The Aug. 26 crossover clash between ring star Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial artist Conor McGregor is all about the ‘Benjamins,’ according to boxing personages interviewed by the Bulletin yesterday.
When word spread that Mayweather and McGregor are facing off in a boxing ring, Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach had a ready-made comment.
“A money game,” Roach said from General Santos City where he is helping Manny Pacquiao get ready for a July 2 date with Jeff Horn in Brisbane.
Roach, 57, who has trained Pacquiao since 2001, insists there is “no way McGregor wins the fight.”
“No chance at all,” said Roach as boxing rules will be applied in the match that has the sport world abuzz with excitement and curiosity.
Roach had been widely quoted that McGregor needs five years to become ultra competitive in the fight game.
Two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa readily agrees.
“Easy fight, easy money for Moneyman (Mayweather),” said Penalosa, who predicts a late-rounds KO win of a “entertaining fight.”
Michael Aldeguer, the country’s premier promoter, insists that the fight will benefit “boxing and the UFC” as the matchup “is a brilliant idea.”
While the pairing seems one-sided in favor of Mayweather, Aldeguer swears that “on the business side, putting together two huge industries in one event is the ost brilliant move anyone could think of.”
But Ed Picson, executive director of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines maintains that “if McGregor can raise his level of boxing competency near that of Mayweather, then perhaps it might be worth watching.”
