Mayweather, McGregor prepare to punch each other in the face

(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

published 25 August 2017

Brace yourself: The highly anticipated boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will finally take place Saturday night in Las Vegas. The bout has been years in the making, stemming from a 2015 interview with Conan O'Brien in which McGregor said, "I would box [Mayweather] if the opportunity arose."

The spectacle may end up being the most heavily bet-upon boxing match ever. Millions of dollars are tied to the fight, ESPN explains: fees from about 4.6 million pay-per-view purchases; more than $72 million in ticket sales; about $600 million in total revenue. Bookmakers additionally expect to handle more than $60 million in wagers, topping the roughly $50 million received for the record-setting bout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015. Multiple $1 million bets were placed on Mayweather on Thursday, ESPN reports; while more bets have been placed on McGregor, more money overall has been wagered on a Mayweather victory.

Mayweather, 40, is stepping into the ring for the first time in two years for the grudge match against McGregor. He's also putting his undefeated record on the line against the 29-year-old Irishman, a trained mixed martial artist who has never boxed professionally. The lead-up to the match has been marred by ugly press, including racially charged remarks by McGregor and the use of a homophobic slur by Mayweather.