Sin City To Host ‘Bad Boys’ Mayweather And McGregor In Billion Dollar Bout?

Two of the biggest egos and best fighters in Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Conor “Notorious” McGregor are about to go head-to-head in Sin City this summer in what can only be described as a billion dollar bout. The Sun has reported that Mayweather and McGregor will battle under strict boxing rules if and when they sort out the financial side of the contest. If they can successfully accomplish that, this is in all likelihood going to be the most expensive novelty bout the world has ever witnessed.

It’s highly unlikely that the shifty Floyd will allow MMA-fighter Connor to put a finger on him. The prospect of the two going blow-for-blow in the center of the ring is almost laughable. Mayweather is 39-years-old and is still unbeaten. McGregor is not a professional boxer and we’re already nearing the beginning of summer. Boxers who plan on steppping in the ring against Mayweather train for months, what’s McGregor’s plan?

One thing everyone can count on is that both men are about to make themselves and everyone involved a whole lot richer if they can agree on the terms. The battle for bragging rights is estimated to net over a billion dollars.

The estimated purse each man will take home is undetermined. Most sources claim Mayweather will earn upwards of $100 million and McGregor will take home somewhere under $20 million. It’s no surprise that the reason why this fight isn’t official has to do with the financial terms, given the gap.

Why would McGregor go up against Mayweather for a fifth of the earnings while under boxing rules, which undoubtedly favors arguably one of the best boxers of all time in Mayweather? Factor in the rumor that the reason McGregor was holding out of the monumental UFC 200 was because he wasn’t happy with the $5 million he was set to earn, in light of the news that superstar Georges St-Pierre would come out of retirement and collect twice McGregor’s purse. Speculation points to McGregor thinking he’s worth more than what people are willing to pay him. Yet being paid a fifth of what your opponent is making when he has the advantage does seem quite unfair.

Speculation aside, both men, who often talk about how much money they have, are surely aware that an opportunity to cash in while the iron is red-hot won’t last long.

Conor’s worth was bruised after he lost his last fight to a much bigger opponent in Nate Diaz, but comeback stories and guys with something to prove sell a lot of tickets – not that either of these men have a problem with that. For McGregor, given the brutality of his sport, a career in MMA is ephemeral so one would think that any time is the right time to cash in.

Mayweather, on the other hand, has enjoyed an unbeaten career and is retired. He has nothing to prove except perhaps how much money he can still draw in. In terms of leverage, Mayweather has it. As for Conor, fighting Mayweather only adds to his charm. Even if he loses to Floyd (which many would expect), he could say that he went toe-to-toe with the greatest boxer of his generation in his domain. Whether a loss by McGregor would hurt his overall product is yet to be seen.

Fans are invited to take this fight seriously, but the good money says most will just enjoy the ride these two stars will provide. The grandeur that will go on outside of the ring will probably be more exciting than the fight itself. The lead-up, trash-talking and general flamboyance that will be on display will probably put the theatrical bout between Rocky Balboa and “Thunderlips” in Rocky III to shame. Hopefully Floyd and Conor will come close to the intensity Thunderlips and Balboa provided in the ring.

The tale of the tape has both fighters standing at five-feet, eight-inches tall. Their natural fighting weight is 155 pounds. McGregor is 28-years of age. Floyd is one shy of 40. The stand-out statistic that will always keep Mayweather near the top of the all-time greatest boxers list is his unbeaten record of 49-0, and 26 of those by way of knockout. It’s highly unlikely that McGregor will hold Mayweather from the half-century mark.

Win, lose, or draw, this is going to be an entertaining experience put on by two show ponies who have pinpoint accuracy with their words, as well as their fists.

[Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images]