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Gloves are off for McGregor-Mayweather fight — metaphorically, of course

Mayweather McGregor

Jae C. Hong / AP

Boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor exchange words during a news conference at Staples Center Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. The two are scheduled to fight in a boxing match in Las Vegas on Aug. 26.

Information

• Tickets: $1,495 to $11,782 at ticketmaster.com or T-Mobile Arena box office

• Pay-per-view: $89.95 for standard definition, $99.95 for high definition

• Betting Odds: Floyd Mayweather minus-600 (risking $6 to win $1); Conor McGregor plus-450 (risking $1 to win $4.50)

When to tune in

Card begins at 3 p.m. Aug. 26 at T-Mobile Arena with the pay-per-view beginning at 6 p.m., and the main event estimated for 8:30 p.m.

In June, Conor McGregor preempted Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s chance to announce that their megafight was official by posting a photo on social media with himself next to Floyd Mayweather Sr. accompanied by the caption, “the fight is on.”

The post was a cheeky jab at the 40-year-old Mayweather Jr.’s age. And Mayweather Jr. got in his own quips shortly before the announcement.

He mocked McGregor through his own accounts for a report, albeit an erroneous one, that the fighter had only earned $2.5 million in the UFC and for tapping out in a fight against Nate Diaz last year.

“We know Mr. Tapout likes to quit,” Mayweather Jr. said at their first joint press conference.

There was never any doubt that, for better or for worse, the promotional aspect of the match between the two brash superstars would be memorable. On Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, the world will find out if the fight can produce similarly, despite McGregor boxing professionally for the first time against arguably the sport’s all-time greatest fighter.

Here’s an annotated guide to the war of words over the past two months over what could go down as the most profitable boxing match in history.

July 11, Los Angeles

"He’s in a (expletive) track suit. He can’t even afford a suit anymore. The Rolls (Royce) is a 2012 outside.”

— McGregor, alluding to Mayweather’s reported tax issues, during the first stop of their world press tour.

July 14, London

"(UFC President Dana White) don’t have to wear no suit. I ain’t got to wear no suit. Me and (White) got the most money. ... Twenty-one years ago, we had a game plan. We’re the smart ones when it’s all said and done. We’re going to take these small fighters and we’re going to use them.”

— Mayweather, poking fun at McGregor for answering to White and not being his own promoter, at the final stop of the tour.

July 12, Toronto

"I think he’s broke. You’re looking at a man crumbling from every angle — from a physicality standpoint, from a financial standpoint. Look, he’s 40 years of age, and look at him, he’s dressed up like a little kid up there pulling stuff out of a schoolbag.”

— McGregor doubled down on taunting Mayweather.

Aug. 10, Las Vegas

"He stole my blueprint and ran with it, but it’s all right. I’ve been doing the mink coats and flashiness years ago...Any Lamborghini you see me in, you know I own it. Any mansion you see me in, you know it’s paid for. ... I live next door to (Gavin) Maloof, and where we live you have to go through two gates. We’re living top flight, top shelf, crème de le crème — no rented cars for training camp.”

— Mayweather needled McGregor for renting luxury cars and a mansion while preparing for the fight.

July 11, Los Angeles

"His little legs, his little core, his little head — I’m going to knock him out inside of four rounds. Mark my words.”

— McGregor, who’s bigger and taller, made a bold finishing prediction that he’s stuck to ever since.

July 11, Los Angeles

"I ain’t backing down from nobody. You line them up, and I knock them down like bowling pins, and on August 26, I’m going to knock this (expletive) out too.”

— Mayweather promised a KO, what would be his 27th in 50 career fights.

July 13, Brooklyn

"Yeah right, you haven’t knocked nobody out in 20 years. Dance for me, boy.”

— McGregor responded to the knockout threats while Mayweather shadow-boxed in front of him in comments widely condemned as racially insensitive (Mayweather’s last KO was actually in 2011).

Aug. 9, ESPN

"This is for a cause. This is for the American people. This is for all the blacks around the world.”

— Mayweather spoke of new motivation following McGregor’s comment.

Aug. 11, Las Vegas

"It’s a weak move on his part to try to instigate something, and something so sensitive ... But that’s the individual he is — He’s a man that beats his wife in front of his kids.”

— McGregor told MMA Fighting, referencing Mayweather’s 2011 domestic violence conviction after the boxer accused him of racism.

Aug. 11, Las Vegas

"This is a fight that has been in my crosshairs since Floyd’s been opening his mouth, simple as that. I see a beaten man in his eyes, in his body language, in everything he does. I’m going to knock him out bad. He’s too small. I know he’s got good reflexes. I know he’s experienced. I don’t care — I hit you, you fall, and that’s it. He will be unconscious.”

— McGregor in his final media appearance before fight week.

July 11, Los Angeles

"You will wave that white flag because you can choose what way you want to go out, because I do know this — You can go out on your face or you can go out on your back.”

— Mayweather, while looking directly at McGregor.

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