Whether you like it or not, it’s happening.
On Saturday, August 26, 2017, Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will step inside the squared circle at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to compete against each other in a 12-round boxing match that is set to be contested at 154 pounds.
Over the past few months, the opinions regarding the bout have been varied. Some have labeled it as a ‘money grab,’ while others have used words such as ‘spectacle’ and ‘circus’ to describe it.
Simply put, some don’t even consider it a fight, but in the end, it is, and that’s how we’ll preview it.
Mayweather, widely considered to be the very best boxer of his era, hasn’t competed in nearly two years, announcing his retirement after scoring a one-sided decision victory over Andre Berto in September 2015. Now at age 40, “Money” will return to the ring to put his perfect 49-0 record on the line.
It’s difficult to fully predict how Mayweather will look after the layoff, but he appears to be in tremendous shape, and his conditioning has always been one of his strong points. His defense has also always been one of his strong points, as many consider him to be one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.
Mayweather has used his defense to make some of the top boxers of the last decade look ordinary, but his offense is also something to note as well. Not only is he incredibly accurate, but Maywather’s timing is impeccable as well. That, along with his speed, has allowed him to repeatedly tag opponents with his patented lead right hand over the years.
McGregor, on the other hand, has never competed in a professional boxing match, which is why many are completely counting him out. Inside of the Octagon, however, his resume speaks for itself, as he holds a 21-3 professional record. He’s also the only fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold two titles in two different weight classes.
Throughout his mixed martial arts career, the “Notorious” one has made a name for himself due to his striking, and perhaps more specifically, his power. 18 of his 21 professional victories have come by way of KO or TKO, and his left hand is one of the most feared weapons in the sport.
It’s also important to note that the Irishman will indeed have some physical advantages over Mayweather. After all, he is the younger, longer and larger fighter. It’s also very possible that he’ll be the more powerful fighter come fight night.
As opposed to many, I’m not counting McGregor out. This is a fight and when two men strap up the gloves and enter the ring, anything can happen. It is, however, difficult to see this fight playing out much differently than Mayweather’s previous 49 fights have.
Who are you picking to come out on top?
