The press tour for Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor’s mega fight was surrounded with negativity following circuslike acts at all four stops last week.
At the first presser in Los Angeles, McGregor faced backlash after telling Mayweather to “Dance for me, boy” while the 49-0 fighter was shadowboxing in front of him.
The New York Post, along with many on social media, thought McGregor’s comments were racist.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was not one of the people offended by McGregor, however.
“This notion that Conor McGregor was racist or whatever, I don’t want to hear that, and I don’t believe that for one second.” Smith said Wednesday at a luncheon held by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. Smith was the guest speaker. “As an African-American, I did not look at Conor McGregor and say, ‘He is talking to me.'”
Smith was quick to point out that this is exactly who McGregor is as a fighter and promoter. No matter who McGregor fights in the Octagon, he always comes at them with brash words followed by quick fists.
Considering Mayweather’s standing as the greatest boxer of his generation, Smith said he understands why McGregor would take every chance he gets to shake Mayweather’s psyche.
“To me, it is him against Mayweather,” Smith said. “I did not view it as him talking against black people. I know the difference and that is not what I got from Conor McGregor at all.”
Boxing history is filled with using race to sell fights and no one should be surprised that Mayweather vs. McGregor is any different. Working a microphone is one of McGregor’s greatest strengths and he was bound to say something controversial.
Come fight night on Aug. 26, the talk will end and the better boxer will win.
Smith does not think the fight will be close.
“He was trying to rattle Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather the way he tries to rattle every opponent. And good luck to him because, boy, is he going to need it.”
