This time pals are forecasting the 28-year-old bruiser will go down on one knee and pop the question to girlfriend Dee Devlin.

The couple, who have a baby boy Conor Jr after dating for eight years, could walk down the aisle as soon as next summer in Dublin.

The UFC champ, known as The Notorious, is the second richest sportsman in Ireland after golfer Rory McIlroy.

But Mayweather, 40, has never lost in the ring and showed his class with a dominant display in the early hours of Sunday.

McGregor’s pal, who travelled to Sin City for the fight, told us that Conor will be celebrating despite the result.

He added: “The last few years have been all about his career and becoming a family.

“The Mayweather fight has taken up much of his time this year, but he’s taking a break after it.

“It’ll be the biggest wedding Dublin has seen.

“Conor doesn’t do things by halves. All he has to do now is pop the question.”

McGregor and Dee met in a Dublin nightclub in 2009 and he credits her with driving his ambition to succeed.

He once said: “She stuck by me when I had essentially nothing.”

The pay-per-view fight is officially the most lucrative boxing clash in history.

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Source: Daily Record UK

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According to him, the referee stopped the fight “a little early” and he was only “a little fatigued” in the 10th Round when he [the refree] called it off in favour of Mayweather, giving the latter another Technical Knockout win.

“I thought it was a little early with the stoppage. I would have liked to have hit the floor, he (the referee) should have let me keep going. I was just a little fatigued,” he said in an interview after the fight at Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor after winning the first three rounds had nothing left with him after Mayweather took charge and dealt him very heavy punches until the 10th round when it was quite obvious McGregor could not stand extra hits from the unbeaten champion.

Conor McGregor credited Mayweather for being composed and allowing him [McGregor] to keep throwing from the initial rounds.

At the post-fight press conference Conor McGregor was coy over whether his next fight will be in a boxing or UFC ring after an admirable professional debut against Floyd Mayweather.

Despite predictions that McGregor’s encounter against the undefeated Mayweather would be a walkover, the UFC lightweight champion held his own before eventually succumbing to a 10th-round stoppage.

The 29-year-old is keeping his options open over his next project, albeit his next bout is likely to be in UFC, with the MMA promotion’s president Dana White not keen on him boxing again.

But McGregor, himself, would consider another boxing bout, amidst speculation that he could tackle ex-sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi.

McGregor said: ‘I have many options in mixed martial arts. I’m sure there’ll be options in the boxing game.

‘I’m not quite sure what’s next. I’ve multiple titles to think about in UFC and I could also continue in the boxing game.

‘I’m a student of martial arts and fighting as a whole. It was an honour to share the ring with Floyd and get up close and personal.

‘I thought it was close – 5-4 into round 10. I would have liked to get to the bell to see what was what.

‘I’ve reached great heights and I will continue to reach great heights.

‘I have some leading contenders in the MMA game. I have a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz which is there.

‘I’m certainly fresh to fight. I was not badly damaged there.’

Clutching a bottle of Irish whiskey as he returned to the ring for the post-fight press conference, McGregor was pleased with his performance and rubbished the marks of two of the three judges who thought he had only won a solitary round.

To most observers, McGregor won the opening three rounds, before fatigue began to settle in – an issue which the Irishman feels has hampered him before.

‘It was a good fight, I thought I smoked him in the early rounds, but I tell you what, you’re one composed individual,’ said McGregor.

‘You switched up your gameplan three times. That’s what a true champion does. I have to give you a lot of respect for that.

‘I have this patch in fights which I have to overcome, when I get a bit wobbly.

‘I would have liked to see the end of round 10 and see where it brought us. But you have to take your hat off to Floyd.

‘He’s composed. He’s not that powerful, but he’s composed.

‘He was pacing his shots. I’ve got to give him a lot more respect, fair play to him.

‘He’s handy enough. That’s what 50 pro fights will give you.

‘One of the main things in camp was to go from five rounds to 12 rounds. I had to experience that 12-round fatigue.

‘In the spars, I could get to six and couldn’t see the finish line.

‘But when I got through them to round 10, and 11, I could dig deep and get that second wind.’

McGregor also admitted he was shocked by some of the comments rubbishing his chances, prior to the bout.

‘I was a little bit taken aback by the disrespect and disregard I was shown,’ he added.

‘In fairness, Floyd and his team didn’t show that.

‘But the disrespect for my skill set took me back a little bit.’

McGregor walked on stage for the press conference clutching a bottle of his own brand ‘Notorious’ whiskey.

He yelled: ‘Notorious Irish whiskey – coming soon. I’m going to take over the Irish whiskey market – and this is delicious.’

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By: Jonas Nyabor with additional resources from Daily Mail UK

The post I could’ve fought Mayweather into Round 12 – McGregor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

From motorcycle daredevil Evil Knievel to off-the-wall comedian Carrot Top, the Las Vegas strip has seen it all, but nothing quite like the crossover fight between undefeated boxer Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion McGregor.

Boxing purists have dismissed the bout as nothing more than a cash grab with McGregor in line for a $100 million pay day and Mayweather adding upwards of $200 million to push his career earnings towards the $1 billion mark.

Despite what is by most barometers a massive mismatch there is global fascination in the fight that could prove to be the richest in boxing history.

Promoters have sold the bout as “historical,” a fight that will be talked about around the world for years to come and many intrigued fight fans have bought into the hype.

A crowd of close to 20,000 is expected to fill the T-Mobile Arena, where ringside seats on resale sites are being offered for more than $100,000, with millions more around the globe watching on pay-per-view.

There will be no titles on the line, only a gaudy “Money Belt” with a strap made from crocodile leather and featuring 24 karat gold, 3,360 diamonds along with sapphires and emeralds, but much will be riding on the result.

For Mayweather it will be the culmination of a life’s work, a chance to surpass former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano, who retired with a perfect 49-0 career record.

For McGregor, a victory would give him the greatest upset in combat sports history and establish him as a crossover star able to choose big money fights in both the octagon and the ring.

The brash, charismatic Irishman, also known as ’Mystic Mac’ for accurately predicting the outcome of his fights, has gazed into his crystal ball and says he will knock out the 40-year-old American inside two rounds of the scheduled 12-round bout.

Mayweather, a 12-times world champion over five weight divisions who traditionally fights defensive battles, is also calling for a knockout, something he has not done since stopping Victor Ortiz nearly six years ago.

“I’ve said it’s not going the distance and you can mark my words,” said Mayweather. “I know that I’m in for a tough fight but there is one thing I do know, this fight is not going the distance.”

McGregor, who was on social welfare from the Irish government as recently as four years ago, is the blue collar populist champion but the bulk of the money being wagered is all in Mayweather’s corner.

Smaller bets are going on McGregor with UFC fans backing up their loyalty with their wallets. But the Las Vegas smart money is all streaming towards Mayweather with reports of several $1 million bets being laid on the ’Money Man.’

So sure is Irish bookmaker Paddy Power of the outcome that they have already paid out on a Mayweather victory.

As far as McGregor is concerned, anyone betting against him should take their money onto the Strip and set it on fire.

”I will go forward and put the pressure on and break this old man,“ said McGregor. ”I don’t see him lasting two rounds, I feel I will have the decision to end it inside one.

“He’s a beaten man. He will not be able to take the ferociousness that I come with.”

Aside from McGregor’s cocky assurances there is little in the tale of the tape to tip an upset.

Mayweather, who will bring a 49-0 record into the ring, is already recognised as one of the greatest fighters of all-time, a brilliant defensive tactician and counter puncher who has ruled the ring for 21 years.

In the other corner stands hard-hitting McGregor, a two-time world champion in the octagon making his professional boxing debut who will try to do what a long list of great fighters have been unable to do — stop Mayweather.

McGregor’s potential to register the biggest upset in boxing history rests largely with the intangibles.

As aggressive in the ring as he is outside it, the 29-year-old Irishman will have youth and power on his side.

A fearless and vicious fighter taking on an ageing boxer who hasn’t fought in almost two years, McGregor’s best shot at a victory will be connecting with a thundering left hand like the one that dropped Jose Aldo 13 seconds into their UFC featherweight championship fight.

“Everyone knows I can fight. I can give it and I can take,” said Mayweather. “After 21 years I’ve been hit with everything and I’m still right here.”

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Source: Reuters

The post Mayweather, McGregor poised for history-making fight today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The pair appeared in front of thousands of fans at a news conference in Los Angeles – the first of four events called to promote the Las Vegas fight.

“The movement, power, ferociousness – he has not experienced this,” said UFC lightweight champion McGregor, 28.

Mayweather replied: “I guarantee you’re going out on your face or your back.”

The former five-weight world champion, 40, said he was an “old man” but “still had enough” to beat McGregor, who has never boxed professionally.

He teased McGregor, claiming he “only made $3m in his last fight” and referenced the Irishman’s submission defeat by Nate Diaz in 2016, his only loss since joining UFC three years earlier.

“We know ‘Mr Tap Out’ likes to quit and you will wave that white flag,” added Mayweather.

‘Little legs, little head’

McGregor’s suit for the event contained pin-stripes which were comprised of an offensive two-word insult.

He was first to break the silence as the pair stared at one another following lengthy walks to the stage. He began dancing in front of Mayweather before both addressed the crowd with expletive-laden speeches.

“His little legs, little core, little head, I’m going to knock him out inside four rounds, mark my words,” said McGregor. “I’m a young, confident, happy man that has worked extremely hard for this.”

Global talking point

Dublin-born McGregor said the boxing match offered “a limited set of rules” and pointed to demands he says Mayweather’s team have made in agreeing to a fight which will reportedly earn each man around $100m (£78.5m)

He added: “All these rules and restrictions – the gloves have to be 10oz, give him the gloves, no problem. No Mexican-made gloves, no problem. No gloves made of horse hair, fine. All I need is a gum shield, line me up to the ring and I’m good to go.”

The fight has drawn criticism from some within boxing given McGregor’s lack of record within the sport.

As both men took to the stage, their appearance was the top trend globally on Twitter.

Mayweather retired from boxing after taking his record to 49 fights unbeaten with victory over Andre Berto in 2015.

He has held 11 major world titles but has not stopped an opponent inside the distance since 2011, a point McGregor referenced on stage.

The two men will appear at further promotional events in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday, Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday and London on Friday.

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Source: BBC

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