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Promoter smashes McGregor-Mayweather myth

Ticket sales for the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Conor McGregor fight Aug. 26 in Las Vegas are on a pace to break the all-time boxing gate record, Mayweather's promoter said Thursday, shooting down characterisations that sales are lagging for the much-anticipated bout.

"Right now, we have over $60 million in the box office," Mayweather Promotions CEO Ellerbe said at Mayweather's media workout.

"And you tell me, what part of that remotely looks like ticket sales are slow. This isn't a damn Rolling Stones concert. That's the only thing that sells out in seconds.

"When you are talking about tickets going from $500 to $10,000, that's an expensive ticket. So you have every CEO from every major company. You know, guys, it takes time to plan and get it together."

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McGregor gets in Mayweather's face. Pic: Getty
McGregor gets in Mayweather's face. Pic: Getty

The previous record for a boxing gate is $72.2 million for Mayweather's fight against Manny Pacquiao in May 2015, according to ESPN.com.

"All this is because of Floyd Mayweather," Ellerbe said. "A little guy who, soaking wet, is 147 pounds."

Reports of slow ticket sales come in the context that thousands of seats at T-Mobile Arena, which seats some 20,000 for boxing matches, are still available on Ticketmaster, and many more are available on secondary-sales sites.

ESPN reported that as of early this week ticket-reseller Vivid Seats put the average price of a Mayweather-McGregor ticket sold on its site at $3,684, 5 percent below the Mayweather-Pacquiao average.

McGregor has rattled Mayweather. Pic: Getty
McGregor has rattled Mayweather. Pic: Getty

The ticket update comes one day after Mcgregor and Mayweather each requested to wear smaller 8oz gloves in their Las Vegas bout.

Nevada State Athletic Commission regulations state that fights contested over a weight limit of 147 pounds (lbs) must see 10oz gloves used.

Former welterweight king Mayweather and UFC lightweight champion McGregor are slated to fight at 154 lbs.

McGregor has regularly goaded Mayweather over seeking an advantage by only fighting in a boxing environment – MMA fighters generally wear 4oz mitts in their contests – but the 40-year-old has seemingly yielded, having vowed to fight in lighter gloves on Instagram earlier this month.

"Both camps have submitted a waiver by the date we requested," Bennett told ESPN.

"The commission will hear both camps' reasoning as to why it should deviate from its regulations during a scheduled meeting on August 16.

"Our chairman Anthony Marnell will then lead a conversation with the other commission members and they will vote on it that day."