WEEKEND PREVIEW: Mayweather vs. McGregor takes spotlight this weekend

With the invasion of fight fans from Ireland and sports media from as far away as Australia, one would think nothing else is taking place in Las Vegas this weekend than the Conor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather combat fight of the century. It well might be a case of “move over” Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, Boy George as the world’s spotlight falls on the T-Mobile Arena for the ultimate showdown but there are other star attractions.

The action for Big Fight Weekend started back on Tuesday (Aug. 22), and after arrival entrances and a final press conferences, the fighters strip down for today’s (Aug. 25) weigh in at 3 p.m. at the T-Mobile Arena where they will do battle tomorrow (Aug. 26) night.

Here’s the YouTube link of their final press conference:

The once-in-a lifetime spectacle — the biggest fight in combat history — is now just 24-hours away. Around the world the battle has captured the imagination of men and women, young and old.

But Wednesday (Aug. 23), the two men had to meet for their final press conference- and contributing photographer Tom Donoghue was at the KA theater in MGM for those fireworks.

Las Vegas Review Journal’s Ed Graney reported: “These guys are ready to fight.”

I’ve already told you that betting worldwide is expected to top $245 million. Floyd is even rumored to have bet $800,000 on his own victory — and, if he wins, he’ll make $100 million from the fight with Conor taking home $60 million. IRS agents will be on hand to ensure the government gets its share!

Yesterday morning (Aug. 24) a New York Times article raised genuine fears that the fight should never have been sanctioned in the first place! More than 100 ringside doctors who make up the Association of Ringside Physicians and whose members have worked hundreds of bouts in Nevada and other jurisdictions is arguing that Conor is overmatched by Floyd.

Organization President Dr. Larry Lovelace told the New York Times: “We were very surprised this bout was even sanctioned. The thing I really fear, truly fear, is that somebody’s going to get really hurt in this fight.”

The commission ignored the Association of Ringside Physicians protest of this middleweight bout being cleared for the fighters to wear 8-ounce gloves instead of 10-ounce gloves in the 154-pound weight class.

Retired Hall of Fame referee, Richard Steele, added: “I really don’t know how it’s going to work. McGregor can’t kick. He can’t elbow. He can’t do (anything) — nothing that he’s used to doing that makes him a great MMA fighter. I’d stop the fight more quickly than normal if McGregor appeared to be in trouble considering his lack of boxing experience. I would definitely have it in mind about protecting this kid. The safety of the fighter is always going to be there but it might be a little more in this fight because this guy’s never been in a boxing ring before.”

Some insiders are arguing that the Nevada commissioners sanctioned the bout because it has a large financial stake in the outcome. Nevada is set to receive 8 percent of the gross revenue from every ticket sold and the boxing commission gets 25 percent of that amount.

Since $60 million in tickets have already been sold, Nevada will receive nearly $5 million with the commission earning more than $1.2 million. Pay-per-view worldwide telecasts will add more revenue.

Although both fighters will be nursing their bruises and battering Saturday night, Conor is still planning to travel to Steve Wynn’s Encore for a hosting appearance at the Surrender nightclub. Floyd is expected to hold court at his Girl Collection topless club.

Conor promised at the press conference he will honor the Queensbury rules of boxing adding: “I have taken them very seriously. I will outbox him at his own game. I don’t see this going more than two rounds.”

Floyd countered: “We will display our skills. It’s the best fighting the best. I was born a fighter. I will die a fighter.”

Lets hope the Association of Ringside Physicians is totally wrong.

• Sean “Diddy” Combs has been added to the Fight Weekend lineup of superstarscoming to town to host parties. Sean will be joined by Mark Wahlberg and Styephen Espinoza when the trio hosts the Double or Nothing kickoff at Lavo in the Palazzo tonight (Aug. 25).

• Imagine Dragons are due to perform at the sold-out Tyler Robinson fourth annual Believer gala at Caesars Palace that helps families coping with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The Imagine Dragons performance will be broadcast on Facebook Live on the TRF Facebook channel and on the Imagine Dragons channel at approx. 9.30 p.m.

• On a totally different note, it’s also the premiere (Aug. 25) tonight of the five-time Tony Award winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone,” presented by Broadway Bound at the Summerlin Library through Sept. 9. It’s a hysterical journey back to the roaring 1920s as two gangsters try to stop a “Follies” starlet from leaving the stage to get married.

• If you prefer the quieter joy of golf and putting over pugilism inside the ring then take note that the first monthly final of the local qualifications of this October’s Major Series of Putting. Two finalists will be chosen today (Aug. 25) with four others to be picked in September and October before the championship Oct. 27-Nov. 5 on the Strip when more than $1 million in purse prizes is at stake.

So let’s take aim, steady the stroke and swing with this week’s knockout edition of the Royal Robin Rundown:

AUG. 25

• Boy George at The Orleans Arena

• Richard Marx at Flamingo for two days

• Boyz II Men at The Mirage all weekend

• Rancid and Dropkick Murphy’s at Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

• BJ Thomas at Golden Nugget

• J Boog at Brooklyn Bowl

• Steel Panther at House of Blues at Mandalay Bay

• The Young Dubliners at Topgolf

• James Darren at South Point for two days

COMEDY

• Steve Martin & Martin Short at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace

• Jay Leno at The Mirage

SPECIAL NOTE

• Tickets on Sale for “The Little Mermaid” at The Smith Center Oct. 3-8; Cake at The Cosmopolitan Oct. 5; “The King and I” at The Smith Center Oct. 25-29; Flying Lotus and Common Kings at Brooklyn Bowl Oct. 26; Trey Anastasio Band at Brooklyn Bowl Oct. 27-28; So You Think You Can Dance at The Pearl at Palms Nov. 17; Paul Shaffer at Caesars Palace Dec. 21-23, 28-30, Jan. 4-6; Shania Twain at MGM Grand Aug. 4, 2018

• Inaugural Last Friday, Just Add Water Street Kicks Off at Henderson’s Water Street, across from City Hall

• Imagine Dragons at Tyler Robinson Foundation’s fourth annual Believe Gala at Caesars Palace

PARTY PATROL

• Sean “ Diddy” Combs and Mark Wahlberg at Lavo in the Venetian.

• Angie Vee at TAO Beach

• DJ Scene at TAO Nightclub

• Ruckus at Marquee Dayclub

• Vice at Marquee Nightclub

• J Cole at Jewel Nightclub

• Calvin Harris at Omnia Nightclub

• Dash at Heart of Omnia

• Fergie DJ at Terrace at Omnia

• Steve Aoki at Hakkasan

• DJ D Miles at Ling Ling Club at Hakkasan

• DJ Que at The Bank

• Shift at Wet Republic

• Brody Jennar birthday celebration at Liquid Pool

• DJ D Miles at Bare Pool Lounge

• Isiah Thomas celebrates New Cheurlin Champagne Partnership at Hyde Bellagio

AUG. 26

• Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and Paul & The Broken Bones at The Cosmopolitan

• Brian Culbertson at The Foundry at SLS

• DJ Silla tha Thrilla at Hard Rock

• Rod Stewart at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for two nights

• Gypsy Kings at Red Rock Resort

• Yes, Todd Rundgren and Carl Palmer at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel

• Michelle Rohl at The Smith Center

• Lovedrive — Scorpions Tribute at Brooklyn Bowl

• Empire Records at Topgolf

• Sommore at Suncoast for two nights

COMEDY

• Tim Allen at The Mirage

• Comedy hypnotist Richard Barker at The Orleans

SPECIAL NOTE

• Mayweather vs. McGregor at T-Mobile Arena

• BIG3 championship finals at MGM

• Fantasy football draft party at Hard Rock Hotel

PARTY PATROL

• After-fight party with Puff Daddy at Vanity Nightclub

• Eric Dlux at TAO Beach

• Gucci Mane at TAO Nightclub

• Mustard at Marquee Dayclub

• NAS hosts fight night after-party at Marquee Nightclub

• Fight Weekend with Puff Daddy at Rehab Beachclub

• Jamie Foxx at Jewel Nightclub

• Kaskade at Omnia Nightclub

• OB One at Heart of Omnia

• Mikey Francis at Terrace at Omnia

• Travis Scott at Hakkasan

• Shift at Ling Ling Club at Hakkasan

• YG at 1Oak

• Stretch at The Bank

• Kaskade at Wet Republic

• Chase B at Bare Liquid Pool

• Turbulence at Bare Pool

AUG. 27

• Foreigner with Cheap Trick at The Cosmopolitan

• Australian Pink Floyd Show at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel

SPECIAL NOTE

• Strikes for Scholarships Bowling Tournament at South Point

PARTY PATROL

• Fight Weekend with Ice Cube and Meek Mill at Rehab Beach Club

• Mark Rodriguez at TAO Beach

• Mike Attack at Marquee Dayclub

• Mikey Francis at Terrace at Omnia

• Borgeous at Hakkasan

• Kid Conrad at The Bank

• Nervo at Wet Republic

• Joseph Gettright at Liquid Pool

• Greg Lopez at Bare Pool

• Smash Mouth at Go Pool in the Flamingo

It all feels like New Year’s Eve on the Strip with all the action — and it might just result in a 10-1 countdown in the ring within the first round!