“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,” the 40-year-old Mayweather said of McGregor, 29. “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.”
None of that is untrue. Besides the 11-year age difference, McGregor is an inch taller and has a two-inch reach advantage. Mayweather last fought in September 2015, easily beating Andre Berto by unanimous decision; McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez via TKO at UFC 205 in November.
But come on, Floyd, enough with the sad-sack routine.
“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 said. “A fighter like Andre Berto isn’t even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38. It’s obvious I’m slipping a little bit to even let a fighter like that go the distance with me.
“I’m not what I used to be.”
This is all very peculiar behavior from a man who has never been known for his modesty. But Mayweather also knows that he has to sell a novelty bout that most observers think won’t be particularly close, and when you consider some of the news coming out about possibly lackluster ticket sales . . .
“$3,684: Average ticket price paid on resale site @VividSeats for Mayweather-McGregor, tracking down 5% vs Mayweather-Pacquiao average,” tweeted Darren Rovell.