Conor vs Floyd: Nothing that hasn’t been said before.
Hundreds of articles have been written from sports sites, cable news, newspapers, and pretty much everywhere else. Every angle, every hot take, the literate racial profile of the fight, the degenerate prop bets, boxing experts, MMA experts, even where is Mayweather the upcoming nights of the fight has been covered. Shoot, local news put the latest press conference up on Facebook live. Even they can’t stay away from this perfectly crafted circus. That’s the thing, we are all in on the joke and yet we could care less. Most of us still want to see arguably the greatest boxer take on the most polarizing figures in the UFC, yet still 0–0 in the boxing ring. Why?
The press conference tour the two went on the past few months worked, plain and simple. Although, Mayweather may need to thank Conor for that. Put simply he is brilliant. I do not agree with what half says, but be damned if I don’t listen to everything he has said. He walks around the stage, delivering his trash talk in an assault faster and harder then any Mayweather punch. His confidence level 100 and after he has said it for the thousandth time you start to believe he will put Mayweather face on the mat. The Irish man seems like a mix of Ali and a WWE superstar. But, this is not new for him. Check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJeziuaShow where he basically predicts all of his fights in his career. You see a younger, poorer, non tattooed version on Conor still as loud as ever telling the world he will be the greatest.
For Mayweather the work was already put in. He has built a brand, he knows people do not like him just like he knows the majority of the people buying this fight want him to get knocked out. This is no different for him than the Pacquiao fight. Boxing’s loudest bully who has yet to meet the playgrounds protector. 49 fights and nobody in the boxing world can touch him. And then the UFC guys start to pitch in, a UFC fighter could take Mayweather.
Boxing vs UFC, the other staple of this fight. Boxing experts chime in and say Conor won’t land a single significant punch. UFC experts say do not underestimate Conor’s left. Seems more likely two camps just arguing over boxing vs UFC. Boxing is struggling to find younger talent, while the UFC is filled with personality and talent. Woman’s UFC is a superior product to boxing. Boxing fans will say UFC has no art to it and it is too violent. UFC fans will say boxing is boring, they just walk around the ring for 12 rounds, where is the athleticism in that? A UFC fighter has to be a master in multiple types of fighting styles, which means they are more creative than boxers. This fight is a test for an argument the fighting community has been having since UFC came about. Both sides have said the other side could not come close to the other. Saturday we will see just how true that is, although UFC still can hold on to the fact that the whole world knows Mayweather is never stepping into the octagon. If Conor can just make a decent showing the UFC community will have something to hang their hats on. And if by some chance Conor knocks Mayweather out… RIP boxing. The death was quicker than you hoped for.
The fear of missing out (fomo) will bring in even the most belligerent anti Conor vs Mayweather fight. If by some miracle Conor’s left hand knocks Mayweather out, we will be there to see it. FOMA will drive even the biggest naysayers to purchase the fight at the last minute. Because, in the back of the mind a little voice will be saying, “but ya what if he does knock him out.” You want to be there, not kicking yourself for not forking up the 100 bucks. You cannot bring yourself to have to show up to work Monday and be the only person that did not see it, you would lie and say you watched it anyway though. Picture this, you are watching the Rice Stanford game alone at the house. You are staying from the phone because you already do not want to see the pictures of the fight party, or texts asking you where you are at. Then you hear the ding, it’s a sports update, “Conor shook the world, knocks Mayweather out in 2nd round.” And it hits you. You just missed one of the biggest moments in sports history. That fear right there will drive millions to purchase the fight. Even if they have said for the past year how ridiculous the fight is. FOMO, its a powerful weapon.
Then again let’s face it, America, and the world loves a good party. America just lost its wits earlier this week over the eclipse. We love a reason for us to come together and experience something together. World Cup, Super Bowl, Olympics, or Eclipses. Social media has made these events even more coveted to be experienced together. We are all in the living room together talking and sharing every little detail. Waiting for the next meme, looking for the funny gif. Posting on Twitter did you see that #shocked. School just started for some. Some, it is the Saturday before it starts. Football is not yet really here. Reason they put the fight in August. We are just itching for a good party.
The world tour is over. We are a little over 24 hours before the fight. Soon though, boxing vs UFC will explode, the two worlds will collide. “Let’s get ready to rumble” meets Joe Rogan. The fight most likely will be a disappointment. Basically, anything shy of a Conor upset guarantees that. Likely Mayweather will slide around the ring, masterfully avoiding punches like an art. If the luck of the Irish places a pot of gold in Conor’s corner, I will be there watching. Joyful that Mayweather finally got hit. Ready for Conor to grab the microphone and start his verbal assault. Slightly wondering if a rematch is in store.
Bryson Shaw
Amateur Hour News