Mayweather v McGregor: Is it the battle of the century or little better than a circus act?

Boxing's fight of the century, or a manufactured money-spinner with no relevance in sport?
Conor McGregor and Loyd Mayweather swap verbals at press conferenceConor McGregor and Loyd Mayweather swap verbals at press conference
Conor McGregor and Loyd Mayweather swap verbals at press conference

However you view it, Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor is set to be the highest earning fight of all time.

Some reckon it is simply no contest, one of the best ever pound-for-pound fighters taking on a UFC star who has never had a professional boxing bout in his life.

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But in the fight game - whichever code you prefer - there is always that chance that McGregor will cause a shock and beat the odds-on favourite at his own game.

Famous ring announcer David Diamante is adamant there will be no such surprise.

Asked what McGregor’s chances were he said: “You never want to say zero. But it’s point zero zero something. It’s pretty low.

“To me it’s not really a fight, it’s more of a spectacle. It’s more like a WWE kind of circus event.

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“The only way I could see it being any type of competitive (fight) is if it was scripted. I’m not saying it is, I’m just saying if it was scripted somehow behind the scenes beforehand, if they had some deal and they said: ‘Okay, let’s do this.’

“But if not - and that’s not to take anything away from McGregor - a guy that’s never had an amateur or professional fight to go against one of the greatest of our generation . . . it’s not gonna happen.“Mayweather is the worst opponent that Mayweather has faced, probably almost ever.”

Floyd Mayweather Jr, now 40, retired in 2015 with a perfect record of 49-0. He won world titles at five different weight divisions from super featherweight to super welterweight.

He is regarded as one of the best defensive boxers of all time, with an ability to evade punishment.

Irishman McGregor, 29, is the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion and former UFC Featherweight Champion.

The mixed martial arts fighter is the biggest pay-per-view draw in MMA history.

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