Floyd Mayweather Sr. has defended his son’s upcoming rival Conor McGregor against accusations of racism, after the UFC champion told Floyd Mayweather Jr. “dance for me, boy” during their press tour.
McGregor faced criticism as a result of his trash-talking to former boxing champion Mayweather Jr. with some perceiving his comments as racist. During the second day of the Mayweather – McGregor press tour, fans in Toronto launched into an “ole” chant, to which McGregor replied: “I want you [the fans] to sing it to me, and I want you [Mayweather] to dance for me. You sing it, you dance. Dance for me, boy!” McGregor had previously told Mayweather to “dance for me, boy, dance for me, lad,” during their meeting in Los Angeles.
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Speaking to TMZ Sports, Mayweather Sr. defended McGregor’s comments. “Racist? I don’t know what that got to do with race,” he said after the Staples Center press conference. “This is a boxing match. I don’t know what that got to do with no racists.” Though some have criticised McGregor for his comments, others have pointed out that he has frequently referred to his opponents as “boy” regardless of their skin colour.
Mayweather Jr. and McGregor have been getting heated in the build-up to their August 26 fight. (Image Credit: GENE BLEVINS / Getty Images)
Mayweather Sr. has been involved in his own altercation with McGregor, crashing the UFC lightweight champion’s press conference on Tuesday after McGregor had referred to him as an “old man.” Mayweather Sr. was recorded repeatedly telling McGregor “I will beat your ass,” before McGregor replied: “You’ll get your chance on August 26, Junior.”
The McGregor and Mayweather press tour has led to a wide selection of memorable moments, mostly at the expense of Mayweather. Though McGregor is certainly the underdog headed into the fight, set to take place in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, he has been largely untouchable on the microphone headed into the bout. Addressing Mayweather in Toronto, McGregor berated him for wearing a tracksuit, saying: “Dress your f***ing age.” McGregor then pointed to a bag Mayweather was carrying, adding: “Why are you carrying a school bag on stage? You can’t even read.”
