Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (December 7, 2020) – Undefeated, 12-time, five division boxing superstar Floyd “Money” Mayweather and social media sensation Logan “The Maverick” Paul announced today that they will face each other in a special exhibition match that is expected to shatter pay-per-view records on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. The highly anticipated match-up will pit two of the world’s most renowned and popular personalities together in the ring in a must-see event for sports and entertainment fans alike.

The fight was put together by Fanmio, an online platform that connects fans with celebrities by creating one-of-a-kind online fan experiences. Fanmio is entering into high profile boxing events with its new division, Fanmio Boxing. Mayweather vs. Paul will be the first fight promoted, produced and distributed exclusively on Fanmio Boxing. Fanmio Boxing will become an innovative leader in the sport of boxing, creating lucrative and exciting fight opportunities for fighters and the fans by making fights accessible worldwide.

Tickets for the pay-per-view are available now at a discounted early rate of $24.99. A limited supply of tickets can be purchased online at www.fanmio.com/MayweatherVsPaul. Fans are encouraged to lock in the special deal as the price will increase after the buys reach 1 million purchases. The venue for this exhibition fight is still to be named.

“This is going to be a great night for the fans worldwide as we are bringing something special to them through sports and entertainment,” said Mayweather. “I have never shied away from doing things differently throughout my career and fighting Logan Paul in this special exhibition is just another opportunity for me to do it again.”

“I am always searching for the ultimate challenge and it is a dream to go toe-to-toe with the greatest boxer alive,” said Paul. “I am ALL IN, and on February 20th, the world could witness the greatest upset in the history of sports.”

“We have been working hard to make this fight happen for a very long time and we are thrilled to finally announce this special exhibition between Floyd Mayweather and Logan Paul,” said Solomon Engel, CEO and Founder of Fanmio. “This fight will be an incredibly exciting match between two of the biggest stars in sports and entertainment and we know this will be an outstanding debut for Fanmio Boxing.”

Mayweather has a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts. He completed his illustrious career with 12 world titles in five weight divisions that includes wins over world champions including Manny Pacquiao, Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez. Smashing pay-per-view records along the way, the global superstar also defeated UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a must-see boxing event watched the world over. During his career he was named the world’s highest paid athlete multiple times and single-handily drove the sport of boxing for over two decades.

Logan Paul has explored and conquered multiple social media platforms and has become a social media megastar who is always leading the way and taking his legion of devotees along with him. His bold vision and fearless approach directly correlate to his continued achievements in the social space and beyond. Using his unparalleled online popularity, Logan sold out the Staples Center in Los Angeles in his first professional bout, thrilling fans around the world with six action-packed rounds. He now looks to continue to smash records as he takes on his biggest challenge yet – facing undefeated boxing legend Mayweather. The Ohio-native will enter the ring significantly larger and taller than his opponent, which the former high school wrestler will use to his advantage. He actively trains in Los Angeles under the guidance of world class trainer Milton Lacroix. A digital native, Paul truly understands his audience and instinctually, how to connect with them. Unafraid to take risks and explore new platforms and opportunities, Logan has always had a clear understanding of how technology, entertainment and social media work together. In addition, Logan hosts his own podcast, “ImPaulsive,” featuring celebrity guests, athletes, comedians, business moguls, etc. The podcast, which has aired more than 200 episodes, brilliantly balances humor with tough subjects and life lessons.

For more information on Floyd Mayweather vs. Logan Paul, please visit www.fanmio.com/MayweatherVsPaul.

Floyd Mayweather announced the he will fight Logan Paul in an Exhibition match on February 20th as announced on Mayweather’s Instagram Page

The bout will be streamed on Fanmio Boxing for prices that escalate as the fight gets nearer.

It will cost $24.99 until 1 million PPV’s are sold; $39.99 after 1 Million PPV; $59.99 on December 29; and $69.99 after February 11th.

LAS VEGAS, NV (August 21, 2020) – Earlier this week undefeated rising star, super lightweight Omar “Relámpago” Juárez (8-0, 4 KO’s), flew out to Las Vegas to get top notch sparring in preparation for his upcoming bout tentatively scheduled for early September. During his visit, Juarez sparred with WBA world champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (23-0, 22 KOs), a session that took place at the Mayweather Boxing Gym in front of Floyd Mayweather.

“It was incredible to be in the ring with Tank Davis,” said Juarez. “Gervonta has tremendous power to go along with his high ring IQ. We went six rounds and I got to experience what the elite level of boxing is like. I got tagged a couple of times but held my own. Tank is no joke and I favorite him to beat Leo Santa Cruz. Floyd Mayweather was very cool and gave me some good compliments after sparring the second day.”

In addition, Juarez got work with others in the Mayweather gym as well as getting some good sparring at Jorge Capetillo’s gym. Juarez sparred three days straight and gained a lot of good experience.

“The knowledge I gained this week is invaluable and will make me a better fighter,” Juarez continued. “I’m grateful to all the fighters and trainers in Las Vegas who welcomed me with open arms. I’m going to take everything that I learned and apply it to my game moving forward.”

WHAT: SHOWTIME Sports’ Friday night series SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS will continue this week with two blockbuster matchups featuring all-time great Floyd Mayweather. In the first replay, Mayweather faces Argentine power-puncher Marcos Maidana for the WBA and WBC Welterweight Championships in one of the most competitive fights of the Hall of Famer’s career. The second fight features the undefeated Mayweather coming back from retirement to face mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor in one of the biggest global sporting events in recent memory.

WHEN: Tonight/Friday, May 15, at 10 p.m. ET/PT – Immediately following the premiere of BASKETBALL COUNTY: In The Water, documentary from executive producers Kevin Durant and Thirty Five Ventures’ Rich Kleiman.

WHERE TO WATCH: On SHOWTIME^®, via the SHOWTIME streaming service and SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.

ADDED COVERAGE: During Friday’s SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS telecast, combat sports analysts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell will host a live digital companion series titled MORNING KOMBAT CLASSICS on the Morning Kombat YouTube Channel. They will watch the fights along with viewers, give their real-time reactions, and take questions from fans throughout the replay. Viewers can follow along and participate in the discussion by using the hashtag #FightFromHome on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

NEW YORK – April 28, 2020 – SHOWTIME Sports will continue to present classic bouts from its vast archive of world championship fights every Friday night at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME throughout the month of May. SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS will also be available via the SHOWTIME streaming service and SHOWTIME ANYTIME^®.

The May SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS line-up highlights some of the biggest names in boxing in a slew of signature fights, including the 2017 blockbuster pay-per-view event Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. Every Friday night, viewers will be able to relive classic encounters from all-time greats such as Mayweather, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and more, as well as the stars of today including Premier Boxing Champions fighters Errol Spence Jr., Leo Santa Cruz, Keith Thurman and more.

The scheduled is as follows.

• Friday, May 1 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Kell Brook vs. Errol Spence Jr.
  • Spence vs. Lamont Peterson

Friday, May 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

• Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter
• Thurman vs. Danny Garcia
• Friday, May 15 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Floyd Mayweather vs. Marcos Maidana I
  • Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor
• Friday, May 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Kostya Tszyu vs. Ricky Hatton
  • Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy
• Friday, May 29 at 10 p.m. ET/PT
  • Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton II
  • Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares II

Combat sports analysts Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell will host live companion episodes of their digital talk show MORNING KOMBAT on the Morning Kombat YouTube Channel for select SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS telecasts. They will watch the fights along with viewers, give their real-time reactions and take questions from fans throughout the replay. Viewers can follow along and participate in the discussion by using the hashtag #FightFromHome.

A synopsis of the bouts featured on SHOWTIME BOXING CLASSICS is listed below.

Brook-Spence(May 27, 2017, Spence KO 11) – Spence goes into enemy territory and takes the IBF Welterweight Title away from Sheffield, England’s own Brook in an all-action affair at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. Brook’s left eye is badly damaged from Spence’s powerful punches and that proves to be the deciding factor in the bout. By the end of round nine, Brook’s left eye is grotesquely swollen and in round 10, Spence drops Brook with a flurry of punches. The 27-year-old Spence pours on the pressure in round 11 and with Brook’s eye in serious condition, he takes a knee on his own accord. Brook gets up at the count of 9 but referee Howard Foster waves it off, much to the disappointment of the 27,000 fans in attendance.

Spence-Peterson (January 20, 2018, Spence TKO 7) – Undefeated welterweight world champion Spence retains his IBF title with an impressive stoppage of former two-division champion Peterson. In his first defense since dethroning Brook, Spence outboxes a tough Peterson from start to finish, showcasing a wide array of skills, speed and power. The fight is ends prior to the start of the eighth round after Peterson’s trainer, Barry Hunter, calls for the stoppage.

Thurman-Porter (June 25, 2016, Thurman W 12) – In an old-fashioned Fight of the Year candidate, undefeated welterweight world champion Thurman defends his title and edges out former world champion Porter in a close but unanimous decision scored 115-113 by all three ringside judges at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The two fighters throw over 1200 punches combined in the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING^® on CBS event.

Thurman-Garcia (March 4, 2017, Thurman W 12) – Thurman unifies boxing’s glamour division with a split-decision victory over Garcia, defending his WBA belt and picking up the WBC crown on boxing’s biggest stage in primetime on CBS. The close affair, which was only the third time undefeated fighters met to unify the 147-pound division, is scored 116-112 Thurman, 115-113 Thurman and 115-113 Garcia. Thurman comes out swinging and is the busier and more accurate fighter in nine-of-the-12 rounds. Garcia picks up the pace in the final rounds, but it’s too little too late for the previously undefeated Philadelphia native.

Mayweather-Maidana I (May 3, 2014, Mayweather W 12) – Mayweather prevails with a hard-fought majority decision victory over Maidana to become the WBA and WBC Welterweight Champion in front of over 16,000 fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. For a moment, it seems like Maidana could do the unthinkable and hand pound-for-pound champion Mayweather the first loss of his brilliant career with his suffocating and blazing style. Instead, Mayweather’s defense and punching accuracy allow him to pick up his 46^th consecutive win with scores of 114-114, 117-111 and 116-112.

Mayweather-McGregor (August 26, 2017, Mayweather TKO 10) – Floyd Mayweather ends his historic career in style with a convincing technical knockout victory over UFC mega-star Conor McGregor in an unprecedented global sporting event that delivers 4.4 million domestic pay-per-view buys, second only to Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao in 2015. The 40-year-old Mayweather, fighting for the first time in 714 days, punishes McGregor with a series of blows to end the fight in the 10^th round. Mayweather goes out on top, becoming the first boxer to finish his career at 50-0, eclipsing the record he had previously shared with the legendary Rocky Marciano.

Tszyu-Hatton (June 4, 2005, Hatton TKO 11) – In front of 22,000 screaming fans, a largely unproven but hungry Ricky Hatton announces his entry to the upper echelons of the world boxing scene by recording an 11^th-round TKO over one of the world’s top pound-for-pound boxers to win the IBF Junior Welterweight World Title. After 11 rounds of boxing marked by Hatton’s signature stamina, aggression and heart, Tszyu’s corner decides to retire before answering the bell for the final stanza in one of the most memorable upsets British boxing has ever seen.

Calzaghe-Lacy (March 4, 2006, Calzaghe W 12) – In the most anticipated super middleweight match since Roy Jones defeated James Toney 12 years prior, Calzaghe produces a masterpiece win over the heavy pre-fight favorite Lacy to earn the WBO and IBF Super Middleweight titles. Calzaghe dominates throughout the fight, with the British fight fans chanting “Over-rated” at the American Lacy during the last three rounds. Calzaghe cuts Lacy over both eyes and causes blood to flow from Lacy’s nose midway through a fight that could have been stopped several times, and floors him in the 12^th. It is the 17^th time that Calzaghe defends his WBO 168-pound belt since outpointing Chris Eubank for the vacant title in October 1997.

Santa Cruz-Frampton II (January 28, 2017, Santa Cruz W 12) – Leo Santa Cruz executes his game plan brilliantly to reclaim the WBA Featherweight Championship in a rematch of his epic first fight with Frampton on July of 2016. Frampton is the more aggressive fighter in the second half of the encounter, but his aggression opens him up to effective counter shots from Santa Cruz, who wins with scores of 114-114 and 115-113 twice.

Santa Cruz-Mares II (June 9 2018, Santa Cruz W 12) – In an electrifying war that has the STAPLES Center crowd on its feet chanting for more, Santa Cruz defends his WBA Featherweight Championship by winning a unanimous decision in a rematch against four-division world champion Abner Mares. In a near statistical replica of the first fight that Santa Cruz won by majority decision in 2015, the three-division world champion Santa Cruz wins on all three of the judges’ scorecards by scores of 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111.

Last month, SHOWTIME announced that new customers who sign up before May 3 can take advantage of a 30-day free trial for the SHOWTIME streaming service, available on SHOWTIME.com and the SHOWTIME app on all supported devices.

(April 24, 2020) — This Saturday, April 25, will be a day of boxing blockbusters on ESPN when the network airs four consecutive hours of the sweet science immediately following the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft. Starting at 7 p.m. ET, this special presentation will showcase some of the biggest stars of boxing’s recent generation, culminating with the 2015 historic “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

The other encore matches featured include Mayweather vs. Judah (2006), Pacquiao vs. Márquez 2 (2008) and Pacquiao vs. Cotto (2009).

The special presentation will include an interview from ESPN’s Joe Tessitore with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.  During the interview, Arum lays out the hurdles that boxing must overcome to return, how the travel restrictions will impact the sport and Fury-Wilder 3. The interview will air approximately at 9 p.m. ET.

In addition to the linear telecast, most of these fights are also available on ESPN+. Exclusively available to subscribers, ESPN+ features a library of hundreds of the most important fights in boxing history.

The lineup:

Mayweather vs Judah (7 p.m.): This 2006 match marked the first time Mayweather would challenge for a welterweight world title. He had previously won titles at super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight. Near the end of the 10^th round, a brawl between the corners broke out after Judah hit Mayweather with a low blow, followed by a rabbit punch.

Pacquiao vs. Márquez 2 (8 p.m.): Pacquiao’s second fight against Márquez marked the first time the Filipino fighter would challenge for a world title at super featherweight. He was attempting to become the first Asian fighter to win world titles in four different weight classes.

Pacquiao vs. Cotto (9 p.m.): In his fight against Cotto, Pacquiao attempted to become the first fighter in boxing history to win a world title in seven different weight classes, while Cotto entered the bout making the second defense of his WBO welterweight title.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao (10 p.m.): The event set records for the largest grossing live gate ($72 million) and the most pay-per-view buys (4.6 million) in combat sports history. The fight served as a unification bout, with Mayweather defending the WBA and WBC welterweight titles and Pacquiao defending the WBO title.

ESPN Boxing Schedule Saturday, April 25

ESPN+ features a library of hundreds of the most important fights in boxing history, as well as recent Top Rank on ESPN fight cards for replay, all streaming on demand. The historic fights on ESPN+ include legendary heavyweight showdowns like Ali vs. Frazier III, Ali vs. George Foreman, Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn, Tyson vs. Holmes, Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney, Max Baer vs. James J. Braddock, Ali vs. Sonny Liston I & II, Wilder vs. Fury II and many more.

(March 24, 2020) — Bring out the boxing stars.
 

Terence Crawford, Tyson Fury, Teofimo Lopez, Michael Conlan and the 2015 super-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao will be showcased on ESPN2 Wednesday, March 25 as part of a five-hour fistic marathon.

The action will begin at 7 p.m. ET with WBO welterweight world champion Crawford’s April 2019 tour de force over former unified super lightweight world champion Amir Khan.  

At 8 p.m. ET, there will be a special replay of the tripleheader that preceded the Heisman Trophy ceremony last December from Madison Square Garden. Conlan opened the show seeking revenge over Vladimir Nikitin, the Russian boxer who defeated him via controversial decision in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics. The co-feature saw 22-year-old Brooklyn-born prodigy Lopez challenge IBF lightweight world champion Richard Commey in a classic “changing of the guards” matchup. In the main event, pound-for-pound king Crawford went toe-to-toe with two-time Lithuanian Olympian Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas.  

The big men will take center stage at 10 p.m. ET for lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury’s drama-filled 12-round war against Otto Wallin, which took place last September at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.  

The action will conclude at 11 p.m. ET with the most lucrative bout in boxing history, the May 2015 welterweight world title fight between all-time greats Mayweather and Pacquiao.  

ESPN+ also features a collection of some of the greatest fights in boxing history, including dozens of legendary bouts from the Top Rank Library, available on demand. The collection includes legendary heavyweight showdowns like Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier III, Ali vs. George Foreman, Joe Louis vs. Billy Conn, Mike Tyson vs. Larry Holmes, Jack Dempsey vs. Gene Tunney, Max Baer vs. James J. Braddock, Ali vs. Sonny Liston I & II, and many more.  

Wednesday’s Top Rank on ESPN lineup adds to ESPN’s week of programming, which also includes an encore presentation of the Academy-Award winning 30 for 30 documentary “O.J.: Made in America.” The documentary airs over three nights in primetime from March 24-March 26. The film originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016, debuted on ABC/ESPN in June 2016, and won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 89^th Academy Awards in February 2017. 

ESPN Boxing Schedule, Wednesday, March 25 (All times ET)  

LAS VEGAS (March 17, 2020) – Floyd Mayweather, along with the boxing world, mourns the death today of his uncle, former world champion and legendary trainer Roger Mayweather, after a long battle with diabetes.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Roger Mayweather was a two-division boxing world champion, winning world titles at super featherweight and super lightweight while earning 59 wins in a nearly 20-year career that included notable fights against Julio Cesar Chavez and Pernell Whitaker, amongst many others. Along with his brother Floyd Sr., he helped guide the illustrious career of his nephew Floyd and was in his corner for some of the most memorable and important moments in boxing history. Roger is also survived by his brother Jeff, a former boxer and trainer in his own right.

“My uncle was one of the most important people in my life inside and outside of the ring,” said Mayweather, who is still grieving from the loss of his children’s mother Josie Harris. “Roger was a great champion and one of the best trainers in boxing. Unfortunately, his health was failing him for several years and now he can finally rest in peace. Roger meant the world to me, my father Floyd Sr., my uncle Jeff, our whole family, everyone in and around the Mayweather Boxing Gym and the entire boxing world. It is a terrible loss for all of us.”

“This is a sad day for the Mayweather Promotions family because that is truly what Roger was to us,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions who worked side-by-side with Roger for some of Floyd’s biggest fights. “On top of being a phenomenal fighter in his own career, Roger was one of the most essential parts of guiding Floyd to the incredible career he had in becoming the best ever. We hope you keep Floyd and the entire Mayweather family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”

The Mayweather family, who will forever be part of the sweet science’s history, is asking that you respect their privacy at this time until more information becomes available.

“We are thankful for all the love and well-wishes we have already received as word traveled about Roger’s passing,” said Mayweather. “It helps me to see that he was able to touch so many people through his life in boxing, because he gave so much to the sport which was his first and longtime love.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is No. 1 on the list that really matters to him. After all, he calls himself Money for a reason.

That reason turned up big – as in $915 million – on top of the Forbes’ list of the top-earning athletes of the decade. From this corner, at least, it is further confirmation of his place in boxing over the last 10 years.

There’s a reasonable argument for Canelo Alvarez and Manny Pacquiao. But he beat them both. There’s a better argument for Andre Ward, but it’s eroded by the controversy over the scoring in his decision over Sergey Kovalev in their first fight. Ward clearly won the rematch.

But there was really no argument about what Mayweather did in the ring for the last 10 years. There’s plenty of argument about what he did outside of those ropes. Within them, however, he won. He only won. There wasn’t much drama attached to any of the victories. But there was the money, suit cases full of it. Mayweather posed with the Benjamins more often than he did with opponents.

For 10 years, his defensive skill had no equal. But it was the money – all that money – that separated him from everybody else. It brought – and bought – drama often lacking in his bouts. It also brought – and bought – worldwide attention. Bottom-line, he is The Fighter of the Decade for not losing a fight while earning unprecedented money. Risk-to-Reward, he had no rivals in this decade or any other.

He has talked about coming back in the decade that will begin in a few days. Then again, he has also said, no, he won’t be back. Maybe, maybe not. Guess here: He’ll try. Remember, money is his motivation. Eighty-five more million and he’ll be billionaire.

I’m not sure he could earn $85 million in today’s market. It began to shrink in 2019, although Canelo was still earning $35 million-a-fight. In the Forbes annual list of top earners last June, Canelo was No. 4 at $92 million and Anthony Joshua No. 13 at $55 million.

I’m also not sure what Mayweather’s place a top the decade’s money list will mean to his place in boxing history. From jets to Ferraris, it’ll buy him a lot of toys. But it’ll only buy a Legacy if it’s made and named by a high-end car maker. His boxing legacy will be judged and re-judged throughout the forthcoming decades.

He has tried to influence that historical view with T-shirts and caps that are inscribed with his official record: 50-0. That includes the money-making show against a boxing novice, Conor McGregor, an MMA star who had about as much of a chance against a pound-for-pound best as an amateur would have had. History, it says here, won’t look kindly on that bout, or whatever it was.

Meanwhile, Mayweather risks his historical claim on the 50-0 milestone if he ventures back into the ring against just about anybody other than another MMA star or perhaps in an oft-rumored rematch with 41-year old Manny Pacquiao. Mayweather is 42. He’ll be 43 on Feb. 24. Mayweather’s dates with McGregor and Pacquaio paid him more than $500 million, according to Forbes.

He’ll be tempted. In fact, it sounds as if he’s wrestling with that temptation now. That’s why we’re hearing that, no, he’s coming back on one day. Then the next day, he reverses himself, saying, yeah, he’ll be back 2020.

Who knows? I’m not sure he knows. But know this: Mayweather caps and T-shirts proclaim him to be the best ever with the acronym TBE. But it really means: The Best Earner. Ever. If you don’t believe, read Forbes.  

Former Pound for Pound King, Floyd Mayweather teased a comeback as he posted “coming out of Retirement” on his Instagram page on Thursday night.

Mayweather was seen at Thursday night’s Clippers-Celtics game sitting next to UFC head honcho Dana White posed for a picture with White and posted ” @danawhite and I working together again to bring the world another spectacular event in 2020″ on the same Instagram page.

Mayweather, who will turn 43 years old in February, has not officially fought since stopping Connor McGregor in 2017

Growing up in Northern Ontario, Canada, Cody “The Crippler” Crowley got tired of giving his all to hockey and still losing, mostly because his teammates didn’t all share his tireless work ethic.

“I’m busting my ass and we still lose because other guys on the team weren’t trying as hard,” said Crowley, “that’s when I decided to go all in with boxing. I realized as much as I put into boxing, that’s what I get out.”

Now the undefeated CPBC Canadian and International Super Welterweight Champion, as well as his own promoter, Crowley (16-0, 9 KOs) will defend his titles against former Canadian champion Stuart McLellan (25-2-3, 10 KOs) in the 12-round main event of “Homecoming IV- Bad Blood,” on Saturday, February 9, at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough.

Tickets for “Homecoming IV – Bad Blood,” presented by Crowley’s CCC Promotions, are priced at $62.15, $39.55 and $28.25 and are available at www.memorialcentre.ca. VIP Floor Tickets are also available through CCC Promotions (text or call 705.927.3265).

“I used to tell my teachers I’m going to be a professional fighter and they would laugh and tell me to think about a real job,” recalls Crowley. The laughing stopped though, when he went on to win the Canadian Amateur Championship, three provincial championships and took bronze at the Commonwealth Games in 60 fights.

“After I graduated high school, I decided to go where the proper trainers and sparring partners are for me to advance, so I packed a bag and moved to Las Vegas.”

Crowley says at first no one was paying much attention to the unknown Canadian southpaw showing up at the gym every day. “I got there and started training and nobody saw anything in me at first,” he admits. “But when I was still there two months later, and they realized I wasn’t going anywhere, that’s when it all started to change.”

Crowley joined forces with Vegas-based trainer, and brother of former heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman, Ibn Cason.

Cason, currently best known for his work with Rahman and former heavyweight champion Samuel Peter, says he immediately set about trying to polish the diamond he saw in his aggressive, but sometimes crude, protegee.

“Cody was like an octopus,” explained Cason. “He’s got a swarming style. He’s on you, no matter what, but I’ve been working on making him more of a thinking pressure fighter, like a Roberto Duran; not so crude in his approach. He’s still always going to be on you, but also, at the same time, he’s draining your energy and making you miss.”

“Growing up self-trained, the only thing I know is to bust my ass for all three minutes of every round,” said Crowley. “I’m a determined, scrappy, aggressive pressure fighter. But over the last two years, Ibn has really changed the way I think and move in the ring. I’m turning in to a smarter boxer. In my heart, I’ll always be a slugger, but Ibn has been adding new dimensions to my game.”

Other notable figures in Vegas soon began to take notice of the 25-year-old, dubbing him “White Lightning” in gym circles.

After a particularly impressive sparring session with an Olympic medallist, Crowley signed with a top promotional outfit in Vegas and won a couple fights for them.

But then, Crowley and Cason began the feel pressured to take fights they may not have been ready for.

“They started pushing very heavy opponents on us,” recalled Crowley. “With me not having as big of an amateur career as these guys and still working on refining my natural ability, we thought it was a little too far of a push. Why risk it? I really mean nothing to a big promotional company, so we made the decision to pull away from the big promoter and give me more time to master my craft before we start taking the ‘sink or swim’ fights.”

And so, soon after, Crowley’s CCC Promotions was born.

Crowley and Cason started putting on shows, and fighting and winning in the main events, back at the Memorial Centre in hometown Peterborough.

Fan reaction was strong from the start, but then the phone rang.

And it all changed again.

“Floyd Mayweather’s people called and invited me to camp when he was training for the Manny Pacquiao fight and needed southpaw work. But then the first day of training camp, they told me to leave. I’m 5’ 9” so I was a little bit too tall they said.”

In true Cody Crowley style, however, the scrappy Canadian just kept showing up at Mayweather’s Vegas gym and working hard, even if no one was watching.

“They told me to go, but I kept showing up. About two or there weeks into camp, Floyd called to me and told me to get in the ring. We went about 12 rounds straight. He tried everything to hurt me, but I kept with him. Everything was cool after that. I had everybody’s respect. I started getting attention back home.”

Crowley also went on to help Mayweather prepare for his next super fight against Conor McGregor.

“My fan base started to grow exponentially when word got back about what I was doing in the States,” said Crowley.

A Cody Crowley fight in Peterborough quickly became the hottest ticket in the city, where sell-out crowds of electrified fans from every walk of life come to cheer on their homegrown hero. In fact, the mayor of Peterborough even gave Crowley the key to the city and declared a Cody Crowley day. Canadian media have even flown to Vegas to do a documentary on his exploits.

Crowley has gone on to work with countless world champions in Vegas.

“I’ve been hired personally by 16 or 17 world champions including Tim Bradley, Zab Judah, Jorge Linares, the list goes on and on. I’m not just a sparring partner. I am the real deal. There’s a reason why these guys want me.”

Undefeated now in 16 fights, with a Canadian super fight looming next month, Crowley now sits on the verge of a breakthrough into the world boxing scene… and it was all because of his tireless hard work and refusal to given in.

“I picked up and moved and left my family and friends and everything I know to chase my dream. Some people said I was crazy, but now they’re all starting to see. I’ve got all kinds of businesses behind me, tons of fans and a great team at City Athletic Boxing Gym in Vegas. It’s a unique situation and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

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The exciting undercard, packed with Canadian and international talent, will be announced shortly.

On fight night, doors open at 6 pm, with the first fight starting at 7 pm. The Memorial Centre is located at 151 Lansdowne Street in Peterborough. The Memorial Centre is a 4,329-seat multi-purpose arena. Built in 1956, it is now home to the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League and the Peterborough Lakers of the Major Series Lacrosse league. For more information, visit www.memorialcentre.ca.

Undefeated boxing legend Floyd “Money” Mayweather and sensational RIZIN Fighting Federation star Tenshin Nasukawa will battle in a special exhibition fight on New Year’s Eve from Saitama Prefecture Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

See below for quotes gathered from the media workout and press availability at Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas:

Floyd Mayweather:
“This is a great way for me to go out there and give people some entertainment. It’s an exhibition match, but it’s giving me a chance to do something different.

“I love competing against fighters from all walks of life like in my amateur days. It’s all about entertainment. Nine minutes of entertainment. It’s going to be amazing.

“I’m in the entertainment business. That’s what I go out there to do. I love to do this. I’m working out to put on a show for three rounds.

“I’m going to go out there, have fun and do what I do. I’m enjoying life and I’m going to enjoy this experience.”

Tenshin Nasukawa:
“This is my first time coming to Las Vegas and I’m very excited to be here. The fight is very close and I’m training hard every day to face Mayweather and leave a mark.

“This is a great opportunity and we’re happy to take it. I’m going to put everything out there and show my strengths. I think that I’m the faster fighter. I’m going to use my weapons against him.

“There’s never been a Japanese fighter to face Floyd Mayweather in the ring. As an athlete, this is something that’s a great honor and a challenging task. I’d like to make a big impression.

“I want to get the whole fight community, the whole country of Japan and the entire world involved in this fight. I’m going to go in there believing in myself and ready to prove myself.”

The attraction will be based on the following rules and regulations:

– Three minutes per round for three rounds

– Straight boxing rules

– Both will wear either RIZIN 8 ounce gloves

– Weight: 147lbs/67.7kg

– No judges

– This will be full contact competition, but the bout is not going on boxing or MMA records

FLOYD MAYWEATHER
A 12-time boxing world champion in five weight classes, Mayweather is one of the greatest to ever enter the ring, buoyed by box office success that saw him shatter nearly all of the revenue records in the sport’s history. Born in Grand Rapids, Mich., and fighting out of Las Vegas, he is the only fighter to have headlined four events that each generated more than 2 million pay-per-view buys. Forbes, Fortune and Sports Illustrated have all named Mayweather the world’s highest paid athlete multiple times throughout a career in which he defeated 24 world champions.

TENSHIN NASUKAMA
Tenshin Nasukawa was born in 1998 and trained in Karate and kickboxing from an early age by his trainer/father. Tenshin made his professional debut in 2014 at the age of 15 and has since claimed multiple world championships in kickboxing while remaining unbeaten. Tenshin is now the face for the Rizin Fighting Federation and their biggest headliner to date. Now aged just 20, Tenshin is a Japanese sensation whose main sponsor is a gaming giant called Cygames.

NOBUYUKI SAKAKIBARA – RIZIN CEO
Nobuyuki Sakakibara is a Japanese businessman most well-known for his role as boss of Pride Fighting Championship. Sakakibara sold Pride to Lorenzo Fertita of Zuffa LLC in 2007 in a widely publicized deal. In 2015 he founded Rizin, a new organisations that mixed different fight styles in a single event. Rizin is now the most watched fighting event in Japan.

RIZIN COMPANY
Rizin Fighting Federation has held 15 mega events since the promotion’s debut in December of 2015. Rizin is now recognized as the most watched combat sports event in Japan since Pride Fighting Championship. RIZIN has been a staple on primetime Japanese national television with a five-hour New Year’s Eve slot and watched in over 5.5 million households.

ONE ENTERTAINMENT
ONE Entertainment is a pioneer in the world of Entertainment Consulting, with over 20 years of experience in servicing celebrity clients and brands worldwide. ONE focuses on monetizing celebrity and entertainment brands by creating a customized approach for each client that maximizes exposure and profitability. ONE has concluded deals on six continents in over 22 countries and growing every day. The team at ONE has experience in all facets of entertainment, and they can serve your needs in film, TV, music, sports, live events, digital and entertainment business development.

Floyd Mayweather has pulled out of his proposed New Year’s eve bout with Japanese kickboxing phenom Tenshin Nasukawa, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

“Now that I am back on U.S. soil after a long and disappointing trip to Tokyo, I now have the time to address you, my fans and the media in regard to the upcoming event on December 31st that was recently announced,” Mayweather wrote in his Instagram account. “First and foremost, I want it to be clear that I, Floyd Mayweather, never agreed to an official bout with Tenshin Nasukawa. In fact (with all due respect) I have never heard of him until this recent trip to Japan.”

“Ultimately, I was asked to participate in a 9 minute exhibition of 3 rounds with an opponent selected by the Rizen Fighting Federation,” Mayweather wrote. “What I was originally informed of (it) by Brent Johnson of One Entertainment was that this was to be an exhibition put on for a small group of wealthy spectators for a very large fee. This exhibition was previously arranged as a ‘Special Bout’ purely for entertainment purposes with no intentions of being represented as an official fight card nor televised worldwide.”

“Once I arrived to the press conference, my team and I were completely derailed by the new direction this event was going and we should have put a stop to it immediately,” he said. “I want to sincerely apologize to my fans for the very misleading information that was announced during this press conference and I can assure you that I too was completely blindsided by the arrangements that were being made without my consent nor approval.

“For the sake of the several fans and attendees that flew in from all parts of the world to attend this past press conference, I was hesitant to create a huge disturbance by combating what was being said and for that I am truly sorry. I am a retired boxer that earns an unprecedented amount of money, globally, for appearances, speaking engagements and occasional small exhibitions.”

Floyd Mayweather will return on New years eve to square off against Tenshin Nasukawa in a combat sport to be announced.

Mayweather and Nasukawa appeared at a news conference in Tokyo on Monday (Sunday night United States time) that was streamed worldwide on YouTube to announce the fight with officials from the Rizin Fighting Federation, a Japanese promotional company founded in 2015 that puts on MMA and kickboxing events.

“As far as the weight class and the rules, we’ll talk about that,” said Mayweather, who was dressed in a red, white and blue sweat suit and flanked by One Entertainment’s Brent Johnson, who represented him in making the deal with Rizin. “We’ll get that situated within the next couple of weeks. This particular bout is a special bout as far as we’re giving the people something they’ve never seen before. The world has never seen Mayweather compete live in Tokyo. Throughout the years, I’ve seen a lot of fans from Japan come to Las Vegas and come to the U.S., but me and my team said let’s do something different. Let’s go over to Japan.

“As far as the weight class, we’re not really worried about that. It’s all about me going out there and displaying my skills against another skillful fighter. So we both want to go out there and display our skills and give people excitement. I just want to entertain. I will speak with my team and I will let my team get with Rizin and I’m pretty sure they’ll come up with a great idea, but it’s all about entertainment and that’s what we want to do for the people.”

Rizin chairman Nobuyuki Sakakibara, who used to run the now-defunct Pride Fighting Championships promotional company, said they were still working out some of the details.

“We still have more work cut out for us, but we think it will be a great fight everyone will be excited to see,” Sakakibara said through a translator.

“When I was offered this, I accepted right away without any delay whatsoever,” he said through a translator. “I would probably say this is my biggest event in life so far, and I’m very happy this is going to materialize. I’m a little surprised myself. Nobody has defeated my opponent in the past, and I’d like to be the man who makes history. My punch can change history. I will show that to you, so please stay tuned.”

“I’m not particular about the rules, with or without kicks,” he said. “Boxing rules I wouldn’t mind. My opponent looks taller than he actually is, but I think I could hit him.”

“He’s undefeated, so it’s obvious he’s been doing something right to be where he’s at,” Mayweather said. “He’s young, fast, [has] youth, undefeated like myself, and what the people want is excitement, and that’s why I chose Japan. You guys know about boxing, you guys know about fighting. I’m not really worried about the rules. I’m pretty sure that will get sorted out in the next couple weeks. My thing is just coming over here to display my talent and put on a show for the people.

“It’s always been a goal of mine to go outside the U.S. and go into another arena and display talent as a professional because I did it as an amateur.”

By Norm Frauenheim-

Mikey Garcia’s pursuit of Errol Spence Jr. in a daunting, two-division jump from lightweight to welter is a welcome counter to Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s business model.

Mayweather mastered risk-to-reward like the ratio was a shoulder roll. He made it look easy. TBE, The Biggest Earner, got the most money out of the smallest risk in history. Mayweather did it so well that now there’s a whole generation of fighters who think they can pull it off, too.

They can’t, of course, no more so than the last generation could fight with the hands -down ring style that made Roy Jones Jr. so unique. The model generated unprecedented millions for Mayweather. But I’m not sure it did much for anybody else in a business defined by risk.

Nearly a year after Mayweather seemingly exhausted the business model with a pay-for-predictable show against MMA star and novice boxer Conor McGregor, Garcia comes along and puts some risk back into a game that lost it in the pursuit of easy money for over-the-top spectacle.

He’s willing to take a chance. Imagine that. Sadly, that’s news in boxing these days.

But Garcia, a promotional free agent since his split with Top Rank, has shown evident independence in a career that he seems determined to shape in his own way. After he re-affirmed his decision to face Spence in his next fight following his one-sided decision over Robert Easter Jr. last Saturday at Los Angeles’ Staples Center for a second piece of the lightweight title, there was skepticism.

Sure, said some the critics, who argued that Garcia has nothing to lose. If Spence wins, he could simply say he lost to a bigger man. True enough, but somehow that argument misses the point. If Spence, a big welterweight, is everything he is supposed to be, the unbeaten Garcia is risking more than his first loss. He’s risking his physical well-being. Life and limb. That’s the real chance here and people will watch because of it.

The guess in this corner is that Garcia has all of the tactical skill and smarts to avoid punches that leave long-term damage. But there’s always a chance that one will land. In part, that’s why people watched Mayweather. They hoped that one punch, unseen and unexpected, would land and shut him up. It never did, of course.

That possibility will be there for Garcia, ever present and more dangerous than it ever was for Mayweather. In effect, Garcia, who started his career at featherweight, is willing to do what Mayweather never was. He’s stepping up, saying he wants to fight one of the most feared fighters of the day. Throughout his welterweight reign, nobody ever heard Mayweather say he was willing to fight middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

There’s been plenty of talk that Garcia would – should — exercise the risk-to-reward ratio more effectively against a lighter fighter. For the last couple of years, there was speculation about Garcia versus Vasiliy Lomachenko at either 135 pounds or 140. But lingering issues between Garcia and Top Rank, which promotes Lomachenko, could prevent that one. Besides, Lomachenko is coming off shoulder surgery and probably will work his way through a comeback later this year, perhaps December. Garcia and Spence hope to fight in November.

The other idea was Pacquiao at 140. Garcia family patriarch Eduardo told Mikey’s brother and trainer Robert that they should go after Pacquiao after the aging Filipino’s stoppage of a shot Lucas Matthysse a few weeks ago. A fight against Pacquiao makes sense, fiscally and physically, for Garcia. The Pacquiao name is still a draw.

But Robert said no his father. Robert seemed to know that Mikey understood that a victory over Pacquiao would just be criticized as a win over a legend who is faded is every way but his name.

There would be no risk in that. No legacy as a reward, either.

By Norm Frauenheim-

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is as good at staying in the news as he was at staying a top the pound-for debate.

Evidence of that played out all over again throughout this week with speculation that he might make another comeback, this time in mixed martial arts. As usual there were a lot of mixed messages about whether he will or won’t, could or should. Who knows? If last August’s bizarre boxing bout with UFC star Conor McGregor is any guide, it’s safe to say he probably will.

Whether it would be safe to his health is another issue altogether. Remember, he once talked about retiring before a punch – or perhaps a kick to the temple – left him hurt and without the capacity to enjoy all of the unprecedented money he has collected. I’m not sure he really wants to fight again. Against McGregor, he didn’t look to be in the best condition, although he appeared to carry the novice boxer for several rounds before ending it with a TKO in the tenth round.

The guess from this corner is that people are telling Mayweather to stay away from the ring, or the cage, or any other version of harm’s way. Trouble is, he can’t resist the media, a siren’s song that reminds him and everybody else that he is as relevant and rich as ever.

It stokes his ego.

It re-fills his garage and bank accounts.

And it works.

The best and most recent example was the McGregor match. After months of stoking media speculation and criticism, interest was high enough to attract a reported 4.4 million pay-per-view audience in the U.S. That was just short of the record 4.6 million he posted for his decision over Manny Pacquiao. I can’t help but think that Mayweather-Pacquiao II will happen one day in a cage. But that’s another story for another day.

This is about Mayweather and his uncanny ability at manipulating the media. He does at as well as he eluded a punch. A hint here, a shoulder roll there and, before long, what looked like a feint suddenly becomes real. It creates a momentum all its own and inevitably sweeps Mayweather, now 41, back into the dangerous place he vowed to avoid about five years ago. Maybe, Mayweather can duck and dodge strikes, kicks, elbows and knee caps. Maybe, he can command enough money and clout to amend rules in such a way that only a cosmetic cage will make his UFC debut look like the real thing. But, maybe he’s made a Faustian bargain that ends in a disabling blow.

It’s no coincidence perhaps that media attention on combat sports is at a place similar in April to what it was last August. Then, the media focus was on Mayweather-McGregor just three weeks before opening bell to the Gennady Golovkin-Canelo Alvarez draw. Eight months later, circumstances have changed. Boxing has only itself to blame this time. But the names and attention are the same. GGG promoters were scrambling this week to find an opponent for May 5 after Canelo’s withdrawal in the wake of a positive PED test. A news conference was held Thursday. It was announced that there was no announcement.

About three weeks before what would be opening bell, we’re back to where we were in August: Talking about Mayweather. Yeah, there’s McGregor, too. But after the Irishman allegedly caused a near riot at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center at UFC media event last week, there were questions about his future.

Video shows him attacking a bus. He was released on $50,000 bond. According to witnesses, he and his crew stormed the backstage, broke a window and injured fellow UFC fighters. He was arraigned on one count of felony criminal mischief and three counts of misdemeanor assault. He was allowed to return Ireland, but has been ordered to appear in court in New York on June 14.

If convicted, he might be spending more than just few a rounds in a cage.

The Floyd Mayweather – Conor McGregor Pay Per View bout on August 26 generated 4.3 million buys nd more than $600 million in total revenue, Showtime announced. according to Dan Rafael of espn.com

“The pairing of Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor brought together two very significant and distinct global fan bases in one truly unprecedented event,” Espinoza told ESPN. “The remarkable results are all the more impressive considering that the planning, marketing and execution took place across a span of just 72 days from the initial announcement to fight night. Together Showtime and Mayweather have now accounted for the three highest grossing pay-per-view events of all time.”

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, the Floyd Mayweather – Conor McGregor fight on August 26th generated a $55.4 Million gate at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The unprecedented Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor blockbuster, the final fight of Mayweather’s illustrious career, will premiere on SHOWTIME this Saturday, Sept. 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The showdown between the future Hall of Famer and the UFC superstar originally aired live on SHOWTIME PPV® on Saturday, August 26 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Saturday’s SHOWTIME premiere of the main event will include the singing of the national anthems of the United States and Ireland by Grammy® nominated and multi-platinum artist Demi Lovato and Irish recording sensation Imelda May.

The SHOWTIME presentation of the exciting fight will be immediately followed by the premiere of ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. McGregor Epilogue. The network’s’ distinctive Epilogue reveals the drama of fight night from a unique perspective and introduces viewers to the rarely seen aftermath of world championship prizefighting. ALL ACCESS: Mayweather vs. McGregor Epilogue goes behind the scenes into the locker rooms, corners and inner circles as McGregor aimed to shock the world in his boxing debut and Mayweather exited the ring for the final time.

By Bart Barry-

Saturday in Las Vegas retired welterweight champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs), a 40-year-old American, beat mixed martial artist “The Notorious” Conor McGregor (0-1, 1 KO), a 29-year-old Irishman, to a fraction of himself until referee Robert Byrd’s intervention after the first minute of round 10. If the match ended predictably, it gave its pay-per-viewers unpredictably more entertainment than we deserved. Mayweather-McGregor was way better than expected.

Credit for that properly goes to McGregor, whose unorthodox approach to boxing and his pronounced vulnerabilities – the greatest of which was not knowing how pronouncedly vulnerable he was – made Mayweather comfortable enough to eschew what thick, goopy layers of cliche form his public persona, remember the hardened amorality at his core, and hurt the man across from him until he was ordered to stop.

What makes boxing different from all other combat sports is that no matter how defensively adept you fancy yourself you are going to get hit often, and getting hit often is a uniquely stressful experience. No fighter’s fantasies comprise being hit thusly, but boxers expect it and vigilant themselves accordingly. The act of being hit repeatedly and the unwavering threat of being hit repeatedly more is what surprised McGregor the most. You can do roadwork and elasticarm bends and backflips and CrossFit and all the rest, and maybe even some sparring with undersized guys, too, but there’s nothing to condition you for being punched a whole lot but being punched a whole lot.

Mayweather gave McGregor a combination of force and precision no sparring partner did (or that sparring partner would be Mayweather), and McGregor receded and wilted subsequently. And wilted is the proper word for what happened to McGregor – a thing we see in boxing gyms round the world every weeknight when two equal physical specimens begin to punch each other and one grows mighty and the other wilts until a coach shortshifts the bell and waves the session off. McGregor’s handlers likely’d not’ve known to do that, and fortunately for them Saturday’s otherwise incompetent referee did instead.

McGregor, in a weakly megalomaniacal way, indicated in his postfight interview when he gets tired his legs get wobbly. Yes, son, that’s called fatigue, and it makes cowards of us all, it makes us not want to fight – it makes us go whole minutes of combat without doing anything but flee – and it’s a universal sign in our beloved sport, the manly art of selfdefense, a match is concluded.

Even claims of quick stoppages are universal, not something invented by McGregor; any aficionado who’s attended an undercard has seen some version of the 10 1/2-count, when a fighter remains on his knee till 10 then leaps upwards, arms spread, pleading to continue, all strength miraculously restored. Except McGregor didn’t get that far because, in lieu of taking a knee and regrouping, he decided to use the “just energy” of going “wobbly” while a professional fighter placed the middle knuckle of his left and right fists on his chin and temple. More exotic strategy and tactical innovation by The Notorious, perhaps, but also a loud plea for official assistance.

Good that it came, too, because McGregor hadn’t enough time in his brief career as a boxer to learn how to comport himself when things went awry. He was a frontrunner, not unlike prime Mayweather or anyway Mayweather against a fellow boxer, and didn’t have a plan C, once McGregor’s vaunted power never activated and his one uppercut counter failed to cut Mayweather’s lights.

For a threeround, though, it was interesting – far more interesting than expected. The larger man, by what looked like three weightclasses at opening bell, intended to win by decision, outpointing the spoiler unless the spoiler took scoring chances as the fight progressed. If that wasn’t the most suspenseful happening, it was quite unexpected and a little dramatic; it set the imagination cooking with ingredients of Mayweather like a risktaker and knockout needer.

By round four, when Mayweather had done very little and yet McGregor was suddenly diminished, arming and pawing punches like someone less than a novice, the standard Mayweather slowmarch was underway, and one hoped only something conclusive might happen. Tradition dictates the worst thing that might befall a pay-per-viewer is Mayweather realizing, with an audible click, his opponent cannot hurt him, as tradition dictates that be the time for Money to begin melding time and space together till the final six rounds of a championship prizefight, a thing which should be both dramatic and suspenseful, become an 18-minute lump of bodyjabs and a rolling lead shoulder and talk of Money’s legacy and retirement plans (Saturday’s was his fourth or fifth final fight). Instead McGregor was defenseless enough for Mayweather to accelerate for once and do what you are supposed to do with a defenseless man in front of you: Try to take his consciousness violently.

If it’s the last we see of Mayweather, it’s an image that should please him is the last we have: eyes predatory, mouth maliciously set, punches properly leveraged for force and angled intentionally: Floyd Mayweather, a prizefighter – not a Pretty Boy or a Money, but a man professionally committed to hurting other men with his fists. It took some fraudulent matchmaking to get there, a professor against a bachelor’s degree, but Mayweather got there with his wealth and wits intact.

Enjoy your retirement in good health, Floyd, and now leave our sport be.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

LAS VEGAS – In the end, only the spectacle was memorable. The fight was forgettable. Yet in the end, it was indeed a fight instead of the mere farce predicted by so many.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. won it and with the stoppage he promised Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in a pay-per-view event expected to set records.

But there was also a victory wrapped in the defeat for Conor McGregor, who was still upright at the time of the 10round TKO and proud as ever after the MMA star’s first professional boxing match against this generation’s best at the more traditional sweet science.

McGregor surprised the boxing pursuits.

Seemed to surprise, Mayweather, too.

He threw jabs nobody had ever seen or even suspected he had. He had Mayweather in retreat fighting off his back foot. In the opening rounds, Mayweather looked exactly like the 40-year-old man who had not answered an opening bell in a couple of years. After six rounds, it looked like an even fight.

But McGregor’s unfamiliarity with boxing became increasingly evident. By the fourth round, there was awkward pawing with his jab. His hands began to drop. All the while, Mayweather’s muscle memory began to exert itself and take control of the junior-middleweight bout.

His found his timing. He rediscovered his sense of range. Then, his right hand began to land, land and land. Suddenly, there was swelling around McGregor’s eyes. In those Irish eyes, there were mounting signs of fatigue.

The end was near, a historical one for what Mayweather vowed was his last fight. In Nevada Athletic Commission-sanctioned bout, Mayweather went 50-0, supassing Rocky Marciano’s milestone.

“Boxing’s reputation was on the line,’’ Mayweather said.

Mayweather’s legacy was, too. He protected that and managed to add a reported $200,000 to his bank account.

“”Our game plan was to take our time, go to him, let him shoot his shots early and then take him out down the stretch,’’ said Mayweather, who ended with it fusillade of right hands that left McGregor holding on and finished at 1:05 of the 10^th. “We know in MMA he fights for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, he started to slow down. I guaranteed to everybody that this wouldn’t go the distance.’’

McGregor wished that it had. Referee Robert Byrd, he said, should have let it go on, all the way through the 12^th and final round and on to the scorecards.

“Where was the final two rounds?’’ said McGregor, who collected a $100 million guarantee. “Let me walk back to my corner and compose myself.”

He’ll have plenty of time to do that. His $100-million guarantee is worth a lot of composure.

Gervonta Davis gets only boos in victory

Gervonta Davis lost his title on the scale. He lost respect in the ring.

Things changed quickly for Badou Jack. He made sure of it.

Tabiti wins unanimous decision over Cunningham

Andrew Tabiti’s fast hands initiated a head-to-body attack that the Las Vegas cruiserweight sustained throughout 10 rounds for a unanimous decision over Steve Cunningham of Philadelphia for a minor title Saturday night at Las Vegas T-Mobile Arena.

Yordenis Ugas, a 2008 Olympic bronze medalist from Cuba, scored two knockdowns and got up from one for unanimous decision over Puerto Rican Thomas Dulorme (24-3, 16 KOs) in a terrific, 10-round welterweight fight Saturday in the final bout before the pay-per-view portion of the Mayweather-McGregor card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

Everybody might be talking about Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor, but nobody was there when the hyped event began.

The show opened to an empty room Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

There were only a couple of fighters and lots of echoes about three hours before Showtime’s pay-per-view card was scheduled to begin.

London super-middleweight Savannah Marshall (1-0) and Sydney LeBlanc of Lafayette, LA, created the first echoes. Most of them came from Marshall’s punches. She landed one after another, scoring a unanimous decision over LeBlanc (4-4-1).

In the card’s second fight, Fresno super-middleweight Antonio Hernandez (10-1, 2 KOs) was stronger and busier, scoring often enough for unanimous decision over Kevin Newman (7-1-1, 3 KOs) of Las Vegas.

Follow all the action as undefeated legend Floyd Mayweather takes on UFC sensation Conor McGregor in a highly anticipated boxing match.  The show begins at 7 PM ET with a 5 fight undercard that will feature Gervonta Davis taking on Francisco Fonseca in a lightweight bout (Fonseca can win the IBF Jr. Lightweight title which Davis vacated at the scales.  Nathan Cleverly defends the WBA Light Heavyweight title against former super middleweight champion Badou Jack.  Undefeated Andrew Tabiti takes on former two-time world champion Steve Cunningham in a cruiserweight battle.

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Round 1: McGregor lands a left…Uppercut

Round 2: Right from Mayweather..Right from Mayweather…Right from McGregor..Left to body..Right from Mayweather..

Round 3 Jab from McGregor..Jab..Right to body from Mayweather..

Round 4 McGregor lands a a left…2 rights from Mayweather..combination..Jab from McGregor..Right from Mayweather..Left from McGregor..Lead right from Mayweather..Left uppercut from McGregor..

Round 5 Right to body from McGregor..Left from Mayweather..right

Round 6 Jab from McGregor..Right to body fro Mayweather…lead right..right from Mayweather…Left to body from McGregor…good body work..left..Good counter right from Mayweather..

Round 7  Right from Mayweather..uppercut from McGregor..Combination and right from Mayweather,,2 rights..

Round 8 Good left from McGregor..2 rights from Mayweather..Combination from McGregor..Jab from Mayweather..

Round 9 Body shot from McGregor…hard combination…Right from Mayweather…hard right,,McGregor hurt..Hard right rocks McGregor.

Round 10 2 HUGE RIGHTS….MCgREGOR HURT…1 MORE SHOT…ROBERT BYRD STOPS THE FIGHT

Round 1: Left to body from Davis..Left uppercut..Right to body from Fonseca..Counter left Davis..Right to body from Fonseca

Round 2 Nice combination from F9nseca…Body shot from Davis…Left hook from Fonseca..Hard uppercut from Davis..

Round 3: Huge combination featuring uppercuts from Davis..Left from Davis…Good counter from Fonseca…

Round 4 Huge uppercut from Davis…Right and left from Fonseca..Good left..Body shot

Round 5  Fonseca lands a left to the body…Hard body shots from Davis..right to body…Counter from Fonseca…

Round 6 Lead left from Davis…Nice left

Round 7  Good right from Fonseca..Good right and left uppercut from Davis…Right to body from Fonseca..Left from Davis

Round 8 LEFT TO HEAD…FONSECA DOWN AND COUNT REACHES 10…FONSECA CLAIMING BEHIND THE HEAD

Round 1: Right from Jack..Body..2 rights..Right from Cleverly..Good right from Jack..Jab from Cleverly..left from body..uppercut from Cleverly…Nice right

Round 2 Body shot from Jack..2 rights from Cleverly..1-2 from Jack..Nice body shot..overhand right

Round 3 Body shots from Jack..Right hand..Good uppercut..Short body shot..Jab from Cleverly

Round 4 Hard shots from Jack..Nice left hook and right..Big left hook..Big 3 punch combo.Clecer;y bleeding from the nose

Round 5 Hard left from Jack..Jack landing big shots on ropes…Left from Cleverly..Jack pounding Cleverly on the ropes..BIG UPPERCUT FIGHT STOPPED–TKO FOR BADOU JACK

Round 1 3 jabs from Tabiti..counter jab from Cunningham..Right from Tabiti..Jab..Jab from Cunningham..Lead right from Tabiti..Counter from Cunningham..

Round 2 Double jab..right hand from Tabiti..Nice counter right from Cunningham…Combination from Tabiti…Left hook for Cunningham..

Round 3 Combination from Tabiti..Right to body..Counter from Tabiti..Jab from Cunningham..

Round 4 Tabiti lands a right to the body..Jab from Cunningham..Jab..Right

Round 5  Right from Tabiti..2 jabs from Tabiti..Left from Cunningham..uppercut..Double jab

Round 6 Counter right from Tabiti..Right from Cunningham..short right from Tabiti

Round 7  Right to body from Tabiti..Jab..Nice exchange

Round 8  Right from Tabiti…right uppercut

Round 9 Combination from Tabiti..Counter right from Cunningham..

Round 10 Double jab from Cunningham…

Tabiti landed 112-315       Cunningham 89-329

97-93 twice and 100-90 for Tabiti

Round 1 Right from Ugas…

Round 2:  Right from Dulorme….Uppercut..GOOD UPPERCUT AND DOWN GOES DULORME..Good body shot…HARD RIGHT AND DOWN GOES DULORME

Round 3:  Big flurry from Ugas.. Right from Ugas…Hard hook to the jaw..

Round 4:  Dulorme lands a straight right…

Round 5 Right from Ugas..Hard right..Trading uppercuts…Hook from Ugas..uppercut and right…

Round 6 Right from Ugas…Body shot from Dulorme…

Round 7:  DULORME DEDUCTED A POINT FOR A LOW BLOW…Uppercut from Ugas..BIG LEFT AND DOWN GOES UGAS

Round 8:  Hard uppercut from Dulorme…Left hook from Ugas..Left from Ugas..2 hooks from Dulorme..

Round 9:  Hard hooks from Dulorme

Round 10:  DULORME DOCKED A POINT FOR A LOW…Hook from Ugas..

94-91 and 93-92 TWICE FOR YORDENIS UGAS

Round 1 Double jab and hook from Heraldez..Combination..

Round 2 Combination from Borrego..Body shot from Herladez

Round 3 Triple jab from Heraldez…Combination..Borrego bleeding…Hook from Heraldez

Round 4:  Borrego counters on ropes..

Round 5 Combination from Heraldez..

Round 6 Straight left from Borrego..Combination from Heraldez..

Round 7 Combination from Borrego..Right from Heraldez..Good left..

Round 8 3 jabs from Heraldez..Right…Left from Borrego…Borrego bleeding from his nose..Good combination from Heraldez…Body shot

Round 9  LEFT AND DOWN GOES HERALDEZ …Good body shot…Good left hook..

Round 10 Left from Borrego..Jab from Heraldez…Body shot..

96-93, 97-92 TWICE FOR JUAN HERALDEZ

Floyd Mayweather will earn at least $100 million for his showdown with Conor McGregor, who himself will earn $30 Million according to Nevada State Athletic Commission as reported by Dan Rafael of espn.com.

Mayweather also earned a guaranteed $100 million for his 2015 megafight with Manny Pacquiao, though he made around $250 million because of his share of the enormous profits from the record-shattering event. The fight with McGregor, 29, is largely expected to break the Mayweather-Pacquiao records, which would give Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs), 40, another payday well in excess of $200 million.

McGregor’s minimum purse is $30 million, which dwarfs any he has made for his fights in the Octagon during his mixed martial arts career. But the Irishman will wind up making tens of millions of dollars more than his minimum because of his share of the promotion. His take is likely to exceed $100 million.

Gervonta Davis (18-0, 17 KOs), who was stripped of his junior lightweight world title for weighing in at 132 pounds, two more than the division limit, will make $600,000 for his co-featured bout against Francisco Fonseca (19-0-1, 13 KOs) because he was overweight. Fonseca will earn $35,000, though a portion of Davis’ purse is likely to go to him because Davis missed his weight.

Secondary light heavyweight titlist Nathan Cleverly (30-3, 16 KOs), of Wales, will make $100,000 for his defense against Badou Jack, though Cleverly is likely to earn more from British television. Jack (20-1-3, 12 KOs), fighting for the first time since vacating his super middleweight title to move up in weight, will earn $750,000.

Cruiserweights Andrew Tabiti (14-0, 12 KOs) and Steve Cunningham (29-8-1, 13 KOs), a former two-time world titleholder, will make $100,000 apiece for their pay-per-view opening bout. Welterweight Thomas Dulorme will make $75,000, and Yordenis Ugas will be paid $50,000 for their 10-round bout, which headlines the Fox-televised portion of the undercard.

By Norm Frauenheim-

LAS VEGAS –The beat went on — and on — Friday in the parade to an event that looks and sounds more like spectacle than sport.

Conor McGregor screamed. His Irish fans screamed. And Floyd Mayweather Jr. did what he has always done. He’s more than just unbeaten.

Mayweather’s ability to generate money is unmatched, if not unprecedented. Boos-for-bucks is a formula that has transformed him into perhaps the high-earning athlete ever.

The boos were there, off the scale, Friday for the ritual weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena where Mayweather is favored Saturday night to extend his 49-0 boxing record to 50-0 against a mixed-martial arts star with zero experience as a professional boxer.

Depending on who and what you believe, McGregor’s chances at derailing Mayweather’s bid at equaling Rocky Marciano’s historical record are the numerical equal of his boxing experience. We’re talking zero. So-called sharps – an oddsmakers’ term for smart bettors — have been descending on the Vegas books over the last 24 hours.

One wagered $1 million Thursday with the chance to win about $182,000 on Mayweather. A second bet of $1.2 million was also reported. More of the same was expected before Saturday’s pay-per-view card (Showtime/6 p.m. PST/9 p.m. EST).

But a zero chance is chance enough for fans who just want to see Mayweather lose, even if it could only happen in the event of an accident, say, an asteroid striking T-Mobile Arena’s roof so that it only collapses on where Mayweather is standing. Hey, bleep happens.

In addition to beating everybody he has ever faced, Mayweather has been generating bucks through boos at almost every turn. Reports are that he could earn $200 million for Saturday night’s event.

Before weighing at 149.5 pounds for the 154-pound show, he ensured some more enmity from the weigh-in crowd by stepping on the scale in Irish green shorts that said Paddy Power across the waist band. The crowd roared in anger and McGregor led the way.

After tipping the scale at 153 pounds, McGregor (21-3 in UFC bouts) pose for the traditional face-off with Mayweather with his mouth open in what looked like a perpetual stream of expletives. It was an Irish temper turned up as high it could go.

“I see a man afraid,’’ said McGregor, who is guaranteed a reported $100 million.

Maybe, but the odds makers are beginning to see something different in a man they think is closing in on some easy money. For him. And them

Floyd Mayweather 149.5 – Conor McGregor 153