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ASSOCIATD PRESS
Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor pose for photographers during a news conference Wednesday in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a boxing match Saturday in Las Vegas.
The boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is going to fight Conor McGregor of mixed martial arts this weekend. Maybe you’ve heard something about it. Here’s what we know.
WHEN IS THE FIGHT?
Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Coverage starts at 9 p.m. ET, but the main event is likely to be quite deeper into the evening.
WHERE CAN I WATCH IT?
The fight will be available through Showtime Pay Per View and UFC Fight Pass PPV in the United States. Services like Sky Sports Box Office (UK) and DAZN (Germany and Austria) will broadcast the fight in other regions. Many bars and restaurants will also show it.
Click here for a list of bars in Hawaii showing the McGregor-Mayweather fight.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
In the U.S., $90 or $100 for high definition. Less in other areas. Most bars showing the fight will have cover charges for the night; many are advertising figures of between $25 and $50.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL WATCH?
The Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megafight in 2015 got more than 4 million buyers, making it the No. 1 grossing pay-per-view ever. With the popularity of McGregor and his mixed-martial arts fan base, many feel this fight could get 5 million.
WHAT SPORT IS THIS ANYWAY?
Definitely boxing. Promoters say that if McGregor tries mixed martial arts moves like kicking or a takedown during the fight, he will face significant financial penalties.
WHAT’S THIS I HEAR ABOUT GLOVES?
Normally fighters at 154 pounds in Nevada must fight with 10-ounce gloves. But the fighters have received a waiver from the athletic commission to use 8-ounce gloves instead. Mixed martial artists generally wear light gloves of only 4 ounces, so some say this change favors McGregor. But Mayweather partisans note that his fast hands will be even faster with smaller gloves.
HAS THERE BEEN A WAR OF WORDS?
Has there ever. Here are a few of the zingers over the last few months (in some cases with profanities removed).
From Mayweather:
“I’m not the same fighter I was two years ago. But I got enough to beat you.”
“He looks good for an eight-figure fighter. But I’m a nine-figure fighter.”
“God only made one thing perfect, and that’s my boxing record.”
From McGregor:
“He’s in a track suit. He can’t even afford a suit anymore.”
“What are you doing with a school bag on stage? You can’t even read.”
“I’m going to knock him out inside four rounds, mark my words.” (He later revised this down to two.)
WHO’S ON THE UNDERCARD?
Gervonta Davis, an undefeated super featherweight titleholder, who is a friend and protégé of Mayweather, will face Francisco Fonseca.In a light-heavyweight bout, Welsh titleholder Nathan Cleverly will meet Swede Badou Jack.
WHO’S GOING TO WIN?
Virtually every expert predicts that Mayweather will have his way with McGregor. McGregor’s odds opened at about 10-1. But the public, sensing value or merely supporting their favorite, bet that all the way down to 3-1. Most gamblers think the odds will swing back Mayweather’s way as the fight approaches and big-money players take what they see as a sure thing.
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