The Wildest, Most Entertaining Photos from the McGregor-Mayweather Fight Buildup
The hype period, thankfully, is over. All that's left is the fight.
No one could blame anyone for being plain old sick of looking at these two mugs. When Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor finally do battle sometime late Saturday into early Sunday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, there might be a sense of relief as much as excitement.
Mayweather is the favorite for a clear reason—something about his being the only professional between the two when it comes to the sport in which they are competing—but McGregor, as is his wont, has made it interesting. If there is a more photo-friendly fighter than the swaggering Irishman, I have no idea who it is.
Remembering that, plus the fact they held approximately 78 media events in advance of this blockbuster, there were a decent amount of photos taken. Here are the best ones, from the first station of the hype train all the way up to Friday's weigh-ins. Read on to relive the magic.
July 11: The 'A' Side
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That's a lot of money in Mayweather's right hand.
As he discussed how he, not McGregor, was the draw in this bout at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Mayweather casually held up a check for $100 million to prove his point.
"That's for the tax man," McGregor countered, well aware of Mayweather's troubles with the IRS.
"You're right," Mayweather returned. "I'm the IRS, and I'm gonna tax your ass."
And we were just getting started.
July 11: The Suit
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What appears on first glance to be an ordinary pinstripe suit in an ordinary combat-sports staredown pose becomes a little more on subsequent review.
As many fight fans are now aware, McGregor's suit was tailored with a hidden message. Those pinstripes are not solid stripes but rather bands of words, repeatedly stating "f--k you." Pretty clever. I wonder how much a suit like that costs. I bet if I asked Conor, he would tell me to the nickel.
July 12: These Guys Like to Trash Talk
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Of all the photos that depict these two doing just this, this might well be the best.
Both are fully engaged and in full voice, eyes locked, trying to make a point to each other.
Yet at the same time, you can kind of tell they both know that what they are doing is just a little bit ridiculous.
July 12: The Irish Weigh In
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It's no secret McGregor's legion of Irish fans view him as something of a god.
It's also no secret the betting line has been a little anomalous, with the odds for Mayweather and against McGregor being a little less lopsided than pundits have suggested the contest will be.
Put those two together. There's no hard evidence, but it stands to reason that the Emerald Isle contingent is driving odds changes by betting big on the hometown hero.
This photo demonstrates what many Irish fans think is going to happen.
July 13: It's Raining Indoors
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Mayweather treated the stage at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, like his own personal Girl Collection.
Although Girl Collection is Mayweather's, but you get the idea.
As part of the proceedings on the third consecutive day of public preening, Mayweather sprung a little surprise on McGregor, showering the fur-clad Irishman with cash in a style befitting an indulgent evening at a gentleman's club.
OK, so they were apparently all $1 bills, meaning this was probably just a few hundred dollars. Nevertheless, a cool effect.
July 13: Here Comes the King?
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Guess how much this dramatic ensemble cost McGregor. If you said $150,000, you are correct.
I guess that's what qualifies for investing in professional development when you are in McGregor's line of work. That's a line of work containing about five people, but no one should begrudge the peacock his plumage. It sure makes for a great show.
August 10: Mayweather Workouts
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As he concentrates on the bag here, it's easy to remember Mayweather is an elite pro athlete, maybe the best to have ever done what he does.
Don't forget that this is only a sliver of what we will see Saturday night, even if his output against the bag outdoes the output he will tally against McGregor.
August 22: McGregor Arrives
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Where's Waldo?
McGregor's in there somewhere (look for the blue suit), but it helps illustrate the absolute crush of people who awaited McGregor as he arrived in Las Vegas. This guy, like Mayweather, is a bona fide celebrity. Everyone knows that.
But it's still compelling to see it depicted in such clear terms. On a week like this, in a place like Vegas, McGregor is almost like one of The Beatles.
August 22: Floyd Holds Court
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Looking a little like Andre 3000, Mayweather also arrived in Vegas on Tuesday. Although the response seemed a little more muted than the one McGregor received—not unexpected given his "bad guy" status—Mayweather still received plenty of attention from fans and media types.
August 25: Getting Down to Business
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At Friday's weigh-ins at the T-Mobile Arena, McGregor was as pumped as he's ever been. Maybe more. And that's saying something.
Mayweather went in the opposite direction.
McGregor squealed in Mayweather's face as they stood nose-to-nose and before that posed exuberantly on the scale, soaking up the chants and cheers of the Irish and American faithful.
Money calmly walked to the scale, weighed in and smiled. He then stood stone-faced as Notorious screamed, likely speckling him with spittle in the process.
On Friday, it was definitely Mayweather who acted like he had been there before. Which he had. McGregor hasn't. We'll see Saturday what kind of difference that makes.
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