Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Conor McGregor Boxing Betting Lines, Prop Odds, Preview

Is the battle between Floyd Mayweather Jr., one of the best boxers in history, and Conor McGregor, a UFC star, going to be a fight or a farce? Something like Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns or more resembling wrestler Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan) vs. Rocky Balboa in the movie Rocky III?

It's hard to say, but the press conferences leading up to the August 26 boxing match should be incredible theater as both Mayweather and McGregor have huge egos and love to trash talk.

Mayweather, who comes out of retirement at age 40, is the -600 betting favorite (wager $600 to win $100) at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark but had opened as high as -2250 last winter.

The overall betting handle on this fight could be less than Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao in 2015 because McGregor has never fought professionally as a boxer and the return on the favored Mayweather would be so small. Mayweather was just -200 against Pacquiao in the richest fight in boxing history.

This one could well surpass that in terms of pay-per-view buys—the over/under is 4.99 million—and what Mayweather takes in, which could be $300 million.

McGregor really has nothing to lose here. He's not supposed to win but already has won in that his name is now more mainstream, and he's going to cash the type of check he will never see again. There's no UFC fight that will pay him what the Mayweather bout will (likely $100 million).

Will McGregor even be able to touch Mayweather? He's one of the best defensive technicians ever and avoids being hit with power punches. That's why Mayweather's fights are, frankly, boring. His unanimous-decision win over Pacquiao certainly was and set boxing back a bit. His fights average 10.9 rounds in his career. McGregor's average 5:35 minutes.

Mayweather hasn't won a bout by KO or TKO since 2011 against Victor Ortiz. His favored method of victory on the prop odds for the fight vs. McGregor is by KO, TKO or DQ at -125. By decision or technical decision is +130. The over/under rounds total is 9.5.

There are two clear benefits to this fight for "Money" Mayweather: the cash and the chance to become the first boxer in history with a 50-0 record. Former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano is the only other to reach 49-0.

However, should Mayweather lose to a boxing rookie, his legacy will be in tatters. Right now, he's the pound-for-pound champion of his era and an all-time great. With a loss, Mayweather would be relegated to a sideshow who couldn't suppress his ego or need for money and the spotlight to stay retired.

The last time Mayweather closed a fight at -600 was a unanimous-decision win over Marcos Maidana in a rematch in September 2014. In his fight against Andre Berto in September 2015, Mayweather was -3000 and dominated in another unanimous decision. That this fight goes all 12 rounds is +130.

But if you want real boxing action, wait until September 16 when Gennady Golovkin faces Canelo Alvarez. Now that's a megafight.