UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor finally got his wish. Yesterday evening, it was announced by both parties that McGregor would fight one of the greatest boxers ever in a boxing fight, Floyd Mayweather.
Mayweather amassed a 49-0 professional boxing record, earning 26-finishes. The American has defeated names such as Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, and Manny Pacquaio.
McGregor has taken over the UFC in the four years since joining the promotion, earning a victory over every single fighter he has come up against. The Irishman went 5-0 before winning the interim 145lbs strap. He later unified the belt with a victory over Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
“The Notorious” then faced Nate Diaz at welterweight, losing one and winning the rematch before fighting Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC 205. McGregor won the fight, and the lightweight title.
Since joining the promotion, the outspoken fighter has made outrageous predictions time and again, and almost always has delivered. It started with predictions about his fights, to predictions about his future, and what he would be doing, and he’s always backed it up.
When claiming he wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr, it seemed just too outrageous. An MMA fighter, stepping into a boxing ring, and fighting who many consider to be the greatest boxer of all time. No way that can happen, right?
Wrong. After weeks of McGregor, Mayweather, and both teams saying ‘it’ll be done soon’, it’s finally real. When I kept hearing teams and promoters say ‘soon’, I started to believe less and less that it would happen. It seemed repetitive and looked to me like they were clambering on to the idea that Conor could fight Floyd.
Boy, was I wrong, and now I feel like a moron for doubting that Conor could make this happen. Is it just me or does he give everyone else this feeling almost all the time? There’s no doubting that the 28-year-old has proven more doubters wrong than pretty much every single other UFC fighter.
The Irishman is idiotically crazy, but it works for him. It really does. He’s earned millions of dollars, set countless records, made waves in both the MMA and mainstream media world, and is only 28! Usually, fighters at this age are nowhere near the point McGregor is, but let’s be honest, no MMA fighter has ever reached the point McGregor is at.
