Tonight: Mayweather and McGregor meet face off in ‘Money fight’

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Connor McGregor face off Saturday night in a much-hyped – and sometimes reviled – fury of fists and egos.

The fight is more than just a grudge match. It’s a scripted conflict that’s perfectly in tune with the discord of the era, columnist John Blanchette writes.

More stories on tonight’s fight:

The fighters both made weight Saturday afternoon. Neither missed the chance to trade verbal jabs.

Nearly every expert previewing the fight puts the odds solidly behind Mayweather. McGregor will have to innovate – and unleash all his power – if he hopes to stay toe-to-toe with his “unhittable” opponent.

The event is being billed as the “Money Fight.” True to its name, the prize is jaw-dropping.

On the flip side of the money equation, a surprise win by McGregor would leave Vegas’ bookies in a hole they might never climb out of.

Mayweather is known as perhaps the greatest defensive boxer of all time, but it’s punches that end a match. He says he has those, too.