It is understandable. The powers that be in boxing are not massively huge fans of Floyd Mayweather fighting a loud mouth mixed martial artist in a ring. But unfortunately for them, it is looking more and more likely that the fight is going to happen.
Conor McGregor will be Mayweather’s 50th opponent in a boxing ring and there is nothing anybody can do about it.
Not even the IBO, who seem to be not that excited about this boxing event.
“I consider any Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight nothing more than an exhibition. I am hoping that in the end Mayweather v McGregor is labelled as just that, as in my opinion, it should not be viewed as a boxing event,” said IBO President Ed Levine.
The head of IBO then compared the fight to Muhammad Ali’s showdown against Japanese professional wrestling star Antonio Inoki. At the time it generated much hype and gained a lot of media attention but eventually did not deliver because Inoki wasn’t a real fighter.
“Mayweather v McGregor actually reminds me of when Muhammad Ali, then the heavyweight world champion, fought a Japanese professional wrestler (Antonio Inoki). The fans thought they would see a great match and were sorely disappointed,” said IBO President Ed Levine in an interview with worldboxingnews.net.
The only problem with that comparison is that professional wrestling is not real. Fans were expecting a real fight but instead they witnessed purely a show orchestrated by two entertainers. The difference is that both Mayweather and McGregor are true fighters who have proven their physical striking skills in a competition on many occasion.
What should we expect then? A fight. Nothing more, nothing less. If they actually do step in the ring it will be a bout that many will remember because of two reasons. Either McGregor becomes Floyd’s 50th and final win of his magnificent career or the Irishman literally upsets the world.
How is there any disappointment in that, Mr Levine?