Big money on McGregor to down Mayweather in Vegas mega-fight

AFTER months of back-and-forth sledging and ‘will they, won’t they’ speculation, Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are locked in for one of the most highly anticipated fights of all time.

The two are scheduled to duke it out in Las Vegas on August 26 in a must-see event that is expected to shatter Pay Per View records worldwide.

Social media went into meltdown on Wednesday night when both parties confirmed the news via Twitter.

Even though he is coming out of retirement for this one-off bout, ‘Money’ Mayweather is the short-priced favourite with online bookmakers.

Undefeated in 49 professional fights, the 40-year-old American is pegged at only -666.67 for the win at Sportsbet.com.au.

Yet the early betting is all on McGregor.

Having opened at +500, the Irishman has come in half a dollar in only a matter of hours.

Australian bookies are reporting that ‘The Notorious’ is drawing 10 times as much money as Mayweather.

“This is the biggest fight in history with the two superstars of both sports finally settling their scores in the ring,” said Sportsbet’s Will Byrne.

“Mayweather has the obvious advantage and is the rightful favourite in our eyes but the punters are predicting notorious Conor McGregor is going to shock the world once again.”

McGregor is the only person in Ultimate Fighting Championship history to hold multiple title belts at the same time.

Even so, many observers are questioning whether the MMA superstar has the boxing chops to hang with a man widely regarded as the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time.

Mayweather has won world titles in five different weight classes – a feat matched only by Thomas Hearns, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.

Known for a flawless technique and a sharp tactical mind, ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd is paying -109.89 at Sportsbet to win by knockout.

Yet McGregor, never short of confidence, has insisted repeatedly that his command of the Sweet Science will leave millions chewing on humble pie.

“When I step in there, I’ll shock the whole [expletive] world. Trust me on that,” the Dubliner told reporters back in March.

“Look me in the eyes. Twenty-eight years of age. Confident as a mother [expletive]. Long, rangy, dangerous with every hand.

“Trust me, I’m going to stop Floyd.

“You’re all going to eat your words. The whole world is going to eat their words.”

It would appear plenty of punters are buying the hype, as McGregor has firmed from +710 into +650 to win by knockout.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor betting markets

All odds courtesy of Sportsbet.com.au

Head-to-head

-666.67 – Mayweather
+450 – McGregor

Method of victory

-109.89 – Mayweather by KO/TKO
+130 – Mayweather on points/decision
+650 – McGregor by KO/TKO
+2000 – McGregor on points/decision
+3300 – Draw

Mayweather round betting

+535 – Win in round seven or eight
+585 – Win in round nine or 10
+710 – Win in round five or six
+940 – Win in round three or four
+1800 – Win in round one or two

McGregor round betting

+2100 – Win in round three or four
+2300 – Win in round one or two
+2600 – Win in round five, six, seven, or eight
+2900 – Win in round nine or 10