Tuesday, July 25, 2017
L:ate Summer Scuffle
Floyd Mayweather Conor McGregor
On August
26th, Floyd Mayweather is scheduled to fight Conor
McGregor in Paradise, Nevada. Boxing fans, and those who pay
attention to mixed martial arts, cannot wait for the event. It will
undoubdtedly be the largest payday for all involved; the fighters,
their entourage, the lawyers, the event host, the television people,
and yes, the taxman. Apparently, Mayweather already owes the taxman
several hundred thousand dollars.
It will also
be the most publicized, nost hyped event in, dare I say, American
history. And yes, the promoters did slip north of the American
border with the fighters to promote the event in Toronto, as part of
an eight-city tour. If you happen to see these two, with a smiling
Dana White standing behind them, cover your children's ears. There
will be a stream of profanities from each of the fighters, all in the
name of promotion.
Neither of
the two opponents was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. McGregor
apprenticed as a plumber before entering the world of mixed martial
arts. Mayweather grew up in a difficult world, often surrounded by
addicts. Mayweather's father was a prize fighter, and often took his
son to the gym.
Floyd
Mayweather had a brilliant professional career, never defeated. The
sports network, ESPN, ranked Mayweather as the greatest fighter,
pound for pound, of the last 25 years. He is similar in stature to
McGregor, around 155 pounds, roughly 5' 10”. Sometimes referred to
as “Pretty Boy”, Mayweather was once listed by Forbes Magazine as
“the highest paid athlete in the world”. Mayweather was born in
1977, and is now 40 years old.
McGregor is
29 years old, and that may prove to be advatageous to the Irishman.
He began scrapping in the world of martial arts in 2008, and rose in
the ranks to become the reigning lightweight champion. He fights
under the arm of the “UFC”, the Ultimate Fighting group headed by
Dana White.
This is not
the first time that combattants from different worlds have met in the
ring. Apparently, boxing rules will be used in this event. But don't
be surprised if the rules won't be slightly twisted. Athletes from
many sports worlds have sparred in the ring over the years. “The
Big Train”, Lionel Conacher, went a few rounds with Jack Dempsey.
Wilt “The Stilt” Chamberlain strapped on the gloves for a few
extra bucks. Even baseball's Jose Canseco pulled on the gloves for a
few rounds. Even Justin Trudeau, our Prime Minister, went a few friendly rounds!
Justin Trudeau with James Hurst
But this
event has the flavour of battling kangaroos, or scuffling clawless
bears.
There is one
certainty that will result from this match. Someone will demand a
rematch. And another to follow, until the public decides that enough
is enough.
When they
step into the ring in August, each fighter will wear ten ounce
gloves. Once done, they will both have a few bruises, and fatter bank
accounts. But they won't get a dime from me.
I didn't
even watch Michael Phelps and the shark.
James Hurst
July 24,
2017.
# posted by James Hurst @ 3:18 PM 
