The mere thought of a someone making their professional boxing debut against an elite-level fighter seems rightfully preposterous to any reasonable person, let alone when you're talking about a future Hall of Famer and once in a generation talent such as Mayweather. He has made a career of making world champions look foolish; men that have spent their lives dedicated to the sweet science. If he made them look like amateurs, what then would he do to an actual amateur?
For all his greatness in mixed martial arts, Conor McGregor had zero experience as a professional boxer. While he may be a devastating striker in the octagon, the squared circle is a different beast. Both sports deserve equal respect, - despite what certain factions of each sport's fanbase may tell you - which is why many in boxing circles found the thought of this matchup disrespectful to the sport.
The end result was somewhat predictable, with Mayweather earning a TKO in the 10th round over a visibly spent McGregor. While Mayweather may be the only one to walk out with a W, many different factions of people can claim victory for a variety of reasons:
BOXING FANS
After years of losing ground to MMA and being called a "dying sport," boxing delivered and triumphed on the grandest of stages. Mayweather-Pacquiao was supposed to be the fight that saved boxing, and it failed miserably. For all the hype that had been built up for years, its $100 pay-per-view price tag, and $72 million in live gate revenue, fans were treated to 12 rounds of meh. It did little to help boxing's already floundering reputation in the eyes of the general public.
Many observers, myself included, were expecting this fight to go the same route as most of Mayweather's fights: it would go the distance, and we'd see Mayweather outclass and embarrass McGregor. Much to my surprise, Mayweather threw a volume of punches not seen since his younger days fighting in the lower weight classes. This could've simply been a product of McGregor's constantly open face, but Mayweather stated after the fight that he felt he "owed the fans" after the Pacquiao debacle, and decided to give them a show. If those were indeed his intentions, mission accomplished.
MAYWEATHER FANS
Whether you've been following Mayweather since his days as "Pretty Boy", or you just decided to hop on the bandwagon and throw on a TMT hat because everyone else did, this should be one of your proudest days. The self-proclaimed Best Ever, now owns the best record ever. With this victory, Mayweather retires* (you never know) with a record of 50-0, surpassing heavyweight legend Rocky Marciano. Prior to this fight, Mayweather already held the top 3 spots in regards to the highest grossing pay-per-views in boxing history (vs. Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya), and this fight is expected to join that list. According to Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather also stands to surpass $1 billion in career earnings, joining an exclusive club that includes Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan.
MAYWEATHER HATERS
For as many reasons as there are for people to love Mayweather, there are just as many for people to hate him. Whether you hate his defensive style, his exorbitant wealth, his conviction for domestic violence, or you're just salty that he beat one of your favorite fighters, this should also be a joyous occasion for you. If Mayweather stays retired (this is the 4th time he's 'retired' by my count), you may never have to see or hear from him again. After conquering McGregor and eclipsing Marciano's record, there is nothing else worth coming out of retirement for.
McGREGOR FANS/MMA FANS
Although McGregor took the L, are you really that shocked? You should take great pride in the fact McGregor lasted 10 rounds with an all-time great, and more than held his own. While McGregor has a ways to go if he wishes to continue as a boxer, not embarrassing himself against a legend surely will do a lot for his confidence going forward.
CONOR McGREGOR
Prior to the fight, Mayweather said it would not only be his last fight, but McGregor's as well. Coming in with a net worth of $35 million prefight, McGregor stands to make upwards of $100 million after its all said and done. He's had a decorated career in UFC, and could also pursue boxing if he chooses, but if he wants to ride off into the sunset, he just got a hell of a retirement package.
You can follow Dino Marcelino on Twitter @DiNDiN4THEWiN
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