CONOR McGREGORย accused Floyd Mayweather of having a โbig-time gambling problemโ as the two faced off ahead of Saturdayโs fight in Las Vegas.
The pair were unexpectedly relaxed when they saw each other for the final time before Fridayโs weigh-in, in contrast to the tense grand arrival on Tuesday and the foul-mouthed exchanges on the earlier press tour.
Mayweatherโs openness regarding gambling is central to his โMoney Mayweatherโ persona but there remain those within boxing who believe it may lead to an eventual comeback, despite his personal wealth reportedly standing at ยฃ266 million last year.
A beautiful skull and a beautiful belt to add to my collection of skulls and belts. pic.twitter.com/O2TuneQQtu
โ Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 24, 2017
The 40-year-old has also repeatedly insisted this will be his last fight and that he will retire having surpassed the record of the great Rocky Marciano and moved to 50-0. McGregor, having been told Mayweather had said he is considering โputting the most Iโve ever done at the sports bookโ on another victory, calmly responded: โHe needs to let that gambling go โ heโs a bit heavy on that gambling.
โHeโs always talking about doing it and then not doing it. I donโt really care. You donโt really see many winners in those types of places.
โI certainly know he has a big-time gambling problem, from seeing him. He gambles on half-times and things like that. He shows what his wins are, never shows what the losses are. โMaybe thatโs why heโs in the position heโs in and he had to take this fight. Iโm focused on the fight, not gambling.โ One of Mayweatherโs minders then dared the 29-year-old to bet his purse โ which at a reported minimum of ยฃ59 million will be the biggest of his career โ and he said: โThatโs no problem, we can bet the purse.โ Mayweather then waved off the prospect of him also doing so, and similarly intervened when the same individual attempted to goad his Irish opponent, before repeating his insistence that he will win via knockout for the first time in six years.
Tomorrow โ #AboveTheNoise pic.twitter.com/wRNC1d5L3C โ Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 23, 2017
The American has rarely remained aggressive in his fights, 26 of which he has won inside the distance, but he last won via stoppage against Victor Ortiz in 2011, and this also represents a significantly less competitive match-up.
โIโve said itโs not going the distance and you can mark my words,โ he said. โI know heโs going to come out and switch and go back and forth with stances. Itโs my job to execute my game plan and adjust if I have to.
โThis is great for the city of Las Vegas. Itโs all about giving back and Iโm giving back to my home of Las Vegas. This city has welcomed me with open arms from day one. Weโre doing great numbers. Itโs the biggest fight in history. Itโs not just a fight, itโs an event. Itโs all about breaking my own records.โ