By Case Keefer

Fri, Aug 25, 2017 (2 a.m.)

If Floyd Mayweather is to be believed, he’s developed a sudden sense of responsibility to the fans who have helped make him one of the world’s highest-paid athletes.

With national estimates of 50 million people watching his fight against Conor McGregor, which airs on pay-per-view at approximately 8:30 p.m. Saturday night from T-Mobile Arena, Mayweather says he stands to make as much as $350 million. And he says he plans to earn the payday by delivering more than the type of technical boxing match he’s known for. The undefeated, 40-year-old Mayweather is promising a fight in his 50th, and likely final, professional bout.

“Everyone deserves a good show,” he said. “The Pacquiao fight wasn’t exciting enough. That was on Pacquiao, but I have to give the fans a great show this time.”

Acknowledging the public fallout from his May 2015 win over Manny Pacquiao, a unanimous decision where Mayweather relied on defense and counter-punching, is a reversal of course. Mayweather was notoriously unapologetic at the time, waving a $100 million fight-night check in the face of any detractors.

He reacted with similar defiance after other bouts that were criticized for a lack of action, including a September 2013 majority-decision victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. The fights against Pacquiao and Alvarez both set pay-per-view records at the time, with the former tallying an all-time high 4.6 million buys.

There’s debate over whether Saturday night’s fight can top that figure, though Mayweather and his team have asserted confidence it will. The paycheck will be raised, Mayweather says, and so will his performance.

“I’ve said it’s not going the distance and you can mark my words,” he said at the fight’s final press conference.

Mayweather has insisted he will come forward and pressure McGregor, but many still have their doubts. And it’s not only because the strategy would go against the niche Mayweather has carved throughout the back end of his career.

It’s also seen as the only way McGregor has a chance at victory. McGregor, who’s never boxed professionally, has little chance of outmaneuvering Mayweather through a dozen three-minute rounds.

McGregor’s only hope is his knockout ability, which he’s used to finish 18 out of 24 career opponents in mixed martial arts. Count McGregor among those skeptical of the approach Mayweather is selling.

“We all know Floyd is a great defensive boxer and he isn’t going to keep coming forward like he says,” McGregor said. “If he does, it’s going to be a quick night for me.”

Mayweather argued that he doesn’t fear McGregor’s power because he’s fought heavier-handed opponents in the past. But at times Mayweather has come across like he’s pushing too hard to convince people he’s not taking the fight seriously.

From declaring McGregor has an advantage “on paper” to playing up the fact that he’ll be partying at his strip club, Girl Collection, every night this week, many have accused Mayweather of speaking disingenuously.

McGregor might not buy Mayweather’s words but his promoter, UFC President Dana White, isn’t so sure it’s all an act.

“He might believe he can hit Conor at will and he’s too fast and he’s a boxer so maybe he thinks he can,” White sad. “But I’ll tell you what: If he gets clipped one time, he won’t keep coming forward. He will back up and if he decides to run and do what he does when he fights, then it will be a different kind of fight. But make no mistake: This will be a fight. Anyone tell me when was the last time you saw a boring Conor McGregor fight? They don’t exist.”

McGregor has built his career on fan service — not only entertaining with trash talk before his fights but also always acting with aggression inside the octagon. It’s given his career the rare quality of every fight since he debuted in the UFC in 2013 being bigger than the last.

McGregor can only hope his crossover into boxing to face the sport’s biggest draw yields him an opponent that engages enough to keep the momentum going.

“This is the biggest fight of all time,” McGregor said, “and we owe them one hell of a show.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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