in the quarterback. son, working out on his own have a job at this point. q