Floyd cashes out: Mayweather and McGregor arrive for fight of the century

Mayweather and McGregor arrive for fight of the century



Floyd Mayweather has defeated Conor McGregor in a TKO in Round 10 after the two men squared off in what was billed as the Fight of the Century in the highly anticipated and Hollywood-studded fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

After winning his 50th undefeated match, Mayweather swore it would be his last fight ever as the 40-year-old made off with the coveted 'Money Belt' and at least $100million for his night's work.

The money-spinning showdown is likely to break all records and surpass the $600million generated by Mayweather's fight with Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

'This was my last fight tonight. For sure,' Mayweather, heading into second retirement with a unblemished 50-0 record to surpass heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano's 49-0 mark for most wins without a loss or draw, declared in the ring. 'Tonight was my last fight. Tonight I chose the right dance partner to dance with.

'Conor you are a hell of a champion. A win is a win, no matter how you get it. Rocky Marciano is a legend and I look forward to going into the Hall of Fame one day.'

The American's domination was complete by the tenth round as he moved in for the kill to record his first early finish since he stopped Victor Ortiz in controversial fashion almost six years ago.



Whether the fight will be the richest of all-time as promoters had predicted will be decided later when pay-per-view numbers come in, but it certainly will not be included on any list of the great bouts in boxing.

On paper it would be hard to find a bigger mismatch, but it did not prevent millions around the globe from reaching for their wallets to purchase a pay-per-view package or the 14,623 spectators at T-Mobile Arena to part with big money for tickets.

In the end, the fight proved to be the one-sided contest many had predicted as Mayweather shook off the rust of two years of inactivity against an outclassed double UFC champion making his professional boxing debut. 

Clutching a bottle of Irish whiskey as he returned to the ring for the post-fight press conference, McGregor was pleased with his performance and rubbished the marks of two of the three judges who thought he had only won a solitary round.

To most observers, McGregor won the opening three rounds, before fatigue began to settle in - an issue which the Irishman feels has hampered him before.

'I thought it was close,' a defiant McGregor argued. 'I thought I had him in the early rounds. I thought he was getting me in the middle toward the end.

'But where was the final two rounds? Let me wobble back to me corner. Let me try and recompose myself. You've got to put me out.



'I thought it was a little early of a stoppage. I get like that when I am tired. I get a little wobbly and flowy. But you got to give it to him, that's what 50 pro fights will give you.'

The two super-welterweight fighters had been preparing for the big boxing match for months and the event generated hype as the world waited to see who would become boxing's undisputed king.

The audience was packed with 20,000 ravenous fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with private jets ferrying celebrities into Sin City as bets worth more than a million dollars were placed on the match.

Some of those A-listers who took their seats ringside were Bruce Willis, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Demi Lovato and LeBron James, all spotted eagerly waiting for the big fight.

The most unusual megafight in years went longer and was more competitive than many expected when an unbeaten, five-division world champion boxer took on a mixed martial artist making his pro boxing debut.

McGregor became the best-paid debutant of all time, netting a $30 million dollar purse plus a share of ticket sales, pay-per-view and merchandising revenues, along with one-off sponsorhsip deals.



With his cornermen decked out in natty grey suits and white shoes, and his two UFC belts held aloft in the ring, McGregor dwarfed Mayweather in height when they met in the middle.

Mayweather only threw a handful of punches in the first two rounds, yet still grinned for the cameras in the breaks.

McGregor covered his boxing deficiencies well, jabbing with his right and scoring despite his limited footwork.

He occasionally strayed into mixed martial arts territory by rounding his opponent and landing strikes to the back of Mayweather's head.

Ultimately, Mayweather's skills proved too much.

He brutalized McGregor in the 10th, landing numerous shots and chasing McGregor around the ring until referee Robert Byrd saved the Irishman and stopped the fight.