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SPORTS Saturday 26 auguSt 2017

Mayweather,

McGregor

Continued from front

Sports books in this gam-
bling city have taken so
many longshot wagers on
McGregor winning by a
knockout early that they
will suffer their worst loss
ever should it actually hap-
pen.
What should be a 100-
1 fight began as 11-1 in
Mayweather’s favor. Now
it’s 5-1, though a lot of big
money — including a few
million dollar bets — has
been wagered on May-
weather in recent days.
“I don’t see him lasting
two rounds,” McGregor
said. “He messed up with
the 8-ounce gloves. Keep
your hands up, keep them
down. I don’t care. I’m go-
ing to break through what-
ever is in front of me.”
For the flamboyant Mc- Floyd Mayweather Jr., center left, and Conor McGregor face off during a weigh-in Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Las Vegas.
Associated Press
Gregor the fight is a
chance to make money than that, everything fa- where they will fight. a household. Industry ob- because promoters wildly
he couldn’t dream of in vors Mayweather. Though he’s made hun- servers say people across overestimated what peo-
the UFC and gain a fan He’s unbeaten in 49 fights dreds of millions in the ring, the country will use the ple would pay to watch in
base outside of mixed mar- as a pro and has a chance Mayweather has a tax lien telecast as an excuse to person. Ringside seats were
tial arts. to pass Rocky Marciano on of $22 million to the IRS, so party in tense times and 10 $10,000 and nosebleed
Estimates vary, but he the perfect record list with the lure of $200 million to people could watch each tickets started at $2,500,
could take home $100 win No. 50. Not only has come out of a two-year pay-per-view. though prices have been
million for a challenge of he beaten every fighter retirement and face a nov- Tickets in the arena haven’t dropping rapidly as the
Mayweather that seemed put in front of him but he’s ice boxer was great. But he done nearly as well, largely fight approaches.q
improbable when he first found ways to deal with said this will be definitely be
started talking about it two big punchers like Miguel his last fight, and he wants
years ago. He’s got youth Cotto, Diego Corrales and to go out with a dominat-
on his side (he’s 29 and Canelo Alvarez. ing performance.
Mayweather is 40), and He’s also a pure boxer with “I gave my word to my chil-
he’ll probably go in the ring an innate ability to adapt dren and once I did that
much heavier than May- to any fighter put in front it came to an end,” May-
weather after rehydrating of him. Mayweather is so weather said.
following Friday’s weigh-in. confident of his chances “What better way to go
He’s also got a reputation that he’s spent much of out than with a bang.” The
as a big puncher and the the week before his fight fight is expected to match
prevailing wisdom is he’ll having meet-and-greets in or surpass the 4.6 million
try to maul Mayweather the early morning hours at pay-per-views sold for May-
much like Marcos Maidana the strip club he owns not weather’s 2015 fight with
did in their 2014 fight. Other far from the T-Mobile arena Manny Pacquiao at $99.95