LONDON: As fight fans across the Gulf look forward to the scrap that everyone is talking about, Arab News gets in the ring with two Dubai coaches — one a boxer, the other from the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) — to get the lowdown.
Saturday night will either see a great battle between two fighting icons or a desperate and demeaning duel, a pantomime created for pay-per-view excess.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: The Floyd Mayweather versus Connor McGregor bout does not allow for fence-sitting.
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is just one boxer who says Saturday’s bout is a farce: “There’s tremendous build-up and hype, but I don’t really take it as a serious fight.
“I wouldn’t count a fight like this as a ‘fight.’ He’s basically boxing a guy who is a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter and not a boxer.
“No other boxers from 49 fights have figured out how to beat Mayweather. Now a UFC fighter who doesn’t even have a boxing career is trying to beat him at boxing — I think it’s a farce to a certain degree.”
The sight of boxing in the gutter is not new — think Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, and any number of swear-laden, pre-fight press conferences. But this fight has, for some, dealt a right hook to a sport that was still basking in the glow of Anthony Joshua’s enthralling win over Wladimir Klitschko.
The sight of Mayweather coming out of retirement to fight an MMA fighter, a boxing novice, for a huge payday, one he does not need (Forbes estimates his net worth at $340 million), only adds to the view that as good a boxer as he is, this match-up is one both he and boxing could do without.
Is the fight a farce?
MMA fans are less inclined to call out the bout as a joke. “Boxing is a huge sport before MMA, which is catching up. I’m a huge fan of McGregor, but he’s up against a great boxer,” said coach Dante Macawile from TK MMA Fitness in Dubai.
“McGregor is an energetic fighter, whereas Mayweather is a strategic and talented defensive boxer. I think it could be good.”
But boxers seem less inclined to view it as a sporting spectacle, and more as a bit of money-making entertainment.
“I think this fight is about putting on a show,” said Nick Mwangi, trainer at Dubai’s Round 10 Gym.
“It’s basically a payday for them. It’s more about the money than it is a proper fight. People are interested in it because they’re curious about what will happen, about what the fight will look like.”
Who will win?
This being a boxing fight, with boxing rules and not the mayhem of an MMA cage, both agree that anyone expecting a shock McGregor win should think again.
“McGregor is a good MMA fighter, but he’s in a boxing ring, not an MMA cage, and he’s fighting Mayweather under boxing rules,” Mwangi said. “No boxer has beaten him before so, I can’t see McGregor doing it.”
Macawile echoed that view: “I’m a huge fan of McGregor, but he’s up against a great boxer. Mayweather will win.”
In which round?
This is where it is obvious whether you are cynical about the fight or not. Mwangi certainly is: “Mayweather will be patient then show McGregor who’s boss and who’s king of the ring in the third round.
“He’ll know a lot of people have paid money for the fight, so I think he’ll end it in the fifth or sixth.”
The MMA trainer agreed with his boxing counterpart, but not for the same reasons: “I can see this fight ending with a Mayweather win in the fifth, maybe.”
Will you watch it?
Once again the answers are the same: Of course they will, but the reasons for staying awake or getting up early (depending on whether you are a morning person or a night owl) are very different.
“There’s little doubt this is about the money. They’ll both make a lot of money through the pay-per-view sales,” Macawile said. “I’m going to get up early and watch it at home. I’ve paid for the pay-per-view.”
But for boxers, the fight is a mere sideshow to the undercard, which for them involves proper bouts.
“I’ll watch it, but I’m far more interested in the undercard than I am the Mayweather versus McGregor fight. I think that’s how a lot of boxing fans will view it. They’ll all be keen to see fights like Gervonta Davis versus Francisco Fonseca before it,” Mwangi said.
“We’re showing it at the gym, and the people who come here are going to be more keen to watch the earlier fights.
“People are curious about the Mayweather versus McGregor fight, but they’re not too fussed about it.”
Gulf fight fans reveal predictions for Mayweather vs. McGregor
Gulf fight fans reveal predictions for Mayweather vs. McGregor
Inter continue Scudetto march after Champions League humbling
- Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto
MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan bounced back from Champions League elimination with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Genoa which continued their march toward the Serie A title.
Federico Dimarco’s brilliant volley just after the half-hour mark and Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty were enough for Inter to extend their already huge lead over AC Milan at the top of the table to 13 points.
Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto.
Inter, whose fans unloaded a collection of anti-Milan chants in anticipation of the derby, have dropped just two points in 15 league matches and have been a cut above the rest in Italy’s top flight this season.
Their domestic dominance comes in stark contrast to the humiliating manner in which they were dumped out of the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night.
A 5-2 aggregate defeat to the Norwegian minnows cast doubts over not just the quality of Cristian Chivu’s team but of Italian football as a whole.
There was plenty of quality in Dimarco’s opener however, the Italy full-back beautifully placing a first-time finish from a tight angle after exchanging passes with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Little else happened in a humdrum encounter until Alex Amorim handled a cross from Luis Henrique, whose shot had been tipped onto the post just moments before.
Calhanoglu calmly stroked home the spot-kick on his return to action following niggling muscle problems which have caused him issues since before Christmas, sealing the points for Inter.
Big Rom back
Romelu Lukaku kept Napoli on course for a Champions League spot with a last-gasp winner in the champions’ 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Verona, the Belgium forward’s first goal of the season.
Lukaku forced home Giovane’s cross to snatch the win for third-placed Napoli with the last kick of the game at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Napoli had looked like dropping points in northern Italy when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro levelled Rasmus Hojlund’s early opener in the 65th minute.
But Lukaku, who only played his first game of the season in late January, gave Napoli a huge win with both Como and Atalanta pushing for a top-four placing.
“I was a dead player before coming here,” said Lukaku to DAZN.
“This season has been difficult, but we’ve got to aim high.”
Napoli’s title defense is all but over as they trail Inter by 14 points after an injury-ravaged season.
Napoli were missing key midfielders Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa on Saturday, as well as captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Verona, under interim coach Paolo Sammarco following the sacking of Paolo Zanetti earlier this month, are 10 points from safety after a 12th straight match without a win.
Como, who face Inter in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday, strolled to 3-1 victory over strugglers Lecce to continue their push for a first-ever qualification for European football.
Cesc Fabregas’s team are two points behind Roma, in fourth and Juventus’ opponents on Sunday, and five behind Napoli.
Como are also two points ahead of sixth-placed Juve who face Roma trying to stay in touch with the Champions League places after being eliminated from Europe’s elite club competition by Galatasaray on Wednesday.
