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Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor, also known as "The Money Fight",[1][2][3][4] is an upcoming professional boxing match between undefeated eleven-time five-division professional boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and current UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor. It will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada on August 26, 2017.
Despite his success in the UFC mixed martial arts promotion, Conor McGregor maintained an interest in boxing competitively again and entertained the idea of a "money fight" with Floyd Mayweather Jr.[7] Mayweather reportedly talked to Freddie Roach to train McGregor for the fight in case it would happen.[8] UFC president Dana White dismissed the rumors of a fight with Mayweather on The Dan Patrick Show, stating that Mayweather would have to contact him since McGregor was under contract with the UFC.[9] White even went as far as stating, "Here’s what I think the chances are [of the fight happening]: About the same of me being the backup quarterback for Brady on Sunday," referring to Super Bowl LI.[10] In January 2017, it was reported that the two parties had entered an "exploratory phase" in negotiating a potential match between Mayweather and McGregor. On The Herd with Colin Cowherd, White openly offered to pay Mayweather $25 million to hold the proposed bout during a UFC event. He also predicted that pay-per-view viewership of the hypothetical bout could possibly rival Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.[11]
On March 7, 2017, Mayweather called upon McGregor to "sign the paper" and "make it happen", arguing that "if Conor McGregor really wants this fight to happen, stop blowing smoke up everybody's ass."[12] On March 10, 2017, Mayweather stated that only a fight with McGregor would make him come out of retirement.[13] On March 16, 2017, Dana White backpedaled on his stance against a Mayweather-McGregor bout and said that he would not deprive McGregor of a massive payday.[14][15] On May 18, 2017, McGregor reportedly agreed to all of Mayweather's updated terms and signed the contract.[16][17]
IBF super featherweight champion Gervonta Davis will participate in a co-main event.[18] An international press tour was held from July 11–14.[19]
On July 19, 2017, additional undercard details were released.[20] To date, three names have been confirmed on the undercard, including British amateur boxer Savannah Marshall who signed up earlier in the year with Mayweather Promotions and Badou Jack who will be stepping up to fight at light heavyweight.[21]
On a July 24, 2017 episode of the Pardon My Take podcast, hosted by BigCat and PFTCommenter, former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson predicted McGregor "is going to get killed in boxing."[22]
A mural was painted in McGregor's Dublin training facility, Straight Blast Gym, depicting McGregor hitting Mayweather with a left-handed punch.[23]
On July 26, 2017, it was announced that former welterweight titleholder Shawn Porter would be headlining the preliminary card, facing Thomas Dulorme.[24][25] On August 17, Porter pulled out of the fight due to personal reasons, including a death in the family. He was replaced by Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugás.[26]
On July 29, 2017, The Ring magazine reported that Gervonta Davis would defend his IBF World super featherweight title against former WBO champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez.[27]
On August 9, 2017, it was announced that Nathan Cleverly will defend his WBA light-heavyweight title against Money Man fighter Badou Jack.[28][29]
In the United States, the fight will be televised via Showtime pay-per-view, available through both traditional television providers and various digital services, including the Showtime website and the UFC's UFC.tv service. Fathom Events is also organizing public screenings.[30][31] On July 10, 2017, it was announced that pricing for the PPV in the U.S. would mirror that of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, being set at US$89.95 (with an additional $10 charge for high definition).[32] It was also announced that Fox Sports (the television rightsholder of the UFC) would provide shoulder programming for the fight, including coverage of the press tour on UFC Tonight, as well as a pre-show and preliminary card (similarly to those broadcast by Fox Sports 1 prior to UFC pay-per-views) on Fox and Fox Deportes.[32] As with Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Showtime is seeking an injunction against websites that plan to illegally stream the fight in violation of its copyrights.[33]
Sky Sports Box Office will hold broadcasting rights to the fight in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Although it was initially believed that the price would match that of the U.S. PPV, the price was set at €24.95 and £19.95.[34]
In Hispanic America, the fight will air on Fox Premium Action.[35] In Brazil, the event will air on Globosat-owned Combate.[36]
