On Tuesday, for the first time ever, boxing great Floyd Mayweather and MMA great Conor McGregor went face-to-face in the beginning of their four-city world tour from the Staples Center in Los Angeles to promote their fight on Aug. 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Many expected Mayweather and McGregor to talk over each other, go on expletive-filled tirades and get physical.
At times, they did talk over each other and go on expletive-filled tirades, but no physicality took place. It wasn’t necessary because the press conference had plenty of moments to make the world salivate.
Immediately after the presser ended, the question arose: Who won?
McGregor appeared to be off from the outset when he came out before he was announced by Jimmy Lennon Jr. He had a ton of nervous energy, dancing to his and to Mayweather’s.
When it came to their clothing, which both are known for, McGregor wore a custom-made suit which said “F— you” in small lettering all over the suit. Mayweather showed up in his “Money Team” apparel. The outfit sparked McGregor, who spoke first to make light of the five-division world champion’s current issue with the IRS, as he reportedly owes $22.2 million.
“He’s in a (expletive) track suit,” McGregor shouted out. “He can’t even afford a suit anymore. He is (expletive).”
McGregor, who’s never had an amateur or professional boxing match, felt Mayweather didn’t really want to fight him, and if it was a real fight, it would end in the first round.
“The movement, the power, the ferociousness — he’s not experienced this,” McGregor said. “He’s fought people who shied away from him. I don’t fear him. I don’t fear this limited set of fighting. This is a limited set of rules that makes this half a fight, a quarter of a fight. If this was a true fight, it wouldn’t even take one round.”
Mayweather came up to speak. He had one of his handlers hand him an alleged check for $100 million that he never cashed from his 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao to mock McGregor for making a disclosed $3 million for his UFC 205 bout against Eddie Alvarez.
“Let me show you mother(expletive) what a $100 million fighter looks like! Still got $100 million, and nobody ever touch this (expletive).
McGregor rebuttled, “That’s to the tax man.” And Mayweather, wanting to get the last word in, said, “You’re right. I’m the IRS. And I’m going to tax your ass.”
Mayweather left the dais with one final salvo to McGregor.
“And you will wear that white flag, because you can choose which way you want to go,” Mayweather said. “And I’m guaranteeing you this: You’re going out on your face, or you’re going out on your back. Now which way you want to go? That’s right. Sit quiet, you little (expletive).
“Talking about my defense — ah, I’ve got good defense. You just show up and I’ll do the rest.”
After the presser ended, McGregor claimed to MMA Fighting he felt he was out of his element, as the press conference was a boxing presser instead of a traditional UFC one.
When it was all said and done, Mayweather emerged the victor. He got to sit, listen to what McGregor had to say and went back to the Mayweather of a decade ago, which put him on the map. Fans and media alike had crowned McGregor as the new king of trash talk. McGregor still has a chance get his chops in and emerge the winner as the tour continues Wednesday in Toronto, Thursday in Brooklyn and then the final stop on Friday in London.
But for one day, the old dog showed he still has tricks.
