By Mark Vasto
In the halcyon days of the 1970s and ’80s, a car company then called Datsun used to saturate the airwaves during televised sporting events. Famous for its sporty “Z” cars (the 240Z, 260Z and 280ZX), Datsun extolled the gas-saving virtues of its brand, cheerfully urging would-be drivers to “put your money in the bank, not in the tank.”
That admonition would work well in today’s world of boxing, too. Last year saw the passing of the “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) and the continued win streak of “The Best Ever” (TBE). While Muhammad Ali can no longer reap the dividends from his illustrious career, Floyd “Money” Mayweather is still in fighting shape at 39 years of age, and he is in possession of what is really the sole marketing gimmick left in professional boxing – an unbeaten record of 49-0.
If you were a betting man, you would think an ego-driven boxer who has never really been challenged or hit hard more than once outside of the “Sugar” Shane Mosley fight would like the all-time unbeaten boxing record all to himself. He’s tied with Rocky Marciano, but your bettor’s hunch just may prove to be correct: Mayweather himself has trademarked the term “TBE 50-0.” So conditions appear to right.
Mayweather is the greatest defensive boxer who ever lived. I’ve watched thousands of fights, and I have never seen anyone protect himself any better. Ali was harder to hit, and he moved around the ring better, but Mayweather’s ability to fend off blows like a horse flicking off flies with his tail is unmatched across any era. The problem is that his style is epically boring, and as boxing continues to look for its next ratings savior, he’s not helping.
Enter Conor McGregor, the baddest man on the planet. He holds two UFC belts in two different weight classes and has a record of 21-3, which translated to a boxing record would be more like 100-3 (factor in that MMA fighters use more of their body to strike, and the sheer overall violence). With the loss of Rhonda Rousey, he is the most visible and popular champion in the fight game.
Also, he is game to fight Mayweather. Let’s face it, Mayweather has nobody to face who would command the nine-figure payout he is demanding. Nobody is going to fall for another pay-per-view disaster like Mayweather-Pacquio II. A fight against McGregor would more than live up to the hype, if only to showcase the merits of boxing as a fighting style as it continues to lose mindshare to MMA.
Also, it would be an easy fight for Mayweather. Vegas oddsmakers already have the fight at -2250/+980 in favor of Mayweather (meaning you’d have to wager $2,250 on Mayweather to win $100, $100 on McGregor to win $980), but you don’t need to be an expert to call this one. Keep your money in the bank – McGregor won’t tank, but Mayweather has plenty of gas left in his. It would be the greatest upset in sports history and certainly worth watching … that much you can bet. Let’s get it on.
Mark Vasto is a veteran sportswriter who lives in New Jersey.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
