The 40 year-old, who is undefeated in 49 boxing bouts, defends his record against the only ever two-weight UFC title holder – who has given up his right to kick, grapple and use submissions.
In a recent infamous sparring session with Paulie Malignaggi, McGregor was accused of using illegal moves to get the better of the ex-140 and 147 pound champion, something Mayweather has since run the rule over.
“I had a chance to see it. And my thought is that I think it was really interesting, but with a lot of rabbit punching; a lot of illegal rabbit punching behind the head. A lot of grappling, a lot of wrestling, a lot of illegal shots. That’s just my honest opinion. I’m pretty sure the referee is going to be fair on both sides. I just want a good solid fight,” said Mayweather.
On McGregor supposedly putting Malignaggi on the canvas with a legal blow, Mayweather added: “Some some may call it a knockdown; some may not call it a knockdown. But at the end of the day, it only counts once you get under the lights, that’s just in a gym. We sit here judging Paulie, a guy that’s been retired and just commentating and traveling the world and not going to the gym at all, instead of going in there with a guy who is just working out, an athlete period, just working out every day.
“I truly believe the ref is going to do his job. The referee’s job is to make sure that he’s keeping the bout clean. I want to have a good fight. Like I said on numerous occasions going up to this fight, I’m coming straight ahead. So, he doesn’t have anything to worry about. I look forward to following the rules of boxing. I’m pretty sure he looks forward to following the rules of boxing.
“He had Joe Cortez in his training camp which is a great thing. Even though he had Joe Cortez in his training camp, I still see him doing extremely dirty things. But my job is not to worry about the referee, my job is to go out there and fight and let the referee do his job,” he said.
