Countdown to Mayweather v McGregor's 'richest fight'

Countdown to Mayweather v McGregor's 'richest fight'

Kitted out in a grey checked suit, black shirt and sunglasses Floyd Mayweather was dwarfed by eight monstrous bodyguards as the boxing great prepared to take on mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor in a battle of combat sports kings tipped to be the richest fight in history.

Private jets are ferrying celebrities to Las Vegas and bets worth more than a million dollars are being placed ahead of the most talked-about fight of the year.

The bout at Vegas' T-Mobile Arena tomorrow night could surpass the $600 million (£468 million) generated by Mayweather's 2015 fight with Manny Pacquiao - a dreary contest that failed to live up to expectations.  

The 12-round contest - McGregor's first professional boxing fight - will be shown in more than 200 countries and territories. 

Mayweather's huge, muscle-laden minders tower over the 5′ 8″ former five-weight world champion whenever he takes to the stage. 

Greg La Rosa is the smallest of them, weighing 18 stone whilst the colossal Adam Plant, stands a mighty 6ft 7in tall and weighs 25 stone. 

The man mountain simply known as 'Badou' is a formidable 6ft 9in while Alfonso Redic is an incredible 7ft 1in and estimated to be around 30 stone. 

Mayweather has prepared for the fight in unconventional style, by spending successive nights at his gentleman's club 'Girl Collection'.

Despite the bout taking place tomorrow, he has insisted he will be in 'Girl Collection' tonight.

McGregor, meanwhile, has opted for some quality family time.

The Irishman, known for his sartorial flamboyance, was pictured putting the finishing touches to his wardrobe ahead of Saturday's showdown - where he was outshone by his son Conor Junior.

Conor Junior, born in May, was sat on a table in a blue suit and waistcoat, with an orange tie and sunglasses to complete the look. 

McGregor's tailor is David Heil, creator of the David August brand, who also works with the likes of Kobe Bryant and Sylvester Stallone. 

His long-term partner and Conor Jnr's mother, Dee Devlin, watched on in the lavish surroundings of a penthouse suite while McGregor concluded the fitting session. 

Heil was the mastermind behind McGregor's famous 'Eff You' suit, which he wore for the first press conference of the world tour promoting his fight with Mayweather. That is now available to buy for £5,600. 

By contrast Mayweather has chosen to spend the week at his gentleman's club and even said he would be there tonight. 

He said this Tuesday: 'Believe me, I will be at Girl Collection tonight, Wednesday night, Thursday night and Friday night. Then I'll be back there Saturday night to celebrate knocking McGregor out. All welcome.'  

'Nobody can beat me,' Mayweather boasted, adding that he would be in the club tonight.

Discussing his club, he added: 'Women will always be in style. A regular club, you have to keep renovating it and doing it over to bring people back. A strip club can stay the same forever. Men will always come because they are attracted to women.'

The so-called 'Money Fight' looks set to be one of the most lucrative in history.

Tickets, TV sales, sponsorships and betting could generate close to $600m (£468m) in sales, according to experts, when the two meet on Saturday night.

McGregor, who was once living off unemployment benefit in Dublin, could make more than $100 million, while Mayweather known as 'The Money' could rake in $300 million pushing his career earnings towards $1 billion. 

Not only that, but this non-title bout is on course to obliterate boxing's records for indoor gate receipts, pay-per-view sales and betting revenue both sides of the Atlantic. 

A gaudy 'Money Belt' is also up for grabs to the winner, comprising 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires, 300 emeralds mounted in 1.5 kilos of solid gold and set in alligator leather. 

Mayweather, 40, who has recorded an incredible 49-0 card and 23 KOs in his glittering 21-year carrer, has come out of retirement for the match.

The Money Man has seen off the likes of Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya during his professional boxing career and is aiming to surpass Rocky Marciano's record and move to 50-0.

McGregor, 29, a two-time world champion in UFC, has never boxed professionally and has looked awkward and ungainly during training camp sparring sessions. 

He has demonstrated punching power in the UFC, but has never faced an opponent as elusive as Mayweather. He will also be robbed of the kicks, grapples and ground tackles that UFC allows. 

Anything other than a convincing Mayweather win will be regarded as a monumental upset. 

Bookies could be the biggest losers on Saturday if McGregor springs a surprise. 

Most bookmakers are offering odds of 2/9 on Mayweather which implies the American has an 82 per cent chance of extending his career-record run to 50 from 50. 

The big bettors are putting their money on Mayweather, who is 49-0 as a pro. Multiple $1 million bets were put on 'The Money' in