LAS VEGAS —Referee Robert Byrd stopped the fight in the tenth round as a “fatigued and wobbly” Conor McGregor was being pummeled by Floyd Mayweather Jr. He hadn’t been knocked down yet. McGregor might have been able to survive another round.
“(Mayweather) is so composed,” McGregor said post-fight. “I have to give him great respect. I thought it was close. I just got a little fatigued. He has had a great career. That’s what 50 professional fights will do for you.
“He is a tough competitor,” said Mayweather, fighting for the first time in two years after coming out of retirement for a guaranteed $100 million to face McGregor. “But the game plan was to let him take all of his shots early and then take him out down the stretch. He got all his power shots off the first 25 minutes, but then he started to slow down.
It was a historic outcome on all levels of boxing and MMA. Mayweather, (40 years old) has now surpassed Rocky Marciano’s record of 49 wins against no defeats. He sports an incredible 50-0 mark.
Mayweather and McGregor got their wish to fight in smaller gloves. It was a talking point in pre-fight hype. They fought at 154 pounds, (super welterweight). Mayweather’s promoter, Leonard Ellerbe, said his fighter is more comfortable in smaller gloves and would use them to stop McGregor. Ellerbe predicted a knockout. John Hornewer, an attorney and spokesperson for Mayweather said, “Mayweather will be at 150 pounds. That’s his best weight and there’s no reason to put on extra weight.”
A McGregor representative said his fighter boosted up to about 160 pounds after the weigh-in.
The T-Mobile Arena was rocking-and-rolling with celebrity attendees such as Tommy Hearns, Jerry Bruckheimer, LeBron James, Charlize Theron, Mike Tyson, Cal Ripken Jr. and Jamie Foxx. As the mega-fight between Mayweather and McGregor finally neared, things got started with the singing of both the Irish and U.S. national anthems. Kicking things off was Dublin-born singer Imelda May, who belted out a respectable edition of “Amhran na bhFiann.” That was followed by pop star Demi Lovato, dressed in a white low-cut dress, as she sang a passionate “Star Spangled Banner”. Mayweather entered the ring wearing a full ski mask and hoodie.
McGregor was warned often for rabbit punches to the neck while Mayweather fought tactical and defensive. “He is a tough competitor,” said Mayweather, who was fighting for the first time in two years after coming out of retirement. He got a guaranteed $100 million to face McGregor.
“But the game plan was to let him take all of his shots early and then take him out down the stretch. He got all his power shots off the first 25 minutes, but then he started to slow down. This was my last fight. This is it. You won’t see me in the ring again, so whatever young guys are calling me out, forget it. I’m good,” said Mayweather.
