Conor McGregor promised to knock out Floyd Mayweather inside four rounds when they faced off for the first time to promote their 26 August bout.
\nThe pair appeared in front of thousands of fans at a news conference in Los Angeles – the first of four events called to promote the Las Vegas fight.
\n\u201cThe movement, power, ferociousness – he has not experienced this,\u201d said UFC lightweight champion McGregor, 28.
\nMayweather replied: \u201cI guarantee you\u2019re going out on your face or your back.\u201d
\nThe former five-weight world champion, 40, said he was an \u201cold man\u201d but \u201cstill had enough\u201d to beat McGregor, who has never boxed professionally.
\nHe teased McGregor, claiming he \u201conly made $3m in his last fight\u201d and referenced the Irishman\u2019s submission defeat by Nate Diaz in 2016, his only loss since joining UFC three years earlier.
\n\u201cWe know \u2018Mr Tap Out\u2019 likes to quit and you will wave that white flag,\u201d added Mayweather.
\n\u2018Little legs, little head\u2019
\nMcGregor\u2019s suit for the event contained pin-stripes which were comprised of an offensive two-word insult.
\nHe was first to break the silence as the pair stared at one another following lengthy walks to the stage. He began dancing in front of Mayweather before both addressed the crowd with expletive-laden speeches.
\n\u201cHis little legs, little core, little head, I\u2019m going to knock him out inside four rounds, mark my words,\u201d said McGregor. \u201cI\u2019m a young, confident, happy man that has worked extremely hard for this.\u201d
\nGlobal talking point
\nDublin-born McGregor said the boxing match offered \u201ca limited set of rules\u201d and pointed to demands he says Mayweather\u2019s team have made in agreeing to a fight which will reportedly earn each man around $100m (\u00a378.5m)
\nHe added: \u201cAll these rules and restrictions – the gloves have to be 10oz, give him the gloves, no problem. No Mexican-made gloves, no problem. No gloves made of horse hair, fine. All I need is a gum shield, line me up to the ring and I\u2019m good to go.\u201d
\nThe fight has drawn criticism from some within boxing given McGregor\u2019s lack of record within the sport.
\nAs both men took to the stage, their appearance was the top trend globally on Twitter.
\nMayweather retired from boxing after taking his record to 49 fights unbeaten with victory over Andre Berto in 2015.
\nHe has held 11 major world titles but has not stopped an opponent inside the distance since 2011, a point McGregor referenced on stage.
\nThe two men will appear at further promotional events in Toronto, Canada, on Wednesday, Brooklyn, New York, on Thursday and London on Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Conor McGregor promised to knock out Floyd Mayweather inside four rounds when they faced off for the first time to promote their 26 August bout. The pair appeared in front of thousands of fans at a news conference in Los Angeles – the first of four events called to promote the Las Vegas fight. \u201cThe […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n