• Home
• /
• Opinion

A bout for money, not so much of a sporting feat

Irish fighter McGregor from Ultimate Fighting Championship gave an impression in the initial rounds that he was far better in the boxing ring than he was credited for.

Money was the victor metaphorically as well as in the squared-circle when Floyd Mayweather stopped Conor McGregor in the tenth round for an earning estimated to be over $200 million. It was a fight between a boxer and a rookie and at stake was a $1-million garish 'Money Belt' comprising 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires and 300 emeralds embedded in 1.5kg of solid gold - all set in alligator leather. Even the 'Notorious' loser stands to win $100 million. It was all about Money, by Money and for Money, nickname of Mayweather, whose company Mayweather Promotions was the promoter of this mismatched fight. Irish fighter McGregor from Ultimate Fighting Championship gave an impression in the initial rounds that he was far better in the boxing ring than he was credited for.
The bout statistics may also have suggested the same: Southpaw McGregor landed more punches on Mayweather than his rivals like Manny Pacquiao. But the fact is Mayweather allowed him to attack. The American boxer, with an enviable record of 50-0 as a professional boxer, was literally playing a game of chess with his impeccable defence, so much so that everything McGregor did in the first four rounds looked impressive but only as long as Mayweather allowed it.
The American boxer's strategy was to tire out his younger rival by 11 years. He waited for McGregor to wobble, which happened in the ninth round, and the end was nigh. Mayweather, who was steady all through, controlled the fight and steered it the way he wanted, like he has always done. There will always be questions about referee Robert Byrd's decision to step in and stop the fight in the tenth round when McGregor ended on the ropes repeatedly. However, it was a matter of seconds before he would have hit the canvas as Mayweather peppered him with combination punches. Mayweather has said this was his last fight, but only until his tax problems crop up again. He had denied the tax charges but earnings from this fight will take care of that and even the penalties.