It was billed as the fight of the century, and it was nothing if not thrilling – 10 rounds of hopped-up masculinity thrashing it out after a helluva lot of pre-game big-talk. Remember these?
But someone had to win it, and this one went to the veteran: Floyd Mayweather, by TKO.
FIGHT’S OVER!! 💰💰💰 @FloydMayweather improves to 50-0 by TKO! #MayweatherMcGregor
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) August 27, 2017
Conor McGregor‘s MMA background cost him in the early rounds, as he whacked Mayweather upside the back of the head a few times and copped warnings from the ref – fine to do that in MMA, but in boxing, not so much.
And he was going up against one of the all-time greats of the sport. Mayweather might have been older, but McGregor’s stamina just wasn’t there. He’d never had to go a full twelve rounds before, thanks to the shorter MMA fights, and by the end of this one he was obviously flagging.
Still, he’s won the respect of the boxing world, going head-to-head with a legend and clearly holding his own. No KO from McGregor, as he promised us, but it was a bloody close match right to the very end.
https://twitter.com/BoxingBritain1/status/901662105585274880
Almost going the full twelve rounds, McGregor eventually found his legs buckling; Mayweather went in to finish things off, and the ref stepped in to call it a technical knock out, to the dismay of many.
It’s a landmark crossover for McGregor regardless of outcome – though we’re sure there will be weeping in Irish pubs for many hours to come tonight.
