The money is all for Conor McGregor as the underdog looks to upset the odds in his mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather on August 26. Could a shock be really on the cards?
The critics - and there were certainly no shortage of them - said it would be a mis-match at best and an over-hyped sporting farce at worst.
An undefeated pound-for-pound legend of boxing up against supposedly nothing more than a UFC 'brawler' - albeit a successful one. Inside a boxing ring. And with Queensberry rules of course.
Conor McGregor may well have become an undisputed star in the Octagon but to master the boxing craft and skills needed just to lay so much of a glove on the uniquely evasive Floyd Mayweather Jr - let alone win - in just a few months seemed almost laughable to the purists.
Mayweather has come through his perfect record of 49 wins from 49 fights as a professional since his debut back in 1996 almost unscathed despite sharing the ring with the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, British star Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and, of course, Manny Pacquiao.
When the fight was confirmed back in May, it was no surprise to see Sky Bet price up Money as the 1/12 favourite to triumph in Las Vegas on August 26, with no-hoper McGregor a rank outsider at 5/1 - with probably only his MMA-loving fans really believing a shock was feasible.
Prior to that, when the money-spinning match-up was first mooted, you could get Mayweather at 1/33 and his opponent at 10/1.
At least the Irishman's gift of the gab could certainly be equal to motormouth Mayweather, as we saw during the extravagant circus-like press tour in July and the verbal sparring certainly hasn't stopped since.
But now the tide appears to be turning.
Sky Bet have reported over 80% of bets placed on the fight have been for 'Notorious', whose odds have been cut right down to 3/1 as Mayweather's have drifted to 1/4.
One of the reasons for this is the fact that the fighters will be wearing 8oz gloves at the T-Mobile Center - 2oz lower than the standard.
The theory is that favours McGregor, who is used to wearing lightweight MMA gloves, and that his power punches will have more of an impact with less glove to cushion them.
Another is the recently leaked video which shows McGregor knocking down Paulie Malignaggi during a sparring session. The same Malignaggi who was a two-weight world champion during a fine career at the top of the sport before his retirement earlier this year.
His strong words have also convinced others. After another impressive-looking workout in front of the media's glare, he said: "I have a game plan and I will execute it perfectly, like always. I have been boxing my whole life so this is not a new experience for me. I will rule over MMA and boxing with an iron fist after August 26.
"The critics say that Floyd has been there before. They discredit my training, my skills, my accomplishments. This isn't new to me though, just like boxing isn't new to me. I am no stranger to being the underdog on paper. I am a seasoned veteran and I am confident that I am the better man. After Saturday August 26, I will be a god of boxing."
Mayweather agrees with McGregor's prediction that it won't go the distance, but his most recent comments also suggest it could go further - and be closer - than many predict.
He said: "This isn't just a fight. This is an event. We both owe the fans and everyone tuning in a lot of excitement. That's what we're there to give them. When it's all said and done it comes down to the two competitors. My dad can give me a brilliant game plan but he can't get in there and fight for me. Same for Conor and his team.
The 40-year-old American was also sporting enough to acknowledge the areas where an athlete nine years his junior has the edge:
"I'm older. I'm not the same fighter I was two years ago. I'm not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step," he told ESPN. "[McGregor] He's a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he's taller, has a longer reach, he's a bigger man from top to bottom. He's a lot younger, so youth is on his side.
"And I've been off a couple of years. And I'm in my 40s. So, if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor."
So where is your money going now?
Mayweather v McGregor: Key details
- When is it? Saturday, August 26
- Where? T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- What channel is it on in the UK? Sky Sports Box Office (show starts 0100 BST on Sunday)
- Fight time? Roughly between 0400 BST and 0500 BST on Sunday morning
- When is the weigh-in? 2300 BST on Friday August 25, live on Sky Sports Main Event
- What are the latest Sky Bet odds? Mayweather Jr (1/4) v Conor McGregor (3/1)
- What are their fight records? Mayweather: 49-0, 26 KOs, McGregor (MMA): 21-3, 18 KOs
Mayweather v McGregor: Latest Sky Bet odds
(Correct at 20/08/2017)
Mayweather Jr (1/4) v Conor McGregor (3/1), Draw is 33/1
Method of Victory
- Mayweather by KO/TKO/DQ - 8/11
- Mayweather by decision - 9/4
- McGregor by KO/TKO/DQ - 7/2
- McGregor by decision - 25/1
Selections of specials
- McGregor to land less than five punches in the fight - 13/2
- Mayweather to be knocked down and win - 8/1
- McGregor to be knocked down and win - 12/1
- McGregor to be disqualified - 14/1
- Both fighters to be knocked down & Mayweather win on points - 33/1
- A rematch in the Octagon within a year - 49/1
- McGregor to win in first 90 seconds of round 1 - 66/1
- McGregor to be KO'ed in rds 5&6, Mayweather to win in rounds 7-9 - 80/1
- McGregor to be DQ'ed in round 10 - 100/1
Fight to go the distance
Click here for more Sky Bet odds including round betting and more specials!
Who is on the undercard?
- Gervonta Davis (1/33) v Francisco Fonseca (10/1)
IBF super featherweight title - Nathan Cleverly (3/1) v Badou Jack (1/4)
WBA light heavyweight title - Andrew Tabiti (4/11) v Steve Cunningham (15/8) (cruiserweight)
- Yordenis Ugas (8/13) v Thomas Dulorme (6/5) (welterweight)
- Juan Heraldez v Jose Miguel Borrego (welterweight)
- Kevin Newman v Antonio Hernandez (super middleweight)
- Savannah Marshall (1/100) v Sydney LeBlanc (18/1) (super middleweight)
Odds correct at 20/08/2017
Related MayMac Links
- Ricky Hatton: The big interview
- Mayweather v McGregor: When & where to watch
- Mayweather v McGregor: Fight week schedule
- Mayweather v McGregor: Odds update
- When is the weigh-in?
- Big Fight Schedule
- McGregor: I'll be God of boxing
- Mayweather: It won't go the distance
- Mayweather: McGregor has the edge
- Malignaggi leaves McGregor camp
- London presser: MayMac World Tour
- New York presser: MayMac World Tour
- Toronto presser: MayMac World Tour
- Los Angeles presser: MayMac World Tour