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Win or lose, Mayweather set for R2.6bn pay day

Cape Town - As the circus-like countdown continues to Saturday's Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor superfight in Las Vegas, it's become clearer how much each fighter is likely to pocket.

Mayweather, the 40-year-old undefeated former welterweight boxing champion, has been lured out of retirement to face McGregor, 29, a star of mixed martial arts' Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Mayweather and McGregor meet in a 12-round contest - under boxing rules - that is tipped to become the richest fight in history.

The cross-combat collision has appalled boxing purists, with many decrying the event as a farcical publicity stunt more in keeping with the choreographed traditions of WWE wrestling.

While estimates vary, some projections indicate Mayweather, win or lose, could make as much as $200 million (R2.646 billion) from the contest, with McGregor collecting around $100 million (R1.323 billion).

Not bad for a maximum of 36 minutes of actual boxing time!

By way of comparison, golfing superstar Tiger Woods has made $110 million in tournament prize money in his career to date, while Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, tennis' No 1 and 2 all-time money winners, have banked around $110 million and $108 million, respectively.

Meanwhile, McGregor, a massive underdog in what will be his first professional boxing fight, is reported to be struggling to make the 154-pound weight limit.

Mayweather has fought at 154 pounds before, but is more used to fighting at welterweight (150 pounds). McGregor however has fought at 170 pounds in MMA.

In terms of what the bookmakers think, Mayweather has seen his odds shorten as money pours in for his opponent to do the unthinkable.

Mayweather opened as an overwhelming 1/8 favourite, but saw his odds cut to 1/5 and then to 2/7 at current pricing.

McGregor in turn now stands at 5/2 - and in with a genuine shot of the upset.

Mayweather is 4/5 to win via TKO, KO or DQ while McGregor is 3/1 to emerge the winner in the same fashion.

The fight will be broadcast live on SuperSport 2 from 05:30 (SA time) on Sunday, August 27.

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