Marmite McGregor divides opinion as he masters the mic on ‘Money’ Mayweather

Everybody else is having their say when it comes to Mayweather v McGregor, so I might as well have my turn - I enjoy it.
There you go, that’s probably 90 per cent of the readers gone onto the next page already, but the truth of the event is that it is compelling theater.
Calling it sport might be a bit of a stretch, but it is pure entertainment and no matter what the outcome of the fight on 26th August, the build-up last week was unlike anything we have ever seen before.
When a legendary trash-talker like Floyd Mayweather is allowed on the same stage as the self-styled King of character assassination Conor McGregor then sparks were always going to fly - and the fight fans in Los Angeles, Toronto, Brooklyn and London certainly got what they wanted. Fiery, confrontational, electric and highly amusing - the promotion tour had it all.
Unfamiliar with the boxing format of talking from a podium and talking trash about an opponent for five minutes was unknown territory for McGregor and the first outing in LA was difficult for him.
The Crumlin crusher found his stride in Toronto where he tethered on the edge of his calm when Mayweather had the temerity to wrap himself in the Irish tricolour.
McGregor was in peak form in Canada. After blasting the Showtime CEO Stephen Espinoza for cutting off his microphone in LA he had a free rein to interject whenever he felt the need in Toronto and it made for comedy gold.
When Mayweather proclaimed he was “40 years old, but looked 20”, McGregor piped up with “but you act 10” that rocked the 49-0 former 12-time, five-weight World champion.
Then when the Michigan man produced a schoolbag on stage McGregor questioned his need for a schoolbag when he “couldn’t even read”.
It was all classic McGregor, quick quips, off the cuff style while Mayweather’s taunts were all rehearsed, repeated drivel about “Hard Work! Dedication!’ and “All work is what? Easy work!”.
There is no doubting Mayweather’s boxing class and if it turns out to be a straight fight in Las Vegas on 26th August it is difficult to see how McGregor will get to land too many punches on the American.
However, if anyone deserves to be punched repeatedly in the head it is Mayweather - an obnoxious, greedy, selfish, careless man who flaunts money as if it gives him the God-given right to do as he pleases.
Mayweather beats women - and I don’t mean inside the squared circle. He has been convicted for battery against women and coupled with the huge sums of money he allegedly owes the Inland Revenue Service in the US, has made him hugely unpopular even in his home country.
McGregor is no angel either, but there is a sense that his image is a manufactured one, made for the TV and the public.
When it comes to ‘hard work’, McGregor certainly hasn’t shied away and as the microphones were being turned off after his press conference in London on Friday he gave a glimpse into his true self.
“When it’s all said and done, I’ve certainly raised the bar (for MMA fighters). Forget that, though, it’s even for the average person,” he told the departing press.
“Four years ago, I fought at the HMV Forum, Kentish Town London in front of 500 people. Four years ago! Look at tonight, this arena is full for a press conference.
“Never mind motivating for UFC fighters and raising that bar. Humans, people on their own journey can see that anything can be achieved and it can be achieved like that [snaps fingers] if you put your head down, you work, you believe in yourself, and speak with confidence. Whatever you want to do, you speak it loud and with no fear and, no matter what people say, it happens.
“That’s something I can take with me. That inspires and motivates me right back,” concluded Mystic Mac.
His personal misdemeanors aside Mayweather has been a fading star who has survived by reputation more so than anything else in the vast majority of fights in the latter end of his career.
Mayweather’s last knockout was against Victor Ortiz in September 2011. His previous knockout was when he TKO’d Ricky Hatton in ‘07. He has won 12 of his last 14 fights on points, nine of those were unanimous decisions, but in the majority decision fights and the splits decision ones he can consider himself Floyd ‘Lucky’ Mayweather.
Thirteen of Mayweather’s knock-outs came in his first 15 fights between 1996 and 1998. He then had two knock-outs in his next eight fights, so now he is hardly the punching machine he once was.
Mayweather will find McGregor difficult to hit and when he does find him his punching power is gone. McGregor is used to taking flying punches from 4oz gloves as well as kicks to the head, such just how a blow from a 40-year-old who hasn’t fought in two years will damage him remains to be seem.
Mayweather’s best hope, just as it was against Pacquiao, Berto, Maidana and Canelo Alverez, is to wear down the Irish man.
If the fight drags into the latter stages McGregor might struggle, but if he can stun ‘Money’ early on then the American may just have to cash out.