As great as Floyd Mayweather is at boxing, and he is one of the all-time greats, he’s arguably an even better promoter.
50 men who dedicated their lives to the art of fighting weren’t able to find a way to defeat Floyd Mayweather.
Of those 50 wins, 23 have been against world boxing champions, with the latest TKO victory coming against a two-weight world champion in the UFC.
His most impressive feat may not actually be that pristine record though, but rather, his ability to garner hordes of eye-balls despite his style being considered ‘boring’ to casual fight fans. Whether they love him or loathe him, boxing fans tend to keep coming back for more ‘Money May’.
Prior to the Money Fight with Conor McGregor, Mayweather was involved in the three biggest PPV fights in sports history. When the numbers for the August 26 prizefight are released, it will likely confirm that he will have been part of the top four.
Easier said than done #MayweathervsMcGregor https://t.co/yAb1IVTQth
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 28, 2017
It’s fair to say that a lot of people have bought Mayweather fights with the hope of seeing him finally get humbled. However, Mayweather’s skills behind the mic have also contributed to the masses parting with their hard-earned cash to see what he has promised to be an unmissable event.
“This is a fight that the world can’t miss. This is an unbelievable match-up – action-packed fight.”
That’s how Mayweather sold 2015’s ‘Fight of the Century’ against Manny Pacquaio. Once the talking had ceased and both men entered the ring, however, 4.6 million people felt let-down by the promise of entertainment as a lacklustre battle ensued.
This would explain why disappointingly few people (somewhere between 400,000 and 550,000) bought Mayweather’s vow that Andre Berto would “push Floyd Mayweather to the limit” in his 49th professional fight.
How quickly people forget https://t.co/0xakx7ZVsB
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 5, 2017
That Pacquiao wound was still relatively fresh when Mayweather was booked to fight Conor McGregor in his pugilism swan song. When he began building up the fight using his used-car-salesman persona, people were understandably sceptical.
He kept hammering home the point that McGregor had youth and size on his side, while he was just an ‘old man trying to get in shape.’
His “100% guarantee’ that the fight would not go the distance didn’t go down well with most fight fans. He claimed he was determined to make up for the Pacquiao fight with an entertaining duel against McGregor. But, this man built his style around defence and limiting the amount of damage he receives through the art of evasion. Few believed he would take that risk against an unknown quantity in McGregor, but remarkably, he did.
But, this man built his style around defence and limiting the amount of damage he receives through the art of evasion. Few believed he would take that risk against an unknown quantity in McGregor, but remarkably, he did.
Says it all, really #MayweathervsMcGregor https://t.co/t17gs96fsh
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 27, 2017
McGregor’s post-fight comment that he made the master of defence ‘fight like a Mexican’ rang true. As soon as he felt that ‘the Notorious’ was spent, he put his gloves up, walked him down and went in for the kill.
The finish in the 10th round came when Mayweather had backed his adversary into the corner. As he teed off at will, the Dubliner went floundering towards the opposite side of the ring. Mayweather kept following him and kept firing until the coup de grace landed.
For the first time in a long time, fans walked away from a Mayweather fight feeling entertained. Not only that, the man himself told them exactly what to expect in advance.
