Re-visiting the Mayweather-McGregor Hoax One Year Later

Published

6 years ago

August 24, 2018

This Sunday, August 26, marks the first anniversary of the Mayweather-McGregor fight. The bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas drew an announced crowd of 14,623 (13,094 paid), well below capacity, but with tickets priced so steep, the live gate was enormous. The tally, $55,416,866, stands as the second highest in the annals of boxing, surpassed only by the 2015 match between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Pay-per-view sales worldwide, reportedly 4.3 million, were likewise second only to Mayweather-Pacquiao which registered 4.6.

When the fight was announced, many were quick to denounce it as a sham. The very idea that an MMA fighter with no professional boxing experience could overcome a man hailed in many quarters as the best boxer of his generation was absurd on the face of it. The noted journalist Charles P. Pierce called the promotion a “glorified cholera outbreak” and a “festival of fools.” Pierce was alluding not just to the fight that would transpire, but to the war of words leading up to it, a shameless pageant of f-bombs that played out before large gatherings on a promotional tour of four cities: Brooklyn, Toronto, Los Angeles, and London.

The fight, which was waived off in the 10^th frame with McGregor on his feet but taking a beating, remains controversial after the fact. The lingering question is whether Mayweather “carried” McGregor to give those that bought into the fight more bang for their buck.

Dishonest fights come in many hues. At one end of the spectrum we have the kind favored by Hollywood filmmakers wherein a boxer is browbeat into taking a dive so that his manager or another party can effectuate a betting coup. I’ve not sniffed out even one example of this in all the years that I’ve been covering the sport. At the other end we have the example of an “opponent” tailoring his performance to the role in which he was cast. A common rendering sees the designated loser retiring on his stool after a few rounds while complaining of an injury.

Carrying an opponent, which became more prevalent with the advent of TV (advertisers don’t like short fights), fits at neither pole. In the eyes of many immersed in boxing, there’s nothing dishonest about it. In the end, the better man wins so what’s the big deal?

Many observers, this reporter included, thought McGregor won the first three rounds. He was clearly the busier man. But this wasn’t out of character for Mayweather, historically a slow starter. He likes to process his opponent – “gathering data” in the words of Frank Lotierzo — before firming up his own battle plan. Moreover, Floyd, although approaching 41, had every reason to think that he would be better conditioned and thereby less vulnerable as the bout wended into the later rounds. MMA fighters train differently than boxers. An MMA title fight that goes the distance consumes only 25 minutes of actual combat (five 5-minute rounds), 11 fewer minutes than a 12-round boxing match. So if Floyd lollygagged through the first few rounds, it wasn’t for the purpose of carrying McGregor. Floyd was just being Floyd and, one might add, he was just being smart.

In his post-fight article, Lotierzo made note of these factors while rejecting the notion that Mayweather carried McGregor. In the early rounds, said Lotierzo, Mayweather was troubled by McGregor’s size and physicality and his awkwardness – “unorthodox slaps and quick flurries” – and this caused Floyd “to step back and fight a little more judiciously.”

This opinion isn’t shared by Hall of Fame boxing broadcaster Jim Lampley. Two months after the fight, Lampley was cornered in a parking garage by a roving reporter for the gossip site TMZ. In the video that ensued, which drew a lot of hits, Lampley said that it was obvious to him that Mayweather tanked the first three rounds. “It was all a set-up,” he said.

Let’s ask Floyd to weigh-in. In a post-fight interview, Floyd said, “He’s a lot better than I thought he was. He used different angles…He was a tough competitor…I chose a hell of a dance partner to dance with. Conor McGregor, you are a great champion.” But then, in a video posted on fighthype.com on Dec. 4 of last year, Mayweather changed his tune. “You know I carried McGregor,” he said. “I made it look good for y’all.”

So who’s telling the truth, Mayweather or Mayweather? (We’re reminded of the famous line that Bob Arum uttered in an informal bull session with a small group of reporters in 1981 — “Yesterday I was lying; today I’m telling the truth” – an utterance that for some is the perfect catchphrase for the Machiavellian world of professional boxing.)

I was at the fight, free from the noise of the TV commentators who were duty-bound to pump up McGregor to assure the folks watching on pay-per-view ($99.95 for high definition and $89.95 for the regular transmission) that they hadn’t been suckered into buying a lemon. But I wasn’t seated where my view of the action was as good as those watching at home. I have read where McGregor nailed Mayweather with a harsh uppercut in the opening round. Somehow I missed it. However, while I wasn’t able to give the “carrying hypothesis” a good eye test, I will always believe that there was a gentleman’s agreement in place that Mayweather wouldn’t embarrass McGregor and that this was the primary factor that determined the flow of the early rounds.

I say this for two reasons. At a pre-fight media confab at the Mayweather Gym, Floyd was asked if he would carry McGregor if he figured out early on that the Irishman wasn’t in his league. Mayweather artfully dodged the question and the confab was terminated before I had the chance to re-introduce it. And then there was the way that the two embraced when the fight was finished. It struck me that there was something fishy about it.

Yes, we knew that the fight would end in a display of good sportsmanship. We knew that all the acrimony that poured forth on the four-city promotional tour was just posturing. But as the two embraced like long lost friends, one discerned in McGregor’s body language elements of relief and jubilation. It was as if we were watching two guys who went halfsies on the Pick Six at Santa Anita with a big carryover pool and just realized that they held the only winning ticket.

McGregor had plenty to say to Mayweather as they snuggled post-fight but his words were inaudible in the din. I’m guessing he said something along these lines: “Well, we pulled it off, didn’t we? And all the bastards that said it was going to be a farce can eat crow because we put on a good show.”

Indeed, they could not have pulled it off any better than if it had been choreographed. CBS Sports correspondent Brian Campbell came away with this take: “(McGregor was) incredibly game. What he did was present Mayweather with a poised and credible challenge, teasing a bright future in the boxing game should he consider it.”

Showtime will replay the fight on Sunday in celebration of the one-year anniversary. Truth be told, I wasn’t really that interested in seeing the fight live, but I’m very interested in seeing the replay.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel

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Arne K. Lang

Related Topics:Arne K. Lang Boxing Charles P. Pierce Conor McGregor Floyd Mayweather Frank Lotierzo Jim Lampley Mayweather-Pacquiao The Sweet Science TSS

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Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

David A. Avila

Floyd-Schofield-Wins-a-Banger-and Gabriella-Fundora-Wins-by-KO

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.

Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.

It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.

Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.

In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.

Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.

You never turn your back.

The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.

For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11^th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”

In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.

There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.

In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.

“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”

Fundora

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.

Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.

Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.

No one argued the stoppage.

Other Bouts

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.

Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.

After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.

Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.

Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.

Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.

Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.

Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.

This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.

It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.

Semi-wind-up

SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,

Other Bouts

Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.

In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.

Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.

Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.

Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12^th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.

In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.

Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective-Chap-303-Spotlights-on-Lightweights-and-More

Those lightweights.

Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.

Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.

Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.

“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.

Even in Las Vegas.

Verona, New York

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.

Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.

“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.

Foster disagrees.

“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.

Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).

Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.

“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.

Muratalla likes challenges too.

“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.

Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship

WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.

Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.

But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.

“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.

In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.

Bad choice for Mucino.

Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.

Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.

Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.

Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.

“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.

It should be exciting.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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