Floyd Mayweather warns Conor McGregor 'you have to be able to take it' at final press conference
Floyd Mayweather warned Conor McGregor that the Irishman will have to be able to “take it as well as give it” when they meet here for Saturday night’s showdown.
Speaking when the two came face to face at the final press conference, boxing’s unbeaten No 1 said he was so confident he would place the biggest bet of his life – more than $750,000 (£586,000) – on himself to win at the T-Mobile Arena.
But, should McGregor, the star of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, win he would become the “greatest combat sports athlete of all time,” in the view of Dana White, the president of the UFC.
Nonetheless, 80 per cent of bets, expected to total over £200 million, have been on the Irish fighter known as ‘Mystic Mac’. The event is expected to break all pay per view and finance records for a boxing event, overhauling the $700 million from Mayweather’s showdown with Manny Pacquiao two years ago. It will be the most widely distributed global event televisually and digitally in history, and will reach 225 countries.
At a news conference, which was subdued compared to the hysteria around the pair’s world tour eight weeks ago, with thousands of Irish fans expected to arrive over the next 48 hours. Mayweather calmly cautioned the 29-year-old Irishman that he was coming into the sphere he has dominated. Just before a tense stand-off with the pair inches apart, after which McGregor pulled a Bruce Lee pose, Mayweather cautioned: “One thing he must know about the sport of boxing, and about combat sport, if you give it, you must be able to take it.”
It was Mayweather’s final riposte for the weeks of fight hype and build-up in which McGregor has belittled the American’s rivals in his 20-year, undefeated career. In that time, Mayweather has never been knocked down.
“I’ve faced 49 opponents, they said I have brittle hands, they say I’m scared, a scared guy,” Mayweather said. “But listen, last time I checked nobody has walked me down. It’s called smarts, it’s called having the IQ and having patience.
“From day one everything my dad taught me, I know today; every combination that was taught to me, I still know. Everything in boxing that can be done, I’ve done it, a thousand times. I was born a fighter and I’ll die a fighter. I have the skills.”
“On Aug 26 he’s going to bring his best and it’s not going to be easy, but remember [Manny]) Pacquiao had bombs, Canelo [Alvarez] had bombs, Shane Mosely had bombs, but I have a great chin.”
For his part McGregor was more direct. “I’ve been hit by a shinbone on the cheek, I have been hit and I can take punches. I am already the king of boxing, and when I f--- this boy up, I’m going to create my own hybrid sport and people can come and challenge me.”
“I will put the pressure on and stop this old man; he will not last two rounds. He messed up changing to 8oz gloves. I’m going to break through whatever he has. I’m taking the Marquess of Queensberry Rules seriously and I’m going to beat him at his game.”
White was adamant when he said: “If Conor wins he will become right there the greatest and the biggest sports combat athlete ever. If Conor knocks Floyd out, they’ll say Floyd was too old, and they’ll give a whole string of reasons why he knocked him out. The Mayweather-Pacquiao fight showed where the bar can be set for fight sports, and this has reached a new level.”
And just like that...
...the final pre-fight press conference is over. Bring on Saturday night! Here's everything you need to know about Mayweather vs McGregor. Enjoy!
More from Mayweather
"[McGregor being late] didn't bother me. I don't really worry about that. With age comes wisdom. I want to set an example for the younger guys by being on time.
"The majority of my career I fought in eight ounce gloves so I'm ready for that side of it.
"My job is to go out there and be the best I can be."
Time for a pose
Our man Gareth A Davies is up with a couple of questions
Q: "What do you have to say to Floyd's threats that 'you have to be able to take it as well as give it'?"
McGregor: "You ever had a shinbone bounce off your cheekbone? I've come through a lot tougher than any of these [boxers] have come through.
"I'm ready for insane pace. I don't believe he can give that."
Q: "Floyd, do you think Conor doesn't respect your skills?"
Mayweather: "You can say what you want on the outside. When you get in the ring, things change."
Time for some questions from the media
Q: Will you bet on yourself, Conor, like Mayweather?
McGregor: Maybe, I know I'm going to win. I know Mayweather's got a gambling problem. Maybe that's why he's in this position, having to take this fight.
A word of warning
"One thing you must know about boxing: if you give it, you must be able to take it.
"Conor will bring his best. It's not gonna be easy Conor. Remember this: whenever you give it, you're going to have to be able to take it."
More from Money
"Now it comes down to the two competitors, displaying our skills and giving the fans what they want.
"When it's all said and done, Conor McGregor is like myself. He is undefeated.
"I've been here many times before. After 21 years I've been hit with everything and I'm still right here."
Time for Floyd
"I want to thank God, I want to thank my father, I want thank social media, I want to thank different media outlets.
"But it comes down to me and the guy I'm competing against.
"I had a great camp. No matter whether it's MMA or boxing, you have to be a fighter.
"I'm taking this extremely serious, but the thing is this. When it's all said and done, one thing I know is that I can fight. When I'm 49 and 0, I am giving it, I'm not receiving it.
"Dana White you've done a tremendous job. Conor McGregor has a hell of a career, still has a hell of career, he is a stand up guy, it's not going to be an easy fight."
More from Conor
"You see the work I've put in, I've taken this very seriously. I will go out and perform.
"I will go out and out-box this man at his own game.
"Thanks so much everybody, I'm gonna f--- this boy up.
"When it's all over I'll be a bit sad, to be honest.
"You should've left me in that game where we bounce heads on the canvas."
Conor McGregor is up first
"Well I'm here now, I just want to say I'm very happy with how the camp has gone. Everything has gone absolutely amazing, everybody involved in the camp.
"We are prepared for 12 three-minute rounds. I will knock this old man down.
"He has messed up with eight ounce gloves, I think that's a big mistake. I think I'll end it in three."
Conor McGregor is here!
Suited and booted, McGregor is out, and Mayweather joins us shortly after. We're ready.
Here comes Dana White
President of the UFC White is seated, we're just waiting for a few more, quite important, people...
"The money belt"
A special belt has been created for this fight; one which includes 3360 diamonds, 600 sapphires, 300 emeralds, 1.5kg of gold and alligator leather. Here it is:
Floyd vs. Conor Money Belt: 3 Pounds of Gold, 3,300 Diamonds!! https://t.co/84xyEAjqqYpic.twitter.com/y8dQcnrohW
— Distinct Athlete (@DistinctAthlete) August 23, 2017
Bob Bennett talks
"We'd like to thank the media for their coverage of this event. You have been relentless. I've done so many interviews that I'm sick of hearing my own voice, so I'll keep this brief."
Bennett then proceeded to talk at length about how excited he was for this fight, and thanked a whole host of people, including Mayweather and McGregor themselves.
The stage is set
We're ready
The stage is set, and Leonard Ellerbe is introducing the fighters, who will be out shortly.
McGregor has arrived
He is in attendance, we hear, he just hasn't shown his face yet. What will Mayweather be thinking as McGregor delays matters further?
Some news
Confirmation that they have had to push back the press conference because Conor McGregor is late. You have to wonder if these are some last-minute mind games to wind his opponent up.
A predictable delay
We're still waiting for the teams to gather for the press conference at the MGM Arena. They made their public arrivals in Las Vegas earlier today.
Not long now...
The final press conference before the fight is imminent.
News from Gareth A Davies, our man on the ground
Conor McGregor has revealed ahead of Saturday's mega-fight here in Sin City that he first targeted a fight with Floyd Mayweather before he had even established himself in the UFC as a two-weight world champion.
The weekend's match-up has been building for the past two years as interest grew in the rivalry between the biggest figures in their respective codes. However, even though only a year ago a fight between them appeared little more than a fantasy, for McGregor it has almost been part of a grand plan.
As a raw, little-known fighter in Ireland, he admired Mayweather and was influenced by the boxer’s criticism of MMA. McGregor said: “Originally that’s what woke me up. I was a kid listening to him talk down about the sport that I was dedicating my entire life to. I’m talking years back, me as a kid.
“Then I realised we’re a similar weight, that was when he first came on my radar. I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to climb up, and I’m going into different disciplines, I will get that fight’.
“Throughout time I rose up – I’m a multiple weight champion – and then it turns out he was the one who came to me. Perfect.”
The best ever? Not quite.
Gareth A Davies, our Boxing Correspondent who is out there in Las Vegas for the fight, has explained why Floyd Mayweather is the greatest pound-for-pound boxer of a generation. He's not the greatest of all time, though, of course...
In the meantime
With the press conference set to start around 9pm, you have some time to kill, so why not dig into Alan Tyers' lovely article comparing the two fighters' home towns: it's Grand Rapids versus Dublin.
Why are we here?
No, I'm not having an existential crisis. There is a reason you are here in this live blog:
Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather hold their final press conference tonight ahead of their huge Las Vegas bout on Saturday night.
And with three days to go, the MMA star has revealed he first targeted a fight with Floyd Mayweather before he had even established himself in the UFC.
The Irishman on Saturday makes his professional boxing debut when he faces Mayweather at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, while he and Mayweather have their final round of trash talking from 9pm BST tonight.
He does so as the UFC's greatest asset, but enters a fight that could prove hugely uncompetitive even if it pays him his greatest ever purse.
Saturday's match-up has gradually been building for the past two years as interest grew in the rivalry between the two biggest figures in their respective codes.
However, even though only a year ago a fight between them appeared little more than a fantasy, for McGregor it has almost been part of a grand plan.
As a young, raw, little-known fighter in Ireland he admired Mayweather from afar and was influenced by the American's criticism of MMA.
The 40-year-old has long been the world's leading boxer, significantly before his opponent became a professional a fighter, and McGregor said: "Originally that's what woke me up. I was a young kid listening to him talk down about the sport that I was dedicating my entire life to.
"I'm talking years back, me as a kid.
"Then I realised we're a similar weight, that was when he first came on my radar. I said, 'You know what, I'm going to climb up, and I'm going into different disciplines, I will get that fight'.
"Throughout time I rose up - I'm a multiple weight champion - and then it turns out he was the one who came to me. Perfect."
McGregor has also insisted a professional boxing coach would have been no use in his fight preparations.
He has sparred with, among others, boxers like the respected Paulie Malignaggi, and under the observation of boxing referee Joe Cortez, but relied on long-term coach John Kavanagh to hone his technique.
When discussing the prospect of McGregor switching to boxing Kavanagh once said they would recruit Paschal Collins, the Dublin-based coach and brother of former Irish world champion Steve, but the 29-year-old said: "I've been boxing my entire life, preparing to fight my entire life.
"Why would I bring in someone when there's this boxing versus MMA type thing anyway? It's not needed.
"I've been with my team my whole life. They know every shot I throw, they know my moods, everything, so there was absolutely no need for it. I was very happy with how the camp went, very happy with how it came together.
"It's like Bruce Lee said, we add what is useful and discard what's not, and that's the way the spars have gone. As the final spar approached, all the unnecessary was gone, and it was a cleaner product, the perfect product. Bruce Lee.
"I'm certainly representing the promotion that is the UFC, that's my promotion. As far as MMA versus boxing I'm my own man in there. I'm not representing mixed martial arts, so to speak, I feel I'm superior to it all."
