What the Mayweather VS McGregor Fight Was Really All About

In the beginning, I hated this match up. I criticized Floyd for not taking on an actual boxer to break the 49–0 record of Brockton’s own Rocky Marciano. And I thought McGregor was a stupid arrogant prick who didn’t know what he was getting into. This because I failed to see what this was really all about.

Edmar Gonçalves
Aug 27, 2017 · 4 min read
Mayweather and McGregor at the weigh in.

First and foremost, Conor McGregor is a legend. Nobody is willing to do what Conor has done. I mean who goes up 30 pounds (that’s 3 weight divisions in the UFC) to fight one of the most fierce fighters while putting an undefeated record (in the UFC) on the line? Who is willing to decrease his/her arsenal, learn and adjust to a completely new set of rules, technicalities and challenges in a short amount of time, to go against one of the best boxers in history?
As a boxing fan, this man has earned my respect forever.

McGregor lands an upper cut on Floyd in the earlier rounds.

Second, Floyd “Money” Mayweather. For those of us who have been following this man for years, I am damn proud of what he did last night. At 40 years of age, he decides to put away his classic, revolutionary defensive stance and risk his undefeated, historic 49–0 record to go toe-to-toe with an unconventional fighter who was stronger, taller and longer in reach. And still won by technical knock out!

Mayweather lands a stiff right hand on McGregor in the later rounds.

In my honest opinion, what we witnessed last night was the stuff of legends. We saw two champions performing on the edge of their talents and gifts. But this goes beyond fighting. This is what it takes to achieve greatness anywhere, anytime at any cost. And that’s what it was really all about.


Some fallacies I need to address.

Sure, McGregor landed more than Pacquiao, but that is because Floyd played defense with Pac the whole time. Why? Because engaging in a fight with Pacquiao was the most dangerous decision that anybody could have ever made back then. Some of us will say that Mayweather ran…and yes, he did. He ran a marathon. But was it the smartest thing to do? Absolutely.
Mayweather did the complete opposite with Conor though. He was the aggressor and came forward the whole time. Under these circumstances, logically you’re going to take more hits.

Mayweather positioning his signature shoulder roll defensive stance, during an exchange with Pacquiao in their 2015 bout.

Yes, the score cards were close prior to the stoppage. But that was part of Mayweather’s game plan. This is what speaks to the man’s mastery in the ring. In the earlier rounds he lets you play your game, he takes your best shots and deliberately gives a couple rounds away at first. But during this time, guess what’s happening? He’s absorbing information. He’s getting to know you. He’s pin pointing your flaws and developing an execution plan. Now, usually what comes out of this is a “hit and don’t be hit” course of action. However, he saw that he could stop McGregor so he continued taking risks because he knew that eventually, McGregor was going to fatigue and break.

Referee Robert Byrd stops the fight in the 10th round, after McGregor fails to respond to continuous assault inflicted by Mayweather.

No, the fight wasn’t stopped early. The most important job of a referee is to protect fighters. If the ref never stopped it, McGregor could’ve been badly hurt and he would’ve come out, in Mayweather’s own words during the conferences, “either on your face or on your back”. Now, why should the ref allow that to happen to a young 29-year-old fighter with a promising career still ahead of him?

Sure enough people get hurt in this business, but this is, first and foremost, a gentleman’s sport.

Mayweather and McGregor exchanging respects during the post-fight press conference.

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Edmar Gonçalves

Written by

Coding and dropping beats with boxing gloves on.

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