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Mayweather and McGregor face off in unique bout

Davis VanOpdorp AP, Reuters
August 25, 2017

After months of public banter, undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and mixed martial arts icon Conor McGregor clash Saturday in an unconventional boxing match. The prize? A diamond-studded "Money Belt" and dollars galore.

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Boxen Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour - London
Image: Getty Images/M. Lewis

Their two-month profanity-laden hype tour is over, which means it is time for Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor to finally strap on the gloves and step into the ring in Las Vegas.

The two had visited Los Angeles, Toronto, Brooklyn and London to promote the fight, exchanging verbal snipes at each other laced with expletives.

Read more: The staggering numbers behind Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor

Mayweather, 40, will be putting his undefeated boxing record on the line in the 50th fight of his career. The American is a former quintuple champion, holding the World Boxing Council's (WBC) super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight championships before he relinquished his titles after he announced his retirement.

But his opponent will be a little different than his previous 49 as Mixed Martial Arts is McGregor's specialty. McGregor, 29, is the reigning lightweight champion in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and was the featherweight champion until he vacated the title in November 2016.

But how will the Irishman deal with a straight boxing match rather than MMA?

"Conor McGregor had a hell of a career, he's still got a hell of a career," said Mayweather during a press conference. "He's a hell of a fighter, he's a stand up guy, a tough competitor.

"It's not going to be an easy fight. There will be blood sweat and tears Saturday."

Money belt on the line

The contest has been billed "The Money Fight," topping a four-bout card at the T-Mobile Arena near Las Vegas that will air on pay-per-view television.

That title is appropriate considering the purse both Mayweather and McGregor will earn for the fight. Mayweather is expected to garner at least $100 million (84 million euros) and McGregor at least $75 million. Both fighters have signed non-disclosure agreements keeping official purse figures secret.

Though the bout is not for any real championship, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman revealed in a press conference that the fighters will be vying for the "Money Belt." The prize belt is studded with 3,360 diamonds, 600 sapphires, 300 emeralds and 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of 24-karat gold on Italian green alligator leather.

There are still thousands of tickets left unsold but there remains intrigue across the boxing world as to how McGregor will fare.