Unless you have been living under a rock on Mars, you will probably be aware that there is a massive boxing match coming up. Mayweather vs. McGregor, Some people call it the match of the century. It's been hyped so much that even I know about it. I have never in my life seen a boxing match. I don't care about boxing. I don't care about testosterone buildings bashing each other's faces to pulp. It's just not a part of my morbid fascination.
Then again, even though I despise violence in all its forms, somehow this upcoming fight intrigues me. Not the fight itself but everything surrounding it. Millions of people want to see it. The price money that these two will divide is 300 million dollars and millions more will be won or lost in bettings. On facebook, I see posts about the fight more frequently than posts about the recent terrorist attacks on Barcelona. Even wrestling news sites are mentioning the fight.
True, Mayweather has had a tiny stint in WWE where he broke Big Show's nose but wrestling is fake (sorry, scripted) and that particular appearance should be erased from everyone's memory. It was just one of WWE's many attempts to put wrestlers in the ring with famous non-wrestlers. They do it every once in a while and it's never memorable. Before that WWE pay-per-view, I didn't even know who Mayweather was, let alone McGregor. That's how much I care about boxing and MMA.
Then again, even though I despise violence in all its forms, somehow this upcoming fight intrigues me. Not the fight itself but everything surrounding it. Millions of people want to see it. The price money that these two will divide is 300 million dollars and millions more will be won or lost in bettings. On facebook, I see posts about the fight more frequently than posts about the recent terrorist attacks on Barcelona. Even wrestling news sites are mentioning the fight.
True, Mayweather has had a tiny stint in WWE where he broke Big Show's nose but wrestling is fake (sorry, scripted) and that particular appearance should be erased from everyone's memory. It was just one of WWE's many attempts to put wrestlers in the ring with famous non-wrestlers. They do it every once in a while and it's never memorable. Before that WWE pay-per-view, I didn't even know who Mayweather was, let alone McGregor. That's how much I care about boxing and MMA.
But still, there is this tremendous hype and for what? People are paying tonnes of money to see this thing. The pay-per-view price is being set at US$89.95 (with an additional $10 charge for high definition). The lowest-priced tickets available on Ticketmaster had a face value of $1,571; prices are $5,000 near the ring, and "platinum" seats cost up to $14,995. Are you fucking kidding me?
No wonder McGregor is willingly having his face fisted. He's going home with at least 75 million dollars, just for receiving a few punches. Like many people, except perhaps the Irish, I think Mayweather will win this one. He will probably win it fast too. Then again, for 100 million, he just might put up a little show and let McGregor try to hit him first. In all, people are going to pay heaps of money to see a very short fight.
The promo videos and press conferences I've seen have all been extremely cringeworthy. McGregor wearing a suit with 'Fuck You' printed in stripes allover is one of the most childish things I have ever seen an athlete do, and remember, I'm a wrestling fan. I've seen athletes wearing turkey costumes, clown outfits, pink skirts and onesies with bright yellow dots. I love wrestling and I love WWE but their spinoffs are getting extremely ridiculous. A 'Fuck You' suit, Total Divas, Donald Trump... Honestly, WWE should just stick to wrestling shows.
No wonder McGregor is willingly having his face fisted. He's going home with at least 75 million dollars, just for receiving a few punches. Like many people, except perhaps the Irish, I think Mayweather will win this one. He will probably win it fast too. Then again, for 100 million, he just might put up a little show and let McGregor try to hit him first. In all, people are going to pay heaps of money to see a very short fight.
The promo videos and press conferences I've seen have all been extremely cringeworthy. McGregor wearing a suit with 'Fuck You' printed in stripes allover is one of the most childish things I have ever seen an athlete do, and remember, I'm a wrestling fan. I've seen athletes wearing turkey costumes, clown outfits, pink skirts and onesies with bright yellow dots. I love wrestling and I love WWE but their spinoffs are getting extremely ridiculous. A 'Fuck You' suit, Total Divas, Donald Trump... Honestly, WWE should just stick to wrestling shows.
What I dislike most about this fight and about the hype leading towards it, is the ego that these future Alzheimer patients have been showcasing. Both are either extremely full of themselves or the whole thing is supervised by Vince McMahon. There is so much hype, so much show that I'm almost beginning to think that this event has any historical value.
The conspiracy theorist in me expects something else to happen at the exact day as the boxing event. Why else would the entire media try to focus as many people as possible onto the screen? Why else would they want to pack one of the biggest stations in the world to capacity? I'm not even talking about a terrorist attack. I'm talking about passing a law that will diminish your privacy, a large scaled scan of personal information, a train with nuclear weapons on board that can safely depart, an evil alien race that can safely land and negotiate the possibility of sending human slaves to their planet, something like that. Something that needs to escape the people's attention. I know, it's probably far fetched. The truth might be a lot simpler. Two testosterone filled dudes talk thrash and some marketing nerds see an opportunity to make big money. The rest of the world is so used and addicted to violence that willfully pay to see this.
The conspiracy theorist in me expects something else to happen at the exact day as the boxing event. Why else would the entire media try to focus as many people as possible onto the screen? Why else would they want to pack one of the biggest stations in the world to capacity? I'm not even talking about a terrorist attack. I'm talking about passing a law that will diminish your privacy, a large scaled scan of personal information, a train with nuclear weapons on board that can safely depart, an evil alien race that can safely land and negotiate the possibility of sending human slaves to their planet, something like that. Something that needs to escape the people's attention. I know, it's probably far fetched. The truth might be a lot simpler. Two testosterone filled dudes talk thrash and some marketing nerds see an opportunity to make big money. The rest of the world is so used and addicted to violence that willfully pay to see this.
So now I'm wondering why the hell I am writing this article. As some readers might say, "if you don't care about it, just shut up about it". But I do care. I care and I worry. The fact that this, a fight, is one of the most hyped events ever somehow worries me. The fact that we're still not beyond the Roman "bread and games" tradition worries me. Kids are going to see it and you can bet your ass that many youngsters will punch their brothers and sisters in the face on Saturday. That's what kids do. That's what everyone does. We copy each other constantly. Copying one another is embedded in our DNA so we do it all the time. Today, we live in an era where ego, selfishness, a big mouth and violence are being shown and sold to every receptive individual. Guess what they are going to do?
Oh well, perhaps I should just hug a tree on Saturday...
Rik
Oh well, perhaps I should just hug a tree on Saturday...
Rik
