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NOTES FROM THE BOXING UNDERGROUND: THE MAYWEATHER-MCGREGOR PANIC EDITION

By Paul Magno | August 14, 2017
NOTES FROM THE BOXING UNDERGROUND: THE MAYWEATHER-MCGREGOR PANIC EDITION

We’re now less than two weeks away from the mega-divisive mega-event pitting the best boxer of this era against a guy with a lot of cool tattoos and a background in whatever it is UFC fighters do. 

Mind you, I LIKE this whole spectacle of Mayweather-McGregor and will be watching in much the same way I used to watch WWE pay-per-view shows back when I was a kid. It’s going to be fun and anybody tuning in for a SHOW will probably not be disappointed. 

This shouldn’t be a real FIGHT, though. At least not in the traditional boxing fan sense. 

If we see the same moves from McGregor that he showed in the ring during last week’s media day, then the fight should play out most humorously. Imagine something along the lines of what you’d expect from a retired elite-level fighter battling Mr. Bean. I mean, really, did you see his moves? Comparing him to Mr. Bean is kind, IMO. 

Unless the space-time continuum is somehow breached and realty becomes twisted on a cosmic comic book level, this should not be a competitive fight. McGregor is a lot of things, but he clearly is not an elite-level (or even a solid second-tier) boxer. Sure, he has a puncher’s chance—just like any other fighter who steps into the ring—but his chance as a puncher is only slighter than the chance of a plane crashing into T-Mobile Arena or of Jimmy Lennon Jr. losing his shit and doing a striptease in the ring during introductions.

Realistically, we’ll probably see Mayweather carry Conor for a few rounds while Conor flails at air and acts the part of the macho buffoon he was born to play. Then, the fight will either end with a Mayweather TKO, a freak “injury” that makes McGregor quit, or, if everyone’s WWE game is on point, a DQ where a way-behind McGregor “loses it” and gets himself a very macho “L.” (Actually, I’m leaning towards the last option since it allows all parties to save face).

Then, expect Mayweather to officially stay retired while McGregor moves on to a 7-figure “grudge” match with Paulie Malignaggi, whose dubious stiff-legged routine in those “leaked” sparring snippets somehow, in some minds, creates some sort of issue to be “settled.”

Having said all of the above, I repeat myself in saying that I have no issues whatsoever with Mayweather-McGregor.

If it puts money in fighters’ pockets, brings some mainstream publicity to the sport, and has the potential to attract new eyeballs to boxing, I’m all for it. Nobody is forcing anyone to buy this event and there’s no more trickery involved in promoting this one than what is involved in promoting most big fights. There may be a BETTER hype game for Floyd-Conor with two infinitely marketable characters matched up, but the game is still the game and anyone who says otherwise is either lying or in raging denial.

Boxing fans just need to relax—enjoy the spectacle or disregard it—but let fans enjoy being fans however they like. In this boxing buffet, there’s room for both prime rib AND cotton candy.

Quick (S)hits:

-- I don’t want to say that the “leaked” sparring footage of Conor McGregor and Paulie Malignaggi looked fake, but I’ve seen more believable Bigfoot-in-the-forest videos.

-- I was hoping to see Gervonta Davis in a tougher fight for his bout on the Mayweather-McGregor PPV undercard. Having him face unknown, unproven Francisco Fonseca is a letdown. But I get the decision—this will be a highlight reel knockout for Davis on the most viewed fight card since Mayweather-Pacquiao. It might even get him some Sportscenter love if the KO is ugly enough.

-- Speaking of Fonseca—How damning is it when the highest praise you can give someone is that they’re “one of the best fighters in Costa Rica?”

-- There’s no hate at all for the other bouts on the Floyd-Conor undercard. Badou Jack-Nathan Cleverly is a damn fine fight. Steve Cunningham vs. Andrew Tabiti is solid. Even Shawn Porter-Thomas Dulorme on the FOX lead-in show is a nice pairing. 

Got a question (or hate mail) for Magno’s Bulging Mail Sack? The best of the best gets included in the weekly mailbag segment right here at FightHype. Send your stuff here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com.

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