‘Money’ will battle UFC star Conor McGregor in the punching capital of Las Vegas, Nevada as Mayweather affectively fights an opponent making his debut in the sport.
Despite a near two-year absence, Mayweather is an overwhelming favourite to record what will be considered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to be a 50th career victory without loss, whilst the American’s fans cannot expect a prolonged stay beyond that match-up.
Should Mayweather do what’s expected of him in two months’ time, the 40 year-old seems set to take his nine-figure paycheck and walk back off into the sunset to manage his newly-opened strip club.
Reigning supreme at the top of the WBN Pound for Pound list for a full four years from a September 2011 win over Victor Ortiz until defeating Andre Berto in 2015, Mayweather won’t be reclaiming his top spot with a McGregor triumph.
That honor currently sits with Andre Ward, who deservedly claimed the P4P King status with a long-reign as 168 pound ruler before taking over at the helm of the 175 pound division by beating Sergey Kovalev, not once but twice.
Mayweather would have to defeat a fighter rated by one of the organisations in order to re-enter – even the P4P Top 10, which is unlikely to happen once the dust settles on his Showtime extravaganza.
Ward will lose his place at the top to the winner of Gennady Golovkin v Canelo Alvarez, dependent on the manner of the win on September 16, whilst Roman Gonzalez will also have claims to the crown should he avenge his loss to Srisaket Rungvisai in fine fashion a week earlier.
The likes of Terence Crawford and Vasyl Lomachenko still seek that defining fight to take over from the above mentioned, whilst Manny Pacquiao is set to drop more than once place after choosing to face-off against little-known Australian Jeff Horn next month.
Guillermo Rigondeaux admitted to WBN in a recent interview that he can still make 122 easily so sees no need to move up for anyone but Lomachenko, a fight which would mean a big decision has to be made regarding the summit in the future.
Facing criticism and no longer boxing’s main man in terms of status, Mayweather has to be content with not being able to please all the people all of the time as his potentially record-breaking encounter with McGregor draws nearer to reality.
Phil Jay is Editor of World Boxing News. Follow on Twitter @PhilDJay
