Boxing : Mayweather makes it a perfect 50

Mangalore Today News Network

Aug 27, 2017: Most boxing fans believed that Conor McGregor — an MMA outsider, with zero experience in pro boxing — stood no chance of landing even a single punch. Yet, here he was taking on the boxing ‘guru’, Floyd Mayweather. This was dismissed as a circus freak show, a greed-driven money-making exercise.

McGregor proved the doubters wrong, showing incredible skill to keep Mayweather guessing, at least for the first few rounds in Las Vegas on Saturday. The Irishman threw orthodox jabs and crosses to hold his own.

As for Mayweather, who entered this bout with an incredible 49-0 record, his legacy was only enhanced.

Patience, precision, immaculate defence, composure, street smarts — all these qualities were evident in Mayweather’s victory over a man 11 years his junior.

The fate of the fight boiled down to one crucial aspect — in-ring stamina. McGregor, accustomed to five five-minute rounds in the MMA world, lost his mojo as the fight wore on. Twelve three-minute rounds proved to be beyond his scope.

McGregor showed purpose and energy in the first round. He landed a perfect upper-cut, which jolted Mayweather. But by the time the sixth round arrived, McGregor was a spent force. In the seventh, his hands were down by his side, leaving him completely exposed.

In the pre-fight build up, Mayweather had proclaimed that he intended to take McGregor into deep water and leave him there to drown. He did just that. Mayweather, who was content to bide his time until this point, moved in for the kill.

A sharp straight right snapped McGregor’s head back, and more unanswered blows followed. The end came in the tenth round, when Mayweather threw a couple of vicious straights, which sent a thoroughly exhausted McGregor reeling.

A final barrage with McGregor backed up against the ropes prompted the referee to wave Mayweather off. Perhaps he could have let the bout continue. Much like a Samurai warrior, a professional fighter wishes to die by the sword. A clean knock-down would have given McGregor an honourable loss.

McGregor, though, did not have much else to complain about, for Byrd had been quite lenient when it came to the several illegal punches thrown to the back of Mayweather’s head.

With this technical knockout, Mayweather stands alone on top of the highest peak, overtaking the 49-0 record held by the great heavyweight, Rocky Marciano, and with a $200 million pay cheque to boot.