From this perspective and to more than one boxing observer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor can do what they want Saturday night in Las Vegas. This is not boxing and deserves minimal attention, though that won’t happen because this is a spectacle and the casual fan will purchase the pay-per-view and become more perplexed.
So when editors asked yours truly to take the trip out to Las Vegas: The simple answer was no way! It is plain and simple to understand that this boxing purist won’t buy into the entertainment and how much this 12-round spectacle makes boxing look bad. And it has nothing to do with the minimal interest in the combat sport of UFC.
The pro fighter opposing the combat sports fighter and who is better? Well, who cares when it comes down to it, because this is not boxing! It’s not Hagler, Hearns, Duran, or any of the other Hall of Fame boxing greats and epic fights that made the sport so historic.
They will be making tons of money when this is all over. You, on the other hand, will get sucked in again because that’s what this promotion is all about, a money maker and a fight that has no implications. The only interest is a Mayweather undefeated streak on the line. The other is McGregor and his foul mouth of theatrics that overshadow his accomplishments in a cage.
But this is a boxing match, from all standards. The exception is Mayweather fighting with 8-ounce gloves that could have been a ploy by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as it is known the officials supervising this fiasco are not Mayweather fans.
The fight has hype and it was intended to be that way. That world-wide media tour was a perfect and theatrical script that came out of the WWE playbook and this was strictly done for the cameras and a revenue maker. Then again, Mayweather is all about the money and McGregor is perfect for the script with a foul mouth and knows how to get a crowd going.
The lone reason for a boxing fan to pay for this fiasco is to view a good undercard leading up to this hype of what should be an exhibition and not for the record. That undercard has a veteran, Steve Cunningham, fighting for the cruiserweight title and with a well deserved first time pay-per-view fight who knows how to box.
And Badou Jack puts his WBC super middleweight title on the line opposing WBA light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly. These fights are worth the watch before the fiasco enters the ring.
Recall, the late and great Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki held that non- boxing match from Japan seen on closed circuit. Inoki on the mat and the result was a draw, an exhibition match that this columnist witnessed first hand at Shea Stadium in New York.
There were other live wrestling matches and the legitimate media there went with the hype and saw the entire promotion as a mockery. But consider that Ali was a showman and you can put McGregor in the same category. Though, McGregor is good at what he does when it is legitimate fighting in the cage and Mayweather is a fighter and also good what he does.
But this was a fight that needed no hype, one that was in demand. And Mayweather will once again make his millions that he always needs while McGregor can move on and take the biggest payday of his career to the bank. The boxing and casual fan will go to the bank to assist with their payday.
But when it is over, look at that $100.00 dollar or more purchase and don’t cry or complain. You went for the hype and in a few weeks there will be a legitimate championship fight in the same town, and at the same T-Mobile Arena venue when Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin slug it out September 16th for middleweight supremacy.
Save your money and purchase a fight pay-per-view fight that deserves the hype because this fiasco Saturday night will go with the script. Mayweather-McGregor is not boxing and should not go on the record books, but this opinion is saved for a purist as yours truly is and to many of the true and hardcore boxing fans.
Oh, there is a legitimate fight on HBO Saturday night if you don’t want to not go with the hype and save your hard earned money. Miguel Cotto, the future boxing Hall of Famer, in his next to last fight, opposes Yoshihiro Kamegai for the vacant WBO junior middleweight title.
Cotto is seeking his sixth professional world title. All Mayweather and McGregor will do is follow a script. So don’t cry and complain if you get ripped off. A true boxing fan and writer will not go with this hype and go along with a script that will make a lot of money in Las Vegas Saturday night.
There is a unanimous decision offered here with no prediction here, analyzing, or offering opinion. Just hope this does not become another black eye for boxing in a year where the sport has made some progress with some good and legitimate fights.
Comment Rich Mancuso: [email protected] Twitter@Ring786 Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso