Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor timeline: News, celebrity picks, predictions, odds ahead of marquee fight

By Ron Clements

Fight week has begun in Las Vegas after Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather arrived in Sin City Tuesday ahead of Saturday's highly anticipated fight at T-Mobile Arena.

Mayweather was the first to make his grand arrival at Toshiba Plaza and spoke with media and fans before he and his large entourage left. As they were leaving, they crossed paths with McGregor's team. 

A lot of shouting, along with some pushing and shoving, ensued as McGregor had to be pulled away from the scrum.

Part of the clash was between McGregor and former sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi, who will be part of Showtime's broadcast team for Saturday's fight. Malignaggi stopped working with McGregor after the MMA fighter posted a video that showed McGregor knocking Malignaggi down during a sparring session. 

During Tuesday's shouting match, Malignaggi repeatedly told McGregor to, "bring your balls." 

Conor & Paulie get into it. @PaulMalignaggi tells @TheNotoriousMMA "don't forget to bring your balls" #mayweathervsmcgregor @espnlasvegas pic.twitter.com/NjBRRxkqYI

— Helen Yee (@HelenYeeSports) August 22, 2017

It's unclear what actually sparked the confrontation, but it's just the latest incident in what has been an interesting buildup to Saturday's fight. 

By Kirstie Chiappelli

Floyd Mayweather thinks his competition is coming in a little heavy.

During an interview with FightHype.com, the boxing superstar said he believes Conor McGregor weighs 10 pounds above the 154-pound limit for Saturday's megafight and won't make weight ahead of the showdown at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

"I don't think he's gonna make the weight," Mayweather said. "Even if he does make the weight, that's even better, but if he doesn't make the weight, we're still gonna fight. But it's gonna be a heavy fine. Gimme that money.

"Like I said before, a true champion is disciplined. And very responsible. But we'll see."

The likelihood of Mayweather knowing McGregor's actual weight is slim, but the 40-year-old boxer doesn't mind stirring the pot and is feeling pretty confident about his odds against the MMA sensation heading into this weekend's bout. So much, in fact, that he told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel he intends to put his money where his mouth is and bet on himself against McGregor.

However, Vegas oddsmakers aren't buying the story Mayweather is selling.

"He's never bet on himself," a source with direct knowledge of Mayweather's betting history told ESPN. "He's very superstitious and that's the one thing he doesn't bet on, his own fights, ever. His friends and crew bet small on him, but he has never done it."

Drama aside, Saturday is sure to be a spectacle not to be missed after Mayweather's previous "Fight of the Century" against Manny Pacquiao fell short of expectations.

Floyd Mayweather went "nuclear" after Justin Bieber unfollowed him on Instagram, according to TMZ Sports.

TMZ Sports claims the undefeated boxer went "insane" and called Bieber a "traitor" when he realized the social media diss:

"Sources connected to both Justin and Floyd tell us, the folks at the Hillsong Church have been counseling Justin for months on taking a hard look at his friends and pulling back from those who are bad influences. We're told church pastors did not single out Floyd as a bad influence, but Justin decided on his own he needed some distance."

MORE: Five things Conor McGregor has to do to shock the world

Bieber and Mayweather have been friends for at least five years, with the pop star becoming a fixture of his walk-outs.

Mayweather recently spoke about Bieber during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, saying he wasn't sure if he would walk into the ring with him when he faces Conor McGregor.

By Harry West

Conor McGregor's super-bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr is just five days away and the ultra-confident Irishman is predicting a resounding victory. He took to twitter Monday morning to troll the boxer with this image.

Wake up Floyd. It's all over. pic.twitter.com/XfssL4HrjV

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 21, 2017

By Marcus DiNitto

Odds on the Aug. 26 Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight were adjusted in McGregor’s favor this week in Las Vegas upon news that the fighters will wear 8-ounce gloves. Boxers in the 154-pound weight class, where the fight will be contested, typically wear 10-ounce gloves.

William Hill U.S., which operates more than 100 sports books throughout the state of Nevada, moved McGregor’s odds to +425 (bet $100 to win $425), tightened slightly from the +450 he was priced at for about two weeks. 

Mayweather’s number moved from -600 to -550 (requiring a $550 wager for a $100 profit).

The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously to grant a request from both fighters’ camps to allow 8-ounce gloves, an exception to the governing body’s rule that states boxers of their size are required to use 10-ounce gloves, per MMA Junkie.

While bookmakers at William Hill believe the ruling favors McGregor, some boxing analysts disagree with that notion.

“With the decision on the 8-ounce gloves, we moved our price on Mayweather from -600 to -550,” said Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading at William Hill U.S. 

But there is no doubt in the mind of ESPN boxing analyst Max Kellerman that smaller gloves help Mayweather.

“He’s the one that will be doing all the hitting,” Kellerman said on-air this week.

This week’s odds adjustment continues the pattern seen in Las Vegas since the fight was announced. Mayweather opened the -1100 favorite at William Hill, with McGregor originally posted at +700, but with 95 percent of the bets and 76 percent of the money on McGregor, the price has moved steadily in McGregor’s direction.

This is typical of prize fights. Casual  bettors like to take shots on the underdog, giving themselves a chance for a big payday for a relatively small risk. Bookmakers respond by lowering the price on the favorite, making bets on the favorite more attractive to professional bettors. In the case of Mayweather-McGregor, expect plenty of big bets from sharp bettors to come in as fight night approaches.

For now, though, with a multimillion-dollar liability on McGregor, Vegas books are in Mayweather’s corner.

“We are hoping that McGregor’s two-round knockout prediction with the smaller gloves doesn’t ring true.  As of today, it would be our worst sports result ever,” Bogdanovich said.

By Thomas Lott

Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be the best defensive fighter boxing has ever seen, but he is going on the offensive against Conor McGregor in their Aug. 26 fight. "Like I said on numerous occasions building up to this fight, I'm coming straight ahead," Mayweather said in Thursday's conference call. "So he don't have nothing to worry about."

Mayweather is a defensive fighter in the style of former and one of the original heavyweight champions, James J. Corbett. He is quicker and more precise than anyone else in the boxing world so he doesn't have to engage with anyone. He can get in, land his shots, and get out before the other fighter knows what hit him.

While he says he will come after McGregor later this month, he will still be on his guard as he always is. Mayweather is one win away from overtaking former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano as the winningest undefeated fighter in boxing history, and he will remind everyone of that when he steps in the ring with the MMA champion.

Mayweather did confirm his fight with McGregor will be the final one of his career. 

"This is my last one ladies and gentleman," he said. "I gave my word to Al Haymon, I gave my word to my children, and the one thing I don't want to do is break that."

Other news and notes from Mayweather's press conference:

• Mayweather on the Paulie Malignaggi sparring video with McGregor, "I think it was real interesting, but a lot of rabid punching, illegal rabid punching behind the head, a lot of shots was illegal, a lot of grappling, a lot of wrestling, a lot of illegal shots, I mean, that's just my honest opinion."
• On potentially going 50-0 to break Marciano's undefeated record, "I appreciate the legendary fighters, even though this is No. 50, this is my 50th fight, that's not really my focus, my focus is that I want to go out there and give the fans an exciting fight."
• On his comments about how he has lost a step, "I'm just being honest, I don't think I'm the same Floyd Mayweather I was 21 years ago."
• On who is taking the bigger risk between him and McGregor, "I truly believe I'm taking the bigger risk, I mean, but it's a big reward for both, but I'm taking the bigger risk. I have the 49-0 record and, you know, when a fighter has lost before if he loses again people say, 'Oh, it's nothing he's lost before,' but when a fighter has been dominating 20-some years, never lost, everything is on the line."
• Mayweather on hearing McGregor studied and emulated him growing up, "I don't think there's no fighter that's been in combat sports period, that's in combat sports right now that hasn't looked at a Floyd Mayweather video or studied a Floyd Mayweather fight, I mean, at least I don't think so because I think this is the Mayweather era. And I have dominated my era, and when a person has been so dominant in his era I think other fighters are going to pay attention."

By ​Thomas Lott

Conor McGregor doesn't need any help with his confidence, but with the approval to use 8-ounce gloves in his matchup with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Aug. 26 just made him even more optimistic. "I believe now that the gloves are eight ounces, I don't believe he makes it out of the second round," McGregor said on a conference call Wednesday. 

The Nevada Athletic Commission ruled earlier in the day the fight would use 8-ounce gloves rather than the traditional 10-ouncers mandated for any match above 147 pounds. McGregor and Mayweather agreed to a 154-pound bout. 

"Part of me kind of wants to show some skill and dismantle him that way, but I do not see it," McGregor said. "I do not see him absorbing the blows in the first few rounds, but we are ready for absolutely every scenario.

"I'm ready to go to war for the full 12 rounds and I'm ready to put him away in the first 10 seconds, so that's where my head is at."

Mayweather has used 8-ounce gloves in all but three of his 49 career fights, but McGregor doesn't care. The Irishman is still fully confident he will tally a knockout and hand Mayweather his first career loss.

Some other notes from McGregor's Wednesday press conference:

• McGregor addressed Paulie Malignaggi's comments again, simply saying that the former champion got his "ass whipped" and if he wants to fight he would be more than willing to take him on. McGregor also laughed when he found out Bovada's sportsbook had Malignaggi as a big favorite to win the fight.
   
• Secondly, McGregor considers himself still both the lightweight and featherweight champion of the UFC and intends to go back to MMA after this month's fight and take back his belt in the featherweight division.
   
• McGregor also talked about the racial undertones that have been pervasive in the lead up to the fight and wishes the bout had been more focused on the skilled athletes and not anything else. "For me this is athlete versus athlete, I don't... I was upset that Floyd tried to bring this in, I thought that was a weak move on his part."
   
• Finally, McGregor feels boxing experts have been very dismissive of his chances in the ring and he fully intends to open their eyes. "The disrespect and the disregard for my skill set, it's like, I look at people so many times and their mind is closed, they have a closed mind to how things can be going and it's a set way and there's no other way. Well if that's the case we never [would] have reached across the waters and sailed to other land and we'd never have went into space."

By Marc Lancaster

A longtime boxing official will be the third man in the ring for the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor showdown. The Nevada State Athletic Commission announced Wednesday that Robert Byrd will be the referee for the Aug. 26 bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Burt Clements, Dave Moretti and Guido Cavalleri will serve as the judges at ringside.

Byrd is a member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame and has officiated numerous high-profile fights, most recently the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev light heavyweight title bout last November. He also officiated Mayweather's title bout against Robert Guerrero in May 2013.

He said in a 2015 interview with The Sweet Science that he has a reputation for letting the fighters fight.

"The fighters are the most important people," he said. "The fans don't come to watch me. They come to watch the fighters."

By ​Sara Jane Harris

Floyd Mayweather was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night.

The undefeated boxer spoke about his upcoming Aug. 26 fight with Conor McGregor and revealed he'll likely make $350 million for the Saturday showdown.

MORE: Maloof brothers make whopping bet on Mayweather-McGregor

ESPN sports business reporter Darren Rovell estimates Mayweather will receive $225 million for the fight, more than double McGregor's pay.

My projections, in @ESPNTheMagazine, for what Mayweather, McGregor & the UFC will make from Aug. 26 fight pic.twitter.com/gzKpqUSyiL

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) August 15, 2017

Plan on making any prop bets? You might want to listen to the video below, where Mayweather gives some hints as to who he might walk into the ring with on fight night.

He also gives Kimmel an offer he can't refuse.

By Peter Hanson

Dana White is adamant that the use of lighter gloves will swing the outcome of Conor McGregor's grudge match with Floyd Mayweather in the Irishman's favour.

UFC star McGregor has vowed to shock the world by defeating the unbeaten Mayweather when the rivals do battle in Las Vegas on August 26.

McGregor, considered a huge underdog in what will be his first competitive boxing bout, and Mayweather have each requested to wear 8 ounce (oz) gloves at the T-Mobile Arena.

Nevada State Athletic Commission regulations require contests over a weight limit of 147 pounds (Ibs) to use 10oz gloves, with McGregor and Mayweather slated to fight at 154Ibs.

MMA fighters generally wear 4oz mitts and McGregor regularly goaded Mayweather over seeking an advantage by only fighting in a boxing environment, but the 40-year-old seemingly yielded to the request to use lighter gloves.

And UFC president White says if permission is granted McGregor has the advantage due to his power punching.

"It definitely benefits Conor," he told Sky Sports. "First of all, Floyd isn't a big puncher, he's not a knockout puncher.

"His whole game is defence, using the gloves to defend himself, and smaller gloves means Conor will have more places to hit.

"We've always wanted to have smaller gloves, they didn't want it and now all of a sudden Floyd has decided that he wants smaller gloves.

"So now we have a hearing with the state commission this week and hopefully that will happen.

"Conor isn't concerned about Floyd's punching power at all."

Mayweather may be the overwhelming favourite to have his hand raised, but White warned that McGregor should not be underestimated.

"I stopped doubting Conor McGregor a long time ago," he added. 

"Everything he's told me he's going to do, he's done, so if he says he'll beat Floyd Mayweather inside four rounds, he will.

"I don't think Conor underestimates him, he obviously respects him.

"He's the bigger, stronger fighter. People aren't giving him a chance and that's just crazy. This is going to be a fight and anything can happen in a fight."

By Scott Ridge

Gavin and Joe Maloof,  minority owners of the Las Vegas Golden Knights, are putting big money on Floyd Mayweather Jr. to beat Conor McGregor later this month. The former owners of the NBA's Sacramento Kings revealed that they're putting a combined $880,000 on the undefeated boxing champion.

The Maloofs plan to donate their winnings — if Mayweather, the current favorite, beats McGregor — to several charities in Las Vegas.

According to The Associated Press, the brothers would make a $160,000 profit with a Mayweather (-550 as of last week) victory on Aug. 26.

"We have a huge opportunity to help a lot of people in charities, so we decided to do it," Gavin Maloof told The AP. "It's a neat way to enjoy the fight, and it's a fun way to promote our product.

"So I called my brother, Joe, and said, 'We should put a wager on Floyd, because I don't think he's going to lose.' Not to take anything away from Conor. He's good. But I just like Floyd a lot."

By Peter Thompson

Conor McGregor has vowed to become "a god of boxing" by beating Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the "biggest fight of all time" this month.

Mayweather this week said it will be a "victory" for McGregor if their lucrative grudge match goes the distance, but the brash Irishman said the 40-year-old boxer is in for a shock.

"I have a game plan and I will execute it perfectly, like always," McGregor said. "I have been boxing my whole life, so this is not a new experience for me.

"I will rule over MMA and boxing with an iron fist after Aug. 26. The critics say that Floyd has been there before. They discredit my training, my skills, my accomplishments.

"This isn't new to me though, just like boxing isn't new to me. I am no stranger to being the underdog on paper. I am a seasoned veteran, and I am confident that I am the better man. After Saturday, Aug. 26, I will be a god of boxing."

McGregor warned Mayweather that he will be in for a rude awakening if he sticks to his word and goes on the attack, adding: "The story of the fight will be waiting to see who takes a step back first. We all know Floyd is a great defensive boxer, and he isn't going to keep coming forward like he says. If he does, it's going to be a quick night for me.

"This camp has been amazing. I'm getting better by the day, more alert, quicker. My weight is at a good place but I'm going to be a much bigger man than Floyd when we step in the ring for the fight and I think that makes a difference.

"It means the world to have fans traveling from Ireland and all over the world for this fight. This is the biggest fight of all time and we owe them a hell of a show."

By Peter Hanson

Floyd Mayweather says it will be a "victory" for Conor McGregor if their lucrative grudge match goes the distance in Las Vegas.

Most boxing experts are predicting five-weight world champion Mayweather will coast to victory against UFC star McGregor, who is making his professional debut in the squared circle.

Indeed, it would be viewed by many as a moral victory for the big-talking Irishman, the first man to hold belts in two weight divisions at the same time in UFC, if he can see the fight through to the end.

And that is a view shared by Mayweather, who will take his career record to 50-0 with victory at the T-Mobile Arena on Aug. 26.

"He believes it's not going past four [rounds] and I believe that it's not going to go the distance at all," Mayweather told reports at his media workout. He feels one way, I feel another way, we are both confident in our skills and we'll just have to see. It is a victory for him. If it goes the distance, it's a victory for him — in my eyes also."

Earlier this week, Mayweather stated in an interview with ESPN that McGregor, 11 years his junior at 29, has the edge "on paper".

But Mayweather was keen to clarify his thoughts.

"Of course, the so-called boxing experts, they say things like, 'oh when a guy is bigger and stronger, that means he's better'," Mayweather added. 

"What I'm saying is this — on paper, we know he's taller, we know he has a longer reach, we know youth is on his side. Okay? And I guess everybody is saying power is on his side. 

"But I'm saying IQ is on my side, experience is on my side and I think just fighting knowledge is on my side.

"So, I never said that I feel that I'm gonna lose. I never get involved in anything if I think I'm gonna take a loss.

"That's like me saying, 'yes I'm gonna invest my money, but I know I'm gonna take a loss, but I'm still gonna invest it'."

By Ron Clements

Conor McGregor didn't provide any extra motivation for Floyd Mayweather Jr. ahead of their Aug. 26 fight in Las Vegas, but that doesn't mean Mayweather was OK with McGregor's controversial remarks last month. During their global press junket, McGregor referred to a scene from "Rocky III" with several black people in a boxing gym as "the one with the dancing monkeys."

Mayweather spoke with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith and said the Irishman's remark was disrespectful.

 "I just didn't like when he called us monkeys," Mayweather said. "I think that was totally disrespect. I didn't like it. It didn't push a button to make me jump out of my character and go crazy, but I didn't like it."

When asked what went through his mind, Mayweather said he thought about the U.S. civil rights movement of the 1960s. 

"I just thought about all our different leaders — Martin Luther King, Malcolm X — that went on the front line for me and my family and all my loved ones," Mayweather said. "This stuff still goes on, but I'm strong, smart, patient and come August 26, I'll be the same person.

"The same way he called us monkeys, we're going to see if he says that August 26."

Mayweather also boasted for making the fight happen by "controlling the chess board" to give the boxing world what it demanded. McGregor's history of controversial, sometimes racist remarks, takes their fight to a "bigger scale."

"This is for a cause," Mayweather told Smith. "This is for the American people and all the blacks around the world."

By Brendan Bradford

Less than a day after Floyd Mayweather said Conor McGregor holds the upper hand ahead of their super-fight in Las Vegas later this month, footage has emerged of the boxer apparently struggling to his feet after a hard day's training. 

Speaking to ESPN, Mayweather said his inactivity and age means the Irishman has the upper hand, but many have passed this off as 'Money' trying to hype the fight. 

The boxing conspiracists were called to action again this week after Mayweather appeared to need help regaining his feet after a training session at his Las Vegas gym. 

"I don't feel like getting up," Mayweather says while receiving a massage. 

"I feel like getting on that sofa and going to sleep. I'm gonna sleep in the gym tonight."

Another man adds: "that's them 40s."

Watch the video below. 

Genuine fatigue from an old man, or a clever piece of pre-fight mindgames? 

By Sacha Pisani

American veteran Floyd Mayweather Jr. believes UFC champion Conor McGregor has the edge over him on paper as the pair prepare to step into the ring.

McGregor, 29, will step away from the octagon and into the ring against Mayweather, who is 49-0 in his career having not fought since 2015. And Mayweather conceded he is not the same fighter he used to be ahead of this month's blockbuster showdown.

"He's a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he's taller, has a longer reach, he's a bigger man from top to bottom. He's a lot younger, so youth is on his side," Mayweather told ESPN.

"And I've been off a couple of years. And I'm in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor."

Mayweather added: "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.

"A fighter like Andre Berto isn't even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38. It's obvious I'm slipping a little bit to even let a fighter like that go the distance with me.

"I'm not what I used to be. I used to have a 90 percent knockout ratio. It's obvious I slipped somewhere. Something has taken a toll on my career."

He continued: "I didn't say I couldn't fight. I just said I'm not the same Floyd Mayweather I once was."

By Travis Durkee

Retired boxer Paulie Malignaggi will no longer be Conor McGregor’s sparring partner after photos were leaked of a 12-round session between the two earlier this week as the Irishman prepares to fight Floyd Mayweather.

Malignaggi said Tuesday’s sparring session had “a lot of violence,” and the photos show that.

Malignaggi posted a statement on Twitter saying he was leaving McGregor’s camp because “some of the stuff outside the ring and some ways some things were handled in training camp that I didn’t agree with.”

The 36-year-old then went on a Twitter rampage asking that the full sparring session be released on video, claiming he was pushed down by McGregor in the ring and not knocked down. He even said he “beat [McGregor’s] ass.”

Malignaggi will still work the fight week as a part of Showtime.

By Peter Thompson

Conor McGregor says he has no interest what size gloves Floyd Mayweather Jr. wears when they fight in Las Vegas and warned the legendary boxer: "I am coming sprinting at you with bricks."

Mayweather revealed that he intends to use 8-ounce gloves rather than the standard 10-ounce version for a super-welterweight bout when they step into the ring Aug. 26 in Las Vegas.

UFC star McGregor offered a curt response as he continued his preparations for the mega-money contest with another sparring session.

The Irishman posted a sparring picture on Instagram, with a caption that read, in part: "I don't give a f— about the size of the glove," which he preceded with, "We are prepared to destroy Floyd. Pick whatever size gloves you want as well little man. I fight with 4oz."

He closes his comment by saying, "I am coming sprinting at you with bricks. Know that. Brittle hands."

Mayweather had written on the same social media platform: "Don't believe what you hear in the media. Don't believe what you hear on blog sites.

"If it's not coming directly from me, then it's not true. I'm telling McGregor, 'Let's fight in 8oz gloves'. McGregor can fight in any brand he prefers or chooses.

"I'll be wearing 8 oz Grant gloves. Whatever advantage McGregor needs to feel more comfortable in the ring, I'm willing to accommodate. Let's give the boxing and MMA fans what they want to see."

By Ron Clements

The Mayweather vs. McGregor megafight is almost here.

Undefeated welterweight boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to face UFC superstar Conor McGregor on Saturday, Aug. 26, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Mayweather vs. McGregor tickets are expected to cost anywhere from $500 to $10,000. 

MORE: Trailer for Mayweather vs. McGregor will get you pumped

Mayweather, regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound boxers of all time, opened as a huge favorite to beat McGregor in the boxing match, but the underdog's odds were slashed in half after their world tour. 

Mayweather last fought on Sept. 12, 2015, with a win over Andre Berto to push his record to 49-0 and retain his welterweight championship. McGregor is 21-3 as an MMA fighter and has won UFC championships at 145 and 155 pounds. Mayweather and McGregor will fight at 154 pounds, according to UFC President Dana White. 

MORE: Boxing experts react to Mayweather vs. McGregor announcement

How do the two match up? Here is everything you need to know about the Mayweather vs. McGregor megafight.

When, where is the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight?

Mayweather vs. McGregor will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Aug. 26. 

How to watch Mayweather-McGregor fight, PPV price

Mayweather vs. McGregor will be available in the U.S. on Showtime boxing pay-per-view with live streaming available for various devices. The PPV fight will cost $99.95 in HD (or $89.95 for SD). 

In Germany and Austria, live streaming of the fight will be available on the DAZN platform, in some cases for free. You can find out more about coverage in this region from SPOX. 

Mayweather vs. McGregor odds 

The opening moneyline tabbed Mayweather as a huge favorite at -2,250 with McGregor at +950. It quickly dipped to -1,100 for Mayweather and +700 and the early wagers had the line down to -800 for Mayweather and +500 for McGregor. What does that mean? For the laymen, it means that a $100 bet on McGregor would win $500 plus the original wager back if he were to win. But in order to win $100 with a Mayweather victory, someone would have to place a wager of $800.

As of mid-July, McGregor was being given 7:2 odds (+350) after his world media tour, while Mayweather dropped to a 1:5 (-500) favorite.

Mayweather vs. McGregor purse

UFC president Dana White previously stated Mayweather could pocket around $100 million for the fight, with McGregor hauling in around $75 million. That would be a record payday for McGregor. The pay-per-view is expected to gross around $475 million. 

Tale of the tape, records

Details for Mayweather vs. McGregor fight

The fight will be a 12-round bout at 154 pounds and the boxers will each wear 10-ounce gloves. The undercard for the main event is expected to include only boxers under Mayweather's promotion firm, Mayweather Promotions. Those boxers include Badou Jack with WBA world light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly as a possible opponent. IBF super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis could also defend his belt. 

 

It's official! @jamielynn @mayweatherpromotions @bigboymansion @girlcollection @themoneyteam @melissiarene @badmedina @moneyyaya @kingkoraun @zion_mayweather @jirahmayweather #TMT #TBE #MayweatherPromotions

A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Jun 14, 2017 at 2:30pm PDT

By Gabrielle McMillen

Many have weighed in on who will win the hyped fight between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor, and now former boxing great Mike Tyson has voiced his opinion. Tyson was on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take" podcast Monday morning, where he said McGregor was an idiot for trying to take on Mayweather.

"McGregor is going to get killed boxing," Tyson said. "Boxing? I got mad because I thought they were going to use MMA rules against boxing because that's what it's all about: Can the boxer beat the MMA guy?"

Part of the stipulations for the fight is that it would be purely boxing — McGregor would not be allowed to use MMA rules and would have to follow the boxing guideline.

"[McGregor] put his dumb ass in a position where he's gonna get knocked out because [Mayweather has] been doing this all his life since he was a baby. [McGregor] can't kick and grab and stuff ... He's not going to stand much of a chance."

The former heavyweight champion, who kept referring to McGregor as "McConor," does have a point: Mayweather has been a trained boxer most of his life. McGregor only began seriously training in the sport this past year.

Despite Tyson's little faith in McGregor's abilities as a boxer, he does concede that McGregor is extremely entertaining and that the Aug. 26 match will be worth watching.

"Conor is a character. Floyd has never met a character like this," Tyson said when talking about McGregor calling Mayweather "boy" during the fight's promotional tour. "I want to say hey, it's disrespectful, but it's so funny I can't."

By Travis Durkee

Fearing a “potential disaster,” Las Vegas oddsmakers have slashed Conor McGregor’s underdog status against Floyd Mayweather by more than half. Once listed as a 10:1 underdog, McGregor is now at 7:2 odds (+350) after his world media tour filled with NSFW language. Mayweather has dropped to a 1:5 (-500) favorite.

“We knew this fight would be big, potentially even bigger than the Super Bowl, but now we are almost certain it will be,” said Kevin Bradley, the sports book manager of Bovada (via Yahoo.com). “The recent trash talking and promotional tour is only encouraging bets and at this rate we cannot even imagine how much we will take on it. One thing is for sure though, we will need Mayweather huge. A McGregor early-round KO, as he promised, would be a potential disaster and is partly a reason we are giving a great price on Mayweather at the moment.”

Bovada also released updated odds for the method of victory come Aug. 26 in Las Vegas:

Mayweather Jr. by KO, TKO or DQ —  2:3
Mayweather Jr. by Decision or Technical Decision — 5:2
McGregor by KO, TKO or DQ — 4:1
McGregor by Decision or Technical Decision — 10:1
Draw or Technical Draw — 50:1

By Sara Jane Harris

Was Conor McGregor being racist when he called Floyd Mayweather "boy" and told him to dance for him?

“Dance for me boy, dance for me son! Dance for me!” McGregor yelled at a shadowboxing Mayweather during their Tuesday press conference in Los Angeles.

The New York Post claimed the comments were racist and so did several people on Twitter.

I've been telling you that Conor McGregor was a racist bigot.

He literally told Floyd, "Dance for me, boy."https://t.co/Vc9Co1TcCY

— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) July 12, 2017

Conor told Mayweather to "dance for me boy" that's racist as hell...

Floyd gotta drop em for the culture

— Benjamin Dranklin (@Cos_or_Jefe) July 11, 2017

It only took one press conference for Conor McGregor to say something mildly racist to Floyd Mayweather.

— JustBleedMMA (@JustBleedMMA) July 11, 2017

MORE: Floyd Mayweather Sr. crashed Conor McGregor's press conference

Floyd Mayweather Sr. told TMZ Sports that he did not think McGregor's comments to his son were racist.

"Racist? I don't know what that got to do with race," Mayweather Sr. said. "This is a boxing match. I don't know what that got to do with no racists."

It has been pointed out that the UFC fighter often refers to his opponents as "boys."

Conor is racist for saying "dance for me, boy"?... Cue his words on his prior opponents please 🙄 #MayMacWordTour pic.twitter.com/cSKAFYHUBN

— Trevor ryan (@TrevorRyanG) July 12, 2017

If anything, McGregor's comments will just add more fuel to the fire, when it comes to his highly-anticipated fight with Mayweather on August 26.

By ​Sara Jane Harris

After controversial stops in Los Angeles, Toronto and New York, the fourth and final press conference for Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor took place on Friday in London.

Friday happened to be a special day for McGregor, his 29th birthday.

RT to the lightweight champion @TheNotoriousMMA a Happy Birthday‼️ 🇮 pic.twitter.com/gYojHSLwRA

— UFC (@ufc) July 14, 2017

The most talked about moments from Friday's press conference in London:

WARNING: Some of the videos contain offensive language.

Conor McGregor has arrived and the London crowd immediately goes ballistic #MayMacWorldTour #MayweatherMcGregor pic.twitter.com/HKsA7qVhb2

— SI MMA (@SI_MMA) July 14, 2017

Floyd Mayweather #MayMacWorldTour pic.twitter.com/wHtMYMXaTK

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) July 14, 2017

For the first time ever, Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather in a boxing ring together. 👀

📸 @SHOsports / YouTube pic.twitter.com/xxD1bjTWUA

— Sporting News (@sportingnews) July 14, 2017

First time Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor share a boxing ring! 🙌 #MayMacWorldTour pic.twitter.com/HQEQq42VpZ

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) July 14, 2017

Business just picked up in London #MayMacWorldTour pic.twitter.com/qKzVEKtzsh

— SPORTbible (@sportbible) July 14, 2017

Conor McGregor is trying so hard to get into Floyd Mayweather's head and Floyd could not care less #MayMacWordTour pic.twitter.com/lcz3K52Tgt

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) July 14, 2017

"I get to quadruple my net worth with a half-fight." - @TheNotoriousMMA#MayMacWorldTour pic.twitter.com/ZSkrQC1t1n

— UFC (@ufc) July 14, 2017

Showtime's Stephen Espinoza continues to get the worst of it. He even thought about standing up this time. 😂 😂 #MayweatherMcGregor pic.twitter.com/eZHwKOo7pz

— From The WaterCooler (@FTWaterCooler) July 14, 2017

😲 #MayMac #MayweatherMcGregor https://t.co/WtLRCkHlAp

— UFC Ireland (@UFC_Ireland) July 14, 2017

Floyd Mayweather gets in Conor McGregor's ear (via @ZPGIFs) #MayweatherMcGregor #MayMacWorldTourpic.twitter.com/IPUogxaJXE

— Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) July 14, 2017

Floyd Mayweather tries to troll McGregor with tapout song... again #MayweatherMcGregor #MayMacWorldTourpic.twitter.com/2iarVSFngh

— Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) July 14, 2017

Floyd Mayweather: 'If you say something else, I'll whoop your ass in the octagon' pic.twitter.com/vcSANpnWuM

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 14, 2017

The press conference was not without controversy, as Mayweather yelled a homophobic slur at McGregor.

This is cringeworthy. Is @ShaunKing going to talk about how Floyd is a bigot now? #MayMacWorldTour pic.twitter.com/aUmhU0I0nJ

— Josh Sánchez (@jnsanchez) July 14, 2017

Mayweather and McGregor will fight on Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

By ​Sacha Pisani

Are you ready to rumble? Conor McGregor is. The UFC champion released training footage on Thursday as he prepares to defy the odds against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.

McGregor, 28, will step away from the octagon and into the ring to try and stop a 40-year-old man who is gunning for a 50th win from as many professional fights.

While McGregor is set to fight away from familiar surroundings, the Irishman appears right at home with a pair of boxing gloves.

Mayweather also lit up social media with footage of him showcasing his quick jabs and feet.

By Travis Durkee

Manny Pacquiao, the last man to cash a giant check after a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr., doesn’t have high hopes for the next man to face the undefeated fighter. As he prepares for his fight against Australia’s Jeff Horn, Pacquiao said Conor McGregor isn’t “compatible with boxing,” and therefore will lose to Mayweather in Las Vegas.

“I can say Floyd Mayweather will win, because the fight is in boxing, not an MMA fight. So that’s an advantage with Floyd,” Pacquiao told reporters in Brisbane. “I don’t think McGregor is compatible with boxing, pure boxing. I’m hoping that it’s not going to be a boring fight. We’ll see.”

Though McGregor hopes to have a different result against Mayweather than Pacquiao did in 2015, the MMA star hired a former Pacquiao sparring partner, Dashon Johnson, to better prepare.

Johnson, 29, has won 22 of his 46 boxing bouts and also won nine of his 11 MMA contests between 2012 and 2014.

By ​Steven Muehlhausen

Conor McGregor is the biggest attraction in MMA and one of the biggest draws in all of sports. Last week Forbes magazine reported the UFC lightweight champion was the 24th-highest paid athlete in the world, tied with soccer star Gareth Bale.

McGregor is set to move up the ladder after Wednesday's announcement that he will face Floyd Mayweather in a boxing match Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be one of the biggest moments in the history of combat sports and figures to be one of the greatest spectacles of all time. McGregor is set to pull down tens of millions of dollars for the bout.

MORE: What does megafight mean for boxing, MMA?

The 28-year-old McGregor shouldn't be able to defeat Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs), but he does have some advantages. He's younger than the 40-year-old boxing legend, has a two-inch reach advantage and will be the heavier fighter when they step into the ring in 73 days.The contracted weight for the fight is 154 pounds. 

One person who feels "Notorious" can pull off the greatest upset in boxing history is his employer, UFC president Dana White. On Wednesday, White made a proclamation for the ages about what would happen if McGregor lands the perfect shot and does what no one else has done, which is to defeat Mayweather.

MORE: White says McGregor '100 percent confident' he'll win

“If you look at this thing and you look at how big this fight is and you look at how big these athletes are that are involved in this fight, if Conor does knock Floyd Mayweather out, (then) he is the biggest athlete on earth,” White said. “He’s the biggest athlete (on this planet), on other planets, he’s the biggest athlete. It’s pretty crazy.”

McGregor has fought everyone White has put in front of him. The list includes his first fight vs. Nate Diaz, which McGregor took on 11 days' notice prior to UFC 196, and a bout vs. Chad Mendes on 10 days' notice. Mayweather, on the other hand, has been known to be very selective about who gets to step inside the ring against. 

McCARTHY: Media hype already enormous 

“I always say this about Conor, and now you can say it about Floyd, too,” White said. “When you go out and you put everything on line — I’ve said this about Floyd Mayweather for years: He loves money, loves money, but that record is actually, I think, more important to him than money. For him to go out and risk that 49-0 against a guy like Conor, props to both guys for making the fight.”

Steven Muehlhausen is an MMA and boxing writer and contributor for Sporting News. You can listen to his podcast, "The Fight Club Chicago" here. You can email him at [email protected] and can find him on Twitter @SMuehlhausenMMA.

By ​Gabrielle McMillen

The long-rumored megafight between boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed-martial arts fighter Conor McGregor is officially on, Mayweather announced on Instagram Wednesday.

Earlier Wednesday, Mayweather Promotions was given the green light from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to have the event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Aug. 26, although the boxing match didn't have names attached to it at the time.

The exact terms of the fight aren't clear, but UFC president Dana White previously suggested that Mayweather could pocket around $100 million for the fight, with McGregor hauling in around $75 million.

However, the number could be even larger. Mayweather earned $220 million total from his bout with Manny Pacquiao.

The fight will be boxing only, which puts McGregor at a disadvantage since the UFC star specializes in MMA. However, McGregor has been training as a boxer for the past few months to prepare for the fight.

The bout has been in the makings for months, with both Mayweather and McGregor exchanging barbs on social media.

Mayweather retired with a perfect 49-0 record after his bout with Andre Berto in September 2015. Many expected him to return to the ring for "one last fight" so he could have a perfect 50-0 record, and this will be that chance.

McGregor (21-3) was reportedly the only person Mayweather would come out of retirement to fight. He holds two UFC titles at 145 and 155 pounds.