The fight is bigger than boxing. It?s as big as Floyd Mayweather says it is. But as likely as not it will disappoint?
On Saturday, August 26, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Floyd ?Money? Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs), the retired former pound-for-king from Las Vegas by way of Grand Rapids, Michigan, puts his unbeaten record on the line when he returns to active duty to take on Conor McGregor (21-3, 18 KOs in MMA), the UFC star from Crumlin, Dublin, Republic of Ireland, in his first professional boxing match.
A handful of cockeyed optimists are picking McGregor to win, based on Mayweather?s age and inactivity and the fact that hope springs eternal. But most observers expect an entertaining if one-sided fight, following a worldwide press tour in which hype reaches new heights or depths.
One of those unable to keep his skepticism in check is former super middleweight champion Carl Froch, who spoke with Sky Sports about the fight.
?Should it be happening?? he asked. ?Well no, because it?s mixed martial arts against boxing. So it shouldn?t be happening, but that?s the world we live in now. I think it?s a big fight. It?s exciting. It?s dramatic.?
?The world we live in now? values spectacle over substance, which opens the floodgates to hucksterism and deceit.
?There?s people saying it?s pantomime,? continued Froch. ?It?s not pantomime, because Conor McGregor can fight. But he?s not a boxer. You know, so it?s gonna be very, very difficult for McGregor to do anything, make any kind of impact on Floyd Mayweather.?
If the best boxers on the planet couldn?t lay a glove on Floyd, except when he let them, it?s hard to imagine McGregor doing any better. But there is that age factor to consider.
?Mayweather?s been out of the ring now a couple of years,? said Froch, ?so you just never know.?
But Froch intends to watch the fight. ?I?ll be watching it,? he said. ?I am looking forward to it.?
The fight is bigger than boxing. It?s as big as Floyd Mayweather says it is. But as likely as not it will disappoint.
?I think Conor McGregor will really, really struggle to just get near him, let alone land a punch.?
It?s hard to argue with Carl Froch.
