Floyd Mayweather Jr.,
the face of boxing for more than a decade, punctuated a stellar yet
controversial career with a technical knockout over U.F.C. champ and
first-time boxer Conor McGregor on Saturday night.
In
the 10th round of a surprisingly competitive fight, Mayweather backed
McGregor onto the ropes with a series of rights and lefts. McGregor’s
face was completely bloodied. He was about to fall through the ropes,
and the referee stepped in to stop the fight with 1:55 remaining in the
round.
“I
gave the fans what they wanted to see,” Mayweather said after the
fight. “I told them that I owed them for the Pacquiao fight. I must come
straight ahead and give them a show.”
The
victory improved Mayweather’s record to 50-0, and allowed the typically
defensive fighter to say farewell in thrilling fashion in what he said
was his last fight. It also proved right the naysayers who said that
this fight was nothing more than a glorified, money-making exhibition.
Continue reading the main story
Continue reading the main story
“This was my last fight tonight ladies and gentlemen, for sure,” Mayweather said.
Mayweather
declared the fight was not going to go the distance, and he delivered
on that promise. Things went just the way most pundits said they would.
McGregor had no way of connecting cleanly with Mayweather. He landed a
few touch punches but nothing solid the entire fight. And given that
U.F.C. fights are much shorter than boxing matches, McGregor’s stamina
was in question. And he certainly tired in the late rounds as Mayweather
made easy work of him.
Although McGregor is one of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts, he had not boxed since he was a teenager, and had no professional boxing matches under his belt.
The
fight was fashioned on the strength of two bombastic personalities with
huge fan bases, making for a ripe promotional draw. It was expected to
pull more than half a billion dollars in revenue. The pull of the money
was so strong that Mayweather ended his two-year retirement to step into
the ring with McGregor. To many, the fight was more exhibition than
authentic.
Here’s how Mayweather beat McGregor:
1st round: McGregor comes out strong
McGregor
comes out pushing Mayweather back onto the ropes. Mayweather seems
content with seeing what McGregor has in terms of punching ability.
McGregor is flicking his right jab out, trying to measure up a left hand
but not landing anything seriously.
McGregor seems to have done something no one thought he would. He may have won that round.
Mather:
Before the round referee Robert Byrd emphasized the bout would be “by
boxing rules.” And there was no surprise kicking or takedowns by
McGregor. And not a lot of punching from Mayweather, who was content to
use his legendary defensive skills to frustrate McGregor. McGregor
dropped his arms at one point, a tactic he has used in the U.F.C., as if
to say, “Just try to hit me.” Mayweather did not take the bait.
2nd: McGregor keeping Mayweather at a distance
Referee
warns McGregor for hitting Mayweather in the back of the head. McGregor
is bouncing up and down in a somewhat awkward fashion for boxing.
Mayweather seems to still be trying to figure him out.
McGregor
doing a nice job of keeping Mayweather away, though he is not landing
anything solid. But every time he even swipes his hands close to
Mayweather’s, a big cheer goes up from the very pro-McGregor crowd.
We are starting to see Mayweather’s plan emerging. He is looking to hit McGregor with some lead right hands.
Mather:
The fans who had stood for round 1, perhaps expecting fireworks,
settled back into their seats for round 2. Between rounds McGregor
smiling broadly.
3rd: McGregor winning rounds as aggressor
When
McGregor gets in close, he seems to be hammer-fisting Mayweather on top
of Mayweather’s head when they clench. The referee has warned McGregor
about it several times.
Mayweather
is taking his time figuring out how to get to McGregor. He has not
shown much offensive aggression or landed too solidly with anything so
far. McGregor has won the rounds so far, if nothing else because he is
the aggressor. But let’s see if he can keep up the stamina.
Mather:
McGregor could actually be ahead on the scorecards at this point. But
there is a real sense that Mayweather is biding his time and hasn’t
fired his big guns yet.
4th: Mayweather makes up some ground
At
the start of round 4, Mayweather backs onto the ropes and covers up,
allowing McGregor to take shots, none of which landed cleanly. I wonder
if Mayweather is trying to rope-a-dope Mcgregor a little bit, make him
tire himself out by throwing a lot of punches early in the fight.
Mayweather ducked under a McGregor jab and landed a pretty solid right hand.
Mayweather
is getting some things going. He slipped a left hand from McGregor and
fired off a right hand of his own. It was a close round but probably
went to Mayweather. Mayweather also landed a couple of good body blows.
Mather:
Every McGregor punch that lands, or looks like it lands, gets a roar
from the crowd. Judges have been known to be influenced by crowd
reactions.
5th: McGregor starting to look tired
McGregor
seems to be more swiping and tapping at Mayweather rather than throwing
solid punches. It might be one sign of his inexperience in the boxing
ring, as he is not used to throwing punches in close range the way that
they are in this fight.
Late
in the round, Mayweather started to talk down to McGregor. He hit him
with a solid overhand right and then came back with a left. McGregor
seems to be breathing a little heavier. And the two fighters have had
some real tussles when they have locked up, and Mayweather seems a bit
frustrated at what seems to be some wrestling moves by McGregor.
Mather:
Mayweather is doing less defending and more lashing out. Could he be
waiting for McGregor to tire to unleash his full arsenal? And McGregor
is starting to look tired.
6th: Mayweather makes his move
With
Mayweather’s back turned, McGregor was unleashing on him and the
referee let it go on for a little longer than he probably should have.
After appearing perturbed, Mayweather started going forward and
unloading on McGregor, landing solid left right combinations that got
the arena to its feet. McGregor appears very tired and is not throwing
back.
Fans
have started with chants of “Conor,” but that appears to be doing
little to uplift their fighter in a meaningful way. Although the fight
is still pretty scrappy, Mayweather seems to be settling in.
Mather:
Mayweather stung McGregor there several times, but eventually reverted
to his defensive style. And another hands-behind-the-back display of
bravado by McGregor as the round ends.
7th: Mayweather’s speed gets to McGregor
Even
though McGregor is the bigger fighter, Mayweather certainly does not
seem to be worried about his punching power. He is going forward, with
his hands up, walking right through McGregor. In one moment, McGregor
slid around Mayweather but was met with a right hook. Then Mayweather
came back with a quick jab that hit McGregor before he could respond.
Even though Mayweather is 40, the speed definitely is still there.
Mather:
Championship fights in the U.F.C. have 25 minutes of fighting time.
McGregor is up to 21 here and might have to go 15 more. His fatigue
level is the most important factor right now.
8th round: Mayweather starts taking control
When
they are clenching, Mayweather is positioning his body in a way that
McGregor can only hit the back of his head. For most boxers, they would
not throw that punch. But McGregor is not most boxers. He is taking hits
to the back of Mayweather’s head, and the referee seems reluctant to do
anything about it. Mayweather seems a little bit frustrated by that,
but it’s not stopping him from landing some peppery right hands.
Mayweather seems to be taking control.
Mather:
McGregor is falling behind in this fight, but is still gamely slugging
it out. This is far from the ridiculous mismatch some predicted.
9th round: McGregor, tired, looks like he’s had enough
Things
got off to a chippy start. McGregor came out and landed a stiff right
hand and then he hit Mayweather on the belt line. Mayweather appeared to
be hurt by it, but the referee would not call a low blow. When the
referee got in between them and Mayweather approached, McGregor flicked
him with a right hand.
Late
in the round, Mayweather came storming back with a series of right
hands, that had McGregor leaning on the ropes with his mouth open.
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