Five Reasons Mayweather vs. McGregor Isn’t As Big As Advertised

We’re finally closing in on August 26th, which means the incessant, non-stop media coverage of Mayweather vs McGregor will wind up before coming to a screeching halt sometime in the days (or maybe weeks) after.

While the promoters and people behind this bizarre super fight maintain that this is the fight fans asked for, it goes without saying that these same fans will most likely be unsatisfied with the final product.

Check out our five reasons why Mayweather vs. McGregor isn’t as big of a fight as it’s being advertised:

5. It’s Been Overhyped From Day One

Fight fans and non-fight fans alike have been inundated with media coverage of Mayweather vs McGregor since the moment the contracts were finalized.

From the premature week-long press tour (which was held in July, a month prior to fight night), to glove-size changes and spurned sparring partners, fans have been force-fed story after story on every possible detail regarding this crossover fight.

The media circus that has surrounded MayMac has been non-stop and so in-your-face it’s been impossible to ignore it.

Anytime a fight is hyped up that much, expectations always end up being too high in terms of the outcome.

4. GGG vs. Canelo Is Less Than A Month After

The confluence of both mega boxing bouts makes for an interesting situation. GGG vs Canelo is by far the better boxing match, yet is clearly being overshadowed by Mayweather vs McGregor in terms of promotion and overall hype.

With GGG vs Canelo throwing down on September 16, the media circus behind MayMac leading into August 26 is unjustly stealing the attention from what will without a doubt be the better fight.

Boxing purists have clung to GGG vs Canelo for dear life as the MayMac fight has invaded their world.

But don’t be fooled, the better fight is in September.

3. It’s Not A Truly Competitive Fight

This pretty much goes without saying. McGregor’s 0-0 boxing record compared government Mayweather’s 49-0 says everything you need to know about how competitive this fight should be.

McGregor’s striking has always been more than serviceable in MMA, but it also relies a lot on kicks and other moves banned in boxing.

All signs point to a Mayweather washout. Of course there’s always the possibility of a miraculous upset due to McGregor’s thunderous left hand, but there’s no real reason to believe this fight will be competitive, let alone compelling.

2. Paulie Malignaggi Is Doing All The Promo

McGregor’s mp\ost prominent sparring partner left his camp with a sour taste in their mouth.

Yet the way Paul Malignaggi has pushed his story to the press and the coverage he’s received is a bit of a head-scratcher.

It almost seems like McGregor is allowing his one-time boxing sparring partner to keep up interest in the fight for him. Malignaggi has been all over boxing, MMA, and even more mainstream media ever since his now-infamous 12 rounds with McGregor.

The retired fighter has managed to maintain a strong and steady presence in the media, mostly without the help of McGregor or Mayweather at all, making him seem like the number one driving force for the promotion of a fight that’s become an all-out circus as he obviously tries to get a fight with McGregor at some point.

It’s created a strange and convoluted build-up, and that just wasn’t needed for a bout that was already much more spectacle than substance in the first place.

1. Slow Ticket Sales

Leonard Ellerbe and McGregor would have you believe differently, but all of the recent box office numbers for ticket sales have been a bit underwhelming.

Whether due to exorbitantly expensive ticket prices including some absolutely ridiculous fees from TicketMaster or fight fans simply knowing this bout isn’t as competitive as the promoters want you to believe, tickets to this ‘biggest fight of all-time’ have been slow to sell. By comparison, Mayweather’s long-awaited boxing match with Manny Pacquiao in May 2015 sold out in less than an hour.

There’s no guarantee that Mayweather vs. McGregor will sell out at all, something that most would have thought was unheard of when they kicked off the overblown, offensive media tour last month.

Not a good sign a week out from fight night. Will ticket sales increase in the final week? Most likely, but the slow start doesn’t necessarily inspire a lot of confidence in a fight that has little room for error based on the sheer amount of nonstop coverage afforded to it day in and day out.

What are your thoughts? Is Mayweather vs. McGregor failing to live up to what is quite possibly the most hype we’ve ever seen for a combat sports booking?