Los Angeles: Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor, two of the most popular athletes in their respective sports, have agreed to a crossover fight in the ring, August 26 in Las Vegas.
The fight confirmed Wednesday is expected to gross millions of dollars, with Mayweather a solid favorite. Mayweather, 40, retired in 2015 with an unblemished 49-0 professional boxing record while boastful Irishman McGregor, 28, is the UFC’s lightweight champion.
“IT’S OFFICIAL!!!” Mayweather wrote on his Twitter account alongside a short video that included photos of both fighters. “THE FIGHT IS ON,” McGregor tweeted minutes before Mayweather’s post.
The two fighters had gone back and forth for nearly a year on the showdown, each demanding $100 million for the fight.
Both camps declined to disclose financial details during a call with reporters but said all sides were satisfied.
“Nobody is bummed out about this deal,” UFC president Dana White said. “Everybody’s happy,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe stated.
White informed that the 12-round fight would take place at the T-Mobile Arena here and that McGregor would weigh in at 154 pounds.
“I talked to Conor (McGregor) this morning,” White said. “He is absolutely, 100 per cent positive that he wins this fight.” If McGregor pulls that off, it would rank among the greatest boxing upsets of all time.
Mayweather is widely regarded as one of the best defensive fighters ever, and prides himself on his ability to evade punishment with his movement and to make adjustments on the fly.