Earlier this week, it was announced that all-time boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. would be coming out of retirement to box UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor. The bout had been in the news for over a year but many believed the fight was purely a promotional stunt, and when it was announced for Aug. 26th in Las Vegas, Nevada, many people in boxing were against it. For instance, trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas said the bout wouldn’t be competitive and boxing promoter Kathy Duva said “it’s not boxing, it’s a pop cultural event.”

But not everyone in boxing is against the fight. Olympic gold medalist and current WBA, IBF, and WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward spoke with Fight Hub TV about the Mayweather-McGregor announcement and why he thinks the fight is good for boxing.

“I think it’s good for boxing. I like it. I’m gonna watch it. I don’t really have an opinion about it in terms of a negative sense. It’s cool. It’s all good.

“I think if you don’t want to watch it, you don’t have to tune in. You don’t have to follow the build up. You can turn the channel or not read it. I’m not here to promote their fight but I think that the attention that all us fighters are getting - you know, we’re asked about it every time we do an interview from mainstream media - I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I think it can be good, just understand what you’re signing up for. Understand what it is.”

Ward is currently the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world according to The Ring magazine. This weekend he rematches Duva’s premier fighter, pound-for-pound No. 2, Sergey Kovalev. The announcement of Mayweather-McGregor just days before their fight effectively buried one of the biggest bouts of the year. It should be noted that Ward-Kovalev 2 is being put on by HBO Boxing, the direct competitor to Showtime Boxing, Mayweather’s exclusive provider.

But even though the timing of the announcement was likely intended to slight Ward, the champion is still interested in the unique circumstances of the fight and respects what Mayweather is trying to do.

“I think it’s kind of cool that he’s going for 50 in a unique, different way like this instead of just fighting an average guy. And he’s getting paid to do it so you can’t knock that.”

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MUST-READ STORIES

Rep. Dana White says McGregor losing to Mayweather won’t damage him or the UFC.

Goals. Mayweather Promotions CEO thinks Mayweather-McGregor can beat Pacquiao fight in PPV sales.

Better. Rafael dos Anjos says he feels better as a welterweight.

Appeal. Erick Silva will appeal his loss to Yancy Medeiros at UFC 212.

USADA. Amanda Ribas has been flagged by USADA, out of TUF 25 finale.

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VIDEO STEW

The roundup of all the MayGregor coverage from the big media places.

Some dude who trained with Conor saying he’s got no chance. Gonna see a lot of this soon.

TTTHS.

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LISTEN UP

UFC Unfiltered. Dennis Bermudez and Ryan LaFlare interviews.

Fights Gone By. Jack Slack discusses Derrick Lewis vs. Mark Hunt.

Bushido Talk. Mayweather-McGregor, Joe Lauzon, and Reebok discussions.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Respect.

Now that Conor is official, guess we are gonna get Tony vs. Khabib one more time.

This dude is delusional.

If someone got a 100K you should take this man up on his offer. Conor ain’t winning a round much less rounds plural.

There it is.

Not bad.

Strong arguments.

So it begins.

This is how you know Bisping is famous.

This guy’s Conor really is excellent. and his Floyd is not bad either.

The perfect encapsulation of both men.

He back.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

N/A.

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TODAY IN MMA HISTORY

2007: Rich Franklin won a unanimous decision over Yushin Okami at UFC 72.

2010: Renato Sobral won a unanimous decision over Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce: Los Angeles.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

I cannot wait for MayGregor. Not because I care about the fight, but because it’s been less than two days and this is already exhausting. It’s all we’ll talk about for the next two months despite the fact that there are some great fights this weekend both in MMA and the Ward-Kovalev rematch. I had Kov winning the first fight by virtue of the knockdown, but I’ve got to imagine Ward does better this time having had more of an opportunity to adjust to the style.

Oh, and for the record, Mayweather knocks out Conor in under eight rounds. “Oh but Conor is so much younger!” Yeah that’s why Jean Pascal, an actual PROFESSIONAL BOXER, knocked out 46-year-old Bernard Hopkins, right? Aging veterans want to fight inexperienced, limited fighters. It’s the easiest way for craft to show through. You’re telling me the best defensive fighter of his generation can’t avoid a one-trick pony? Come on. Conor is a great mixed martial artist and that should be enough. Floyd gonna put mitts on him something fierce and it will tell us something we should all already know: the best professionals in a sport are better at that sport than people who don’t compete in it. Shocking, I know.

Anyway, that’s it for today. The UFC card this weekend is actually sneaky good but it’s on FightPass, at a weird time, and now buried under this news. Also, I highly recommend Ward-Kov 2. Two of the best (at least) six boxers on the planet fighting doesn’t happen every day. Enjoy the weekend and Conor bless.

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