Jose Aldo Tweets 'Joy' Emoji After Conor McGregor's TKO Loss to Floyd Mayweather
Aug 27, 2017
Floyd Mayweather Jr. hits Conor McGregor in a super welterweight boxing match Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
Jose Aldo reacted to Conor McGregor's TKO loss to Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday with a "tears of joy" emoji on Twitter.
McGregor famously knocked out the Brazilian in just 13 seconds at UFC 194 in December 2015 to secure the featherweight title. With it, the Irishman also claimed the fastest ever knockout in a UFC title fight.
However, Aldo could not resist taking to social media after McGregor was defeated in the 10th round at the T-Mobile Arena. He clearly enjoyed the result:
McGregor lasted until the 10th round of the scheduled 12-round super welterweight fight before being stopped. Mayweather sealed the 50th win of his professional career, overtaking Rocky Marciano's 49-0 mark in the process.
The fight was not the mismatch many had predicted. McGregor acquitted himself well in his first professional boxing outing, and BBC Sport correspondent Richard Conway felt it was a respectable showing:
#mayweather 50-0 A valiant effort from #mcgregor, confounding many of his critics. Just couldn't live with the one of the all-time greats.
Speaking after the bout, McGregor said he had enjoyed his first foray into professional boxing and the experience was far different to MMA, per MMAFighting.com:
McGregor: It was a bit of fun. I have to say I enjoyed it. It was much, much different than the MMA game.
Per Bryan Armen Graham at the Guardian, Mayweather confirmed his retirement after the bout, finishing with a record of 50-0, while McGregor has yet to announce what he plans to do next.
Conor McGregor Landed More Punches vs. Floyd Mayweather Than Manny Pacquiao
Aug 27, 2017
Conor McGregor hits Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a super welterweight boxing match Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Conor McGregor may have lost in his first foray into a boxing ring, but he can claim to have made a better impression against Floyd Mayweather Jr. than Manny Pacquiao did when he faced off with the unbeaten legend.
According to MMA Fighting's Mike Chiappetta, McGregor landed 111 punches on 430 attempts over 10-plus rounds, boasting a 26 percent strike rate. Pacquiao, in comparison, had 81 punches land on 429 attempts for a 19 percent strike rate in a unanimous-decision defeat in May 2015.
McGregor far exceeded the expectations of many fans, and Mayweather said after the fight he had underestimated the UFC lightweight champion, per UFC's official Twitter account:
While McGregor arguably put on a better show than Pacquiao, Pac-Man entered his bout with Mayweather carrying a shoulder injury that subsequentlyrequired surgery.
McGregor also encountered a 40-year-old Mayweather who hadn't fought competitively in nearly two years. When he crossed paths with Pacquiao, Money was still clearly one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world and coming off a convincing victory over Marcos Maidana.
Mayweather vs. McGregor is projected to be a massive commercial success, with ESPN.com'sDan Rafaelreporting Mayweather will earn at least $100 million and McGregor will receive at least $30 million. Few, however, expected the event to provide as much excitement inside the ring, something for which both stars deserve credit.
Floyd Mayweather Reiterates Fight vs. Conor McGregor Was Last of His Career
Aug 27, 2017
LAS VEGAS, NV - AUGUST 26: Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates his TKO of Conor McGregor in their super welterweight boxing match on August 26, 2017 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images )
After improving his record to 50-0 with a technical knockout win over Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is finally ready to call it quits.
"This was my last fight, ladies and gentlemen," Mayweather told the crowd after the match, per Showtime:
The 40-year-old boxer came out of retirement to face McGregor, and he came through by ending the match in the 10th round.
Mayweather initially retired in 2015 after beating Andre Berto, the 49th win of his career to match Rocky Marciano for the most wins with an undefeated record.
However, the lure of facing the UFC star is what helped bring him back.
"If I do fight, it’s only against Conor McGregor...not against nobody else," Mayweather said in 2016, per Fox Sports. "Because this matchup is so intriguing."
He officiallycame out of retirementin May and agreed to the August bout, which saw him put his mark on history, per Bleacher Report:
With his perfect record still intact and a major payday coming his way from the revenue of this bout, it makes sense for the 40-year-old to finally end his career.
Although people might call for a rematch after an entertaining bout against McGregor, he doesn't appear willing to entertain that offer.
Miguel Cotto Beats Yoshihiro Kamegai to Win WBO Junior Middleweight Title
Aug 27, 2017
Miguel Cotto, of Puerto Rico, celebrates after defeating Daniel Geale, of Australia, during the fourth round of a boxing match Saturday, June 6, 2015, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Miguel Cotto made his return to the boxing ring Saturday night after nearly two years without a fight, and he looked the part of a veteran champion as he decimated Yoshihiro Kamegai en route to a resounding unanimous-decision victory Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.
BoxingScene.com's Francisco A. Salazar provided the cards:
Boxing fans tuning in to and sticking with the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor pay-per-view missed an entertaining bout. Cotto (41-5, 33 KOs) and Kamegai (27-4-2, 24 KOs) unloaded on each other for 12 rounds, with haymaker after haymaker finding the range.
This still from HBO Boxing encapsulates the fight:
Cotto was the superior boxer from the first second to the last, but he had to work to claim the vacant WBO world super welterweight title. Some day, scientists will have to study whatever indestructible alloy the Japanese boxer's chin is made of.
CompuBox showed Cotto hit some personal bests in the match:
The fight was the 36-year-old Puerto Rican's return from a 21-month layoff following his resounding decision loss to Canelo Alvarez in November 2015. It could be his second-to-last fight, as he plans to retire at the end of the year.
"Sixteen years is enough, and I have other things to do in life," Cotto told reporters, per the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire. "I have to … quit boxing and retire [by] Dec. 31."
In a post-match interview, Cotto confirmed he will have one more fight in December, per the HBO broadcast.
Kamegai's power and speed were apparent early, establishing him as a worthwhile opponent. He found the target on several stinging power punches. Cotto matched Kamegai's activity and showed excellent timing on a counter left hook at the end of the first round.
UCNLive.com's Steve Kim appreciated Kamegai's intensity:
Seriously, Kamegai is making Cotto use his legs early, I like his pressure here.. #boxing
— Steve Kim - the Thomas Sowell of Boxing (@SteveKim323) August 27, 2017
The two managed to ratchet up the intensity in the second round, and Cotto bloodied Kamegai's nose and lip. Cotto normally is solid in defense, but he took some great shots even as he maintained the upper hand early on.
HBO Boxing showed the two trading punches at the end of the second round:
The all-out display from Kamegai, only two years Cotto's junior, appeared designed to test the lungs and heart of the soon-to-be retired opponent. He waded through devastating punches, forcing Cotto to keep up a furious pace.
Actress Rosie Perez marveled at the Japanese boxer's ability to withstand these blows:
Kamegai did seem to relish the punishment, as if it helped him tap into a wellspring of energy. Cotto did better to protect himself in the middle rounds while maintaining his speed, precision and power.
Here's Cotto connecting at will in Round 5, per HBO Boxing:
The bout eventually slowed in the later rounds. Kamegai's willpower and chin were unbelievable, but he was never able to outbox or outpunch his Hall of Fame-worthy opponent.
Boxing scribe William Dettloff summed up Kamegai's ability to tolerate pain:
Cotto just climbed to the top rope and dropped a grand piano on Kamegai's head. Nothing.
Kamegai flashed at times in the late rounds as Cotto's stamina waned, but he was never quite skillful enough to take advantage. The match became all too repetitive by the end, with Cotto proving himself better throughout.
Cotto appears intent on retiring, but the fight Saturday showed he has more left in the tank than even he might've expected. Whichever boxer gets Cotto at the end of the calendar year will have his hands full. He still has some excellent boxing left in him.
Las Vegas TMT Billboard Vandalized with Irish Flag
Looks like Conor McGregor has some serious fan support for Saturday's fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
It's likely one or more McGregor supporters went the extra mile to show their affection for the Irishman in his first pro boxing match and chose one of Mayweather's Las Vegas billboards as the venue.
Vandals targeted a billboard advertising Mayweather's TMT (The Money Team) collective, painting an Irish flag over the web address and the record "49-1" just above it, indicating that Mayweather's 50th fight will also serve as his first loss.
[Twitter]
Miguel Cotto vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai: Fight Time, Date, Live Stream and TV Info
Alex Ballentine
Aug 24, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 16: Miguel Cotto trains during a media workout on August 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
Want to watch some high-level boxing without dropping a ton of money on Saturday? Miguel Cotto and Yoshihiro Kamegai have got you covered.
While Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. bring a fantasy fight to reality, multi-division champion Cotto will take on Japanese brawler Kamegai in a WBO Junior Middleweight title bout that could set up the end of Cotto's career.
Cotto has always been known for his ultra-aggressive style. Kamegai isn't tentative, either. It's the set up for a quality fight that will have boxing purists making a hard decision as to what they'll watch on Saturday night.
Here's a look at all the information you'll need to catch the fight and a prediction for who will come out on top.
At 36 years old, Cotto's glory days are behind him. Those glory days included fighting the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Shane Mosley and Zab Judah. His hard-charging style made him a multi-division champion in some of the prime weight classes of his generation.
Now, he's focused on putting in a few more quality fights before calling it a career.
The Puerto Rican has a firm date in mind for his retirement and it's right on the horizon.
"I think that 16 years is enough, and I have other things to do in my life," Cotto said, per Dan Rafael of ESPN. "You know, I'm taking care of my family better, and that is the biggest and only reason that I have to stop boxing and quit boxing and retire after Dec. 31st this year."
Just how much Cotto has left to give in the ring will be an interesting subplot against Kamegai. He hasn't been in the ring since losing to Canelo Alvarez in November 2015.
With the possibility of setting up a big fight against the likes of Alvarez as his retirement fight later in the year, an impressive win against Kamegai would set the stage nicely.
How Kamegai Got Here
While this amounts to a tune-up bout for Cotto, this is the biggest fight that Kamegai has been a part of. The 34-year-old doesn't have nearly the same experience as his opponent on Saturday, but he has been involved in a few slugfests, most notably a unanimous decision loss to Robert Guerrero.
One advantage the underdog will have is that he's been the more active fighter of late. While Cotto has taken nearly two years off between fights, Kamegai is coming off back-to-back fights with Jesus Soto Karass.
In those bouts, Kamagei fought to a draw and earned a stoppage victory.
He'll look to assert some volume and aggression on Cotto, which at the least should make it an interesting fight with plenty of exchanges.
Prediction
Whether Cotto can still compete with the likes of Alvarez and the elites in his division is unclear, but it would take quite a bit of skill erosion for Cotto to be in danger of losing to his opponent on Saturday.
Kamegai is unrefined and doesn't have the technical prowess to put Cotto in compromising situations. A firefight suits Cotto's style just fine, and Kamegai will find that out the hard way. It's a likely reason that Cotto chose to fight him in the first place.
"Kamegai is the best opponent for me right now in my career—he is a warrior in the ring. When we were looking through our options, he was one of the first names that popped up," Cotto said, per Scott Christ of Bad Left Hook. "I don't really worry about what or how my opponent trains - all that matters is how well our team prepares."
Translation?
Cotto knows that Kamegai is going to pose just enough danger to let him know where he stands before the final fight of his career without actually being a threat to win the fight. Expect Cotto to shake off some cobwebs early, but he'll slowly take command of the fight and leave no doubt by the end.
UFC president Dana White, center, intervenes as Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor exchange words during a news conference at Staples Center Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in Los Angeles. The two will fight in a boxing match in Las Vegas on Aug. 26. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Floyd Mayweather Jr. has predicted his fight with Conor McGregor will not go the distance on Saturday, as the pair battle in Las Vegas.
Arash Markazi of ESPN quoted Money as he made his comments on the forthcoming bout:
It appears McGregor agrees with Mayweather's sentiments after he said he would defeat the legendary boxer inside two rounds.
Per BBC Sport, the Irish superstar said he would complete the job in a matter of minutes, but if Mayweather lasted longer than two rounds, he would then opt to either "embarrass him or put him out of his misery."
The fight will take place at super welterweight, with the world focused on the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada for one of the biggest fights in sporting history.
Mayweather vs. McGregor: Early-Week Comments from Money and Notorious
Chris Roling
Aug 22, 2017
Conor McGregor has his hands wrapped before a media workout Friday, Aug. 11, 2017, in Las Vegas. McGregor is scheduled to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a boxing match Aug. 26 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Trash talk lines the path to a showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor.
What, expect something else?
Money and Notorious, respectively, couldn't resist the urge to step into the ring, not only because fans kept asking for it and the untold dollar signs attached to such a bout, but because of the verbal shade thrown at one another until things went final.
What comes out of both men's mouths is about as predictable as what will happen after the two touch gloves on Saturday night on Showtime. The full main card, outlined below, starts at 9 p.m. ET:
Floyd Mayweather Jr. (USA, 49-0) vs. Conor McGregor (IRE, debut), light middleweight
Gervonta Davis (USA, 18-0) vs. Francisco Fonseca (CRC, 19-0-1), IBF super featherweight title
Nathan Cleverly (GBR, 30-3) vs. Badou Jack (SWE, 21-1-2), WBA (regular) light heavyweight title
Andrew Tabiti (USA, 14-0) vs. Steve Cunningham (USA, 29-8-1), USBA cruiserweight title
On an initial pass, all the pressure seems to sit on Mayweather's shoulders. He's the guy with all the experience in this arena, after all, the guy hoping to likely fade into retirement at 50-0 and the one Las Vegas oddsmakers like at a -400 clip, according to Joe Osborneof OddsShark.
This doesn't make the comments coming from Money any less aggressive than usual, but it hasn't seemed to make McGregor a little less vocal than usual.
Notorious has never lacked for confidence, obviously. When talking with the media about glove rulings by the Nevada State Athletic Commission because both men use different-sized gloves in their respective sports, McGregor couldn't help but throw some cocky shade in there as well.
"We are prepared for every possible outcome," McGregor said, according to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael. "Part of me wants to show some skill and dismantle him that way, [but] I'm ready to put him away in the first 10 seconds."
So goes the beauty of this bout, right? Not only is McGregor coming over from a different sport, variables such as the ounce sizes of the gloves explain why the odds don't swing crazily heavy in Mayweather's favor.
As for Money himself, he's well aware one of the hottest topics surrounding the bout is whether his opponent will stick to the rules of boxing or get loose with his approach. After watching McGregor's sparring sessions, Mayweather noted his observations with Adam Silversteinof CBSSports.com:
"I see a lot of rabbit punches behind the head, grappling, wrestling, illegal shots. But the ref will be fair on both sides; I want him to be even. I want us to have a good solid fight."
It's a more grounded Mayweather than fans are perhaps used to seeing. The fact he's willing to put one of boxing's most prestigious records on the line for a fight like this is either brazenly silly in search of a big payday or the confidence of a legend wanting to add to his legacy, depending on who answers the question.
Mayweather seems to fall heavily in the latter camp, as captured by CBS News:
"This fight is happening because I believe in myself...” Floyd Mayweather meets with #CBSNOA ahead of his fight with Conor McGregor pic.twitter.com/Qd2lYmhBcE
The somewhat reserved Mayweather is a good example of the unknown element surrounding this entire blockbuster ordeal, where only heavy financial numbers and countless sets of eyeballs on the bout register as sure things.
In the ring, it's unknown how McGregor will look from a boxing-only standpoint, let alone against an all-time legend. And with Mayweather, it's a big unknown where his game is at. He's been on point every time he's come back to the ring so far, but he is 40 years old while seeking out win No. 50.
The same unknowns apply outside of the ring. As we have seen on the wild buildup to the spectacle, what either man will say at random is one of the biggest draws to the bout itself.
On the continued march to one of the year's biggest events, keep a close eye on what both men have to say—if the fight itself isn't one of the most memorable details, the banter certainly will be.
Mayweather vs. McGregor Predictions: Early Scorecard Projections for Superfight
Aug 21, 2017
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: (R-L) Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. face off during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor World Press Tour event at SSE Arena on July 14, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
On Saturday, August 26, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor will meet at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, in perhaps the biggest crossover in professional fighting history.
UFC lightweight champion McGregor will make his boxing debut and attempt to become the first man to beat 11-time boxing world champion Mayweather, who has come out of retirement to put his 49-0 record on the line.
Despite the Irishman's lack of experience in regards to the sweet science, the American would have you believe it is he who is the underdog ahead of the clash.
Speaking to ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, Mayweather believes McGregor's youth and reach make him the favourite for their bout:
The Notorious, 29, is 11 years Money's junior, and while he rarely appeared at risk of losing his unbeaten record during the latter years of his career, his powers did wane somewhat.
His last knockout victory came against Vicor Ortiz in 2011, and that was just his second since 2005.
Mayweather said, "I'm not what I used to be," adding: "I'm older. I'm not the same fighter I was two years ago. I'm not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step."
The 40-year-old also pledged to be more aggressive than usual and step out of his comfort zone: "This can't be a defensive fight. I have to go to him. I owe the public because of the [Manny] Pacquiao fight. They weren't pleased with that. They're gonna be pleased with this fight here."
Sports broadcaster Colin Cowherd doesn't buy it, however:
Floyd Mayweather's comments about "losing a step" and "changing his fighting style" mean absolutely nothing pic.twitter.com/kZA61AA8kA
Indeed, for all of McGregor's talent in the Octagon, that doesn't necessarily translate into the boxing ring, so it's in the interest of both fighters to sell it as a close contest.
Mayweather's defensive skills are legendary, though, so it does seem unlikely he'd abandon the platform his 49-0 record was built on or that McGregor can overcome it given his lack of boxing pedigree.
MMA writer Patrick Wyman believes the distance between them to be significant in terms of ability:
The Notorious has a great deal of power on his side, and he's capable of absorbing strikes, but at most he only has a puncher's chance of knocking out Mayweather, even if Money follows through on his pledge to come out swinging.
If the fight goes the distance—which seems likely given Mayweather's struggles to knock out his opponents in recent years—the American's superior boxing ability should shine through to a decision win.
Scorecard prediction: Mayweather wins via unanimous decision, 117-111, 118-110, 118-110
Sugar Shane Mosley Says He Retired from Boxing Due to Botched Elbow Surgery
Aug 16, 2017
LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 12: Boxer 'Sugar' Shane Mosley attends the VIP Pre-Fight Party for 'High Stakes: Mayweather v. Berto' presented by Showtime at MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 12, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Showtime)
Boxing legend Shane Mosley told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael on Tuesday that he has retired from the sport, and he blamed a botched elbow operation as the reason behind his decision.
Mosley said Wednesday he had looked ahead to fights in 2017 and 2018 before "fate, if you will, stepped in," per Rafael:
"I went in for a minor arthroscopic surgery to remove a couple loose bone fragments from my elbow and the surgery turned into a whole ordeal after the surgeon admittedly 'accidentally' burned me on my forearm, leading to a sick infection and needing like four or five days of IV antibiotics and two weeks of antibiotics at home. It was crazy and surreal to learn that I could never fight again."
Mosley added that his right arm is "ruined."
In his previous interview with Rafael, Mosley said his knees and shoulders were troublesome as well, while his back was "starting to break down."
The 45-year-old finishes his illustrious career with a 49-10-1 record. His last fight was a loss to David Avanesyan on May 28, 2016.
Back-to-back losses to both Vernon Forrest and Winky Wright prevent Mosley from being considered one of the top boxers ever. He also fell to Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Canelo Alvarez in the space of four fights.
Still, Mosley was one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world in his prime. After defeatingPhilip Holiday for the IBF lightweight title in 1997, he reeled off eight successful title defenses, seven of which ended in knockouts. He also owned two victories over Oscar De La Hoya, the first coming in 2000 and the second in 2003, and shocked many fans when he knocked out Antonio Margarito in 2009.
