Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have managed to notch his 50th career victory with a 10th-round TKO over Conor McGregor, but the undefeated world champion has failed to do one thing Saturday night: bet on his fight.
The five-division boxing champion, who is known for betting big bucks on sporting events, earlier promised to place wager—on himself, of course—on his match against the UFC star. And that he did, according to ESPN’s David Purdum.
Purdum quoted multiple sources who said that “Mayweather attempted to place a $400,000 bet on the fight ending under 9.5 rounds at -200 odds” at a sportsbook at the M Resort in Las Vegas several hours before the fight took place.
However, “there were concerns over the legality of a fighter betting on anything other than a straight win,” which prompted Mayweather to wager instead on himself winning by a knockout. But because he had to wait to place a wager, a reportedly “pissed” Mayweather “left without getting the bet down.”
Fret not, as Mayweather is positive that a friend may have put six figures on the under for him.
Speaking to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio on SportsCenter after the fight, Mayweather said: “I think that we bet 100 on 9.5. I gave my guy six figures to go bet. I have to make sure he bet because earlier today I went to the sportsbook to bet and they wouldn’t let me bet.”
Legally, nothing is stopping Mayweather from placing wagers, since the match took place in Las Vegas, where gambling is legal. Neither the Nevada State Athletic Commission nor the Nevada Gaming Control Board has regulations outlawing a fighter from betting on himself.
Biggest single betting event of all time
The highly-anticipated slugfest between Mayweather and McGregor is poised to be the most bet on fight ever, surpassing even the $70 million bet recorded in Las Vegas for the 2015 bout between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
And sportsbooks are already gearing up for a potential rematch. At BetOnline, the Mayweather remains a massive -2000 favorite, while McGregor finds himself back at +1000.
There is, however, one more option for McGregor: a boxing match with Paulie Malignaggi. With both camps trading verbal jabs over a sparring session gone wrong—or right, whichever way you want to look at it—a collision may be on the horizon for the two fighters. At online sportsbook Bodog, McGregor opens at +175 while Malignaggi is at -225 for a potential boxing match.
