The greatest?

Last night, Floyd Mayweather stopped Conor McGregor in the 10th round of the richest fight ever. But it was dismissed as a farce because McGregor, despite being a phenomenal cage fighter, is not a professional boxer. But at least this was a proper boxing match. The bout in 1976 between Muhammad Ali and a Japanese wrestler called Antonio Enoki was a proper farce. For fifteen rounds, Inoki lay on his back, just kicking out at Ali’s legs. At the end, the “fight” was declared a draw. It was cynical and embarrassing but in the hagiographic cult of Ali, it’s been conveniently forgotten. Just like the string of easy title defences he took against no-hopers like Richard Dunn. Floyd Mayweather has always taken on and beaten the best opponents in the world. Which is why he’s the greatest and richest boxer in history. But then the words “Floyd” and “Money” have long gone together.