They said it was a circus, a freakshow, a no contest in waiting. What was the point? Asked the boxing aficionados; this surely is a fight that should not be allowed.
Conor Mcgregor was lambasted by the boxing purists; how could he even have the cheek to dream that he could beat one of the best boxers ever to have lived?
He better wake up and apologise!
However the dismantling and the destruction of the boy who dared to dream, never materialised. In the end it was a hard fought fight which Mayweather ultimately won.
Though this wasn't just about the two men at the tops of their respective games, this was more than that.
As I tried to explain to countless Mayweather fans before the fight, Mcgregor was never going to try and take him on at his own game, that would have been suicidal.
Instead the Irishman wanted to capitalise on any advantage he may have over the legendary American in the ring.
This fight was as much about karate vs boxing, as it was about Mcgregor and Mayweather.
This time around, boxing won; but boy did karate come close; let's take a look below at just how close.
Round 1.
As pretty much everyone who has fought Floyd Mayweather in the last 21 years (I do not include Castillo in that list), his tactics revolve around making his opponent punch fresh air, and then finishing him off after he has punched himself out.
So perhaps it was no surprise to see Mcgregor be the more aggressive man from the bell.
McGregor came out using his bladed karate stance, right hand held high, feet almost in a fencing position, left hand poised at his ribs.
The advantage that this stance brought was that it allowed striking from distance, this was smart, as it was something Mayweather had never faced before.
Boxing punches pack a hell of a lot of power, this is because of the leverage gained from the hips. The boxing punch uses also uses torque, generated from the feet, to deliver power.
The disadvantage of this is that punches are more telegraphed, therefore they have to be delivered from a closer standing distance to your opponent.
Mcgregor whilst under the rules of boxing was unrestrained from their laws. He showed this by leaping in and out of range peppering Mayweather with body shots, then bouncing back, right hand still held high.
As the round progressed you could almost feel the surprise manifesting itself in the arena. Conor was using his jab like a fencer uses his foil.
The fact that his right hand was already halfway to Mayweather's face, meant that Mcgregor had a lot of success by constantly flicking it in the face of the boxer formerly known as pretty boy.
You could feel Mayweather's frustration as Mcgregor caught him time and time again with his right jab, often coming in behind it with his left.
We saw a usually unflappable Mayweather overreach with straight rights trying to get at the Irishman.
Mcgregor bowed and put his hands behind his back, momentarily, and somewhat halfheartedly, taunting Mayweather, urging him to come forwards.
Mayweather obliged, in a flash he slipped to his left as he threw an overhand right. Mcgregor slipped the right, allowing it to land on his chest, and caught Mayweather with a sweet uppercut.
The undefeated money man knew he was in a fight.
Karate: 10
Boxing: 9
Round 2.
Floyd Mayweather clearly decided that his usual style of retreating onto the ropes to draw his opponent in, was not the best tactic in this fight.
Every time Floyd was on the ropes in the first round he got tagged, so this round he decided to try and fight Mcgregor gloves up, and in the centre of the ring.
This was no problem for the UFC star, Mcgregor got his uppercut going as an effective counter to Mayweather's right hooks and jabs.
Mayweather resorted to his classic Philly Shell defence, however the angles and distance Mcgregor was coming in from was clearly troubling the Vegas boxer and he was getting hit a lot more than he was used to.
After the fight Mayweather would declare that he wasn't bothered by Conor's power, however the way he was diving into the clinch and turning his back after any kind of Mcgregor combo told a different story.
Not only did the clinches and back turning break up Mcgregor's rhythm, they gave Mayweather valuable information.
The problem for Mcgregor was that his inexperience started to show when the fighters were close.
This was because the karate techniques that Mcgregor had been utilising, work best from a distance. Up close he would have to switch to boxing, and that would clearly work to Mayweather's advantage.
As they took to their stools at the end of the second round, Mayweather took a small sip of water offered to him, but then pushed it out the way.
He gestured his cornerman out of the way too, so that he could stare across at Mcgregor, like a lion hunting his prey, he was gauging just how much stamina he had in him, and exactly what attack was going to take him down.
Karate: 10
Boxing: 9
Round 3.
Mcgregor came out for this round a lot slower than he had done for the previous two. There was a suggestion that this might indicate he was pacing himself, he definitely seemed to be breathing heavily.
Mayweather tried to pressure him early on by leaping in with his right, behind a duck and a weave. However Mcgregor kept countering him.
Mayweather though was determined to close the distance between the two men, recognising that he was losing the fight.
The inexperience of Mcgregor started to show on the inside.
Robert Byrd the referee for the night warned Conor for hitting behind the head. As far as Mcgregor was concerned he was using the hammer fist style he was used to in MMA. Byrd however called it a rabbit punch.
Mcgregor won this round as well, Mayweather kept coming forward and getting tagged. However the constant clinching and breaking was beginning to wear Mcgregor down, unless he could regain the dominance of the first two rounds, the fight would swing the way of the American.
Karate: 10
Boxing: 9
Round 4.
As the bell went for round four you sensed that Mcgregor knew his best chance lay in being the main aggressor.
Immediately he pinned Mayweather back on the ropes and threw body shots. Floyd made a complaining gesture that one of the blows was low, however replays did not confirm the case.
Mcgregor boxed clever, when Mayweather covered his head, he used his right hand to bash down the left of Mayweather, and then immediately following that with a left cross.
This tactic is favoured by the incredible Ukrainian boxer Vasyl Lomachenko; it is an excellent method for lowering the guard of an opponent, however it is incredibly energy sapping.
it worked well and seemed to anger Mayweather who bounced off the ropes and started taking the fight to Mcgregor in the middle of the ring.
Visibly now, we could see Mcgregor was tiring, Mayweather sensed it as well.
He started to come forward, ducking into Mcgregor's jabs and attempting to pop up on the inside and punch or clinch.
It was clear Mayweather was switching tactics, he started to land punches with more success now, he was still getting tagged on the counter, however he looked the fresher of the two men.
Mayweather finished the round stronger and so perhaps some would score it to him, however I don't believe he did quite enough to take the points.
Karate: 10
Boxing: 9
Round 5.
This was a scrappy round for both men, and in truth Conor's punches looked like they had run out of steam, however he was still the one throwing more.
Most of his punches hit the gloves of Mayweather, and the ones that hit his face were not that effective.
This for me is one of those strange facts of boxing, Mayweather landed about 3 clean shots to Mcgregor's 10-15 in the entire round, yet the judges, and most people watching would have given him the round.
Technically the boxer who throws the most landed punches should win the round. Yet Mayweather who looked the fresher more aggressive boxer won this one.
The main thing to note, was that this was a kind of transition round for Mayweather.
In the third and fourth rounds, he had attempted to come forward by ducking Mcgregors jab and working on the inside, forcing the issue and making it more about boxing.
This was the round that he managed to do it without getting tagged so much.
Some of this has to do with the fact that he is such a great analytical boxer, and some to do with Mcgregor's legs getting heavier.
Boxing: 10
Karate: 9
Round 6.
As the fighters waited to come out for this round, the camera was on Mcgregor's corner. We heard John Kavanagh telling Conor not to throw any punches when Mayweather covered up.
"Throw when he throws! Do not throw when he covers up!"
Kavanagh sensed that his man was fatiguing, and was keen for Mcgregor to regain the advantage he had in the earlier rounds by countering Mayweather.
The bell went for the sixth and it was as if Mcgregor had forgotten Kavanagh's words of some ten seconds earlier.
He carried on trying to hit through Mayweather's guard, his instinct to always try and dictate the pace of the fight.
Unfortunately for Mcgregor, the four ounce gloves he is used to fighting in and against. Make it much easier to punch through an opponents guard.
Suddenly though, it was as if the instructions had filtered through.
He started to feint Mayweather, the American obliged and started to throw shots.
At first Mcgregor managed to counter, but tiredness was catching up with him.
Mayweather landed his biggest and best shots, still Mcgregor would not give up and countered with some solid lefts.
Again Mayweather ducked low into a clinch, and then turned his back when he couldn't make it stick.
The referee allowed Mcgregor to carry on attacking him, his punches were wide and low to the side of Mayweather.
Still Floyd did not turn around, instead retreating to the corner.
Frustrated Mcgregor delivered a few quick hammer blows to the top of the head prompting Byrd to jump in and break up the two fighters.
Off the ropes now and Mayweather threw some more bombs, catching Mcgregor cleanly at least once.
As Mayweather rushed in, sensing this was his moment he was reminded by a counter punch or two that though Conor was tiring, there was still enough in him to deliver a knockout blow to a chin held too high in eager anticipation.
Mayweather waited, Mcgregor kept throwing innefective punches to the arms.
A flurry from Mayweather as he ducked and unleashed a quick four punch combo, the last catching Mcgregor clean.
Mayweather smiled as if to say; I got you now, his smile was returned answering, oh no you haven't.
The round ended with Mayweather throwing short sharp punches to the body, while Mcgregor countered with one or two of his own.
The round was close, but Mayweather was definitely the more effective.
Boxing: 10
Karate: 9
Round 7.
Mcgregor opened with his obligatory one-two to the gloves of Mayweather.
Perhaps the weakness in the shots was a signal for Mayweather to start throwing more caution to the wind as he started to press forward.
Mayweather landed a couple of straight rights that rocked Mcgregor back. He started to shift to body and head, though he wasn't getting all his own way on the inside.
When they did clinch, Mayweather used his forearm to push Mcgregor's head back, sapping yet more energy from the Irishman.
Suddenly Floyd was landing more than he was missing, straight rights were snapping back Mcgregor's head, the look on the notorious one's face told a story of a man trying to survive.
The referee broke most clinches very quickly, taking away any chance Mcgregor had to recover, this was the easiest round to call.
Boxing: 10
Karate: 9
Round 8.
Surely this was the round when Mayweather would step up and finish the fight.
The British commentary team which included boxers Carl Froch and Tony Bellew, where so busy singing Mayweather's praises, that they missed the fact that Mcgregor seemed to get a second wind.
He opened the round scoring with some clean body shots that had the kind of power we saw in the earlier rounds.
Mayweather attempted to counter and got tagged by the left of Mcgregor as he ducked in under his jab.
Mayweather was still turning his back in the clinches, however on the breakaways he was getting tagged by Mcgregor's right jab.
The moment in the round came when Mcgregor slipped four consecutive Mayweather jabs and then jumped in behind a solid left to the body and right cross to the head.
The hits hurt Mayweather as he spun away trying to counter with punches of his own, however Mcgregor kept slipping and getting in scoring punches.
It was as if Mcgregor had worked out how to keep in the karate range that gave him an advantage.
Now it was Mayweather's turn to eat shots, perhaps this was the moment we had been waiting for, it seemed like Mcgregor had one more question for Mayweather to answer before this fight was out.
The knockout blow never came, however Mcgregor looked like he may not gas out after all . .
we salivated at the fought of a thrilling twelfth round stoppage.
Karate: 10
Boxing: 9
Round 9.
Round nine delivered the gift of a stiff jab to the face and a solid right to the body of Floyd Mayweather.
It was an unwelcome and unasked for present and the body shot seemed to stall Mayweather, he crouched and backed into the corner.
Could this be it?!
One of the Showtime commentators who had a great view of Mayweather's face shouted out in hysteria . .
"Mayweather's in trouble! He's in trouble! He's hurt!"
Mcgregor sensed that this could be his moment, he rushed forward throwing low body shots.
Once again Mayweather turned his back, and the referee inexplicably jumped in and broke the fighters up.
Then Floyd tried to rush in as Byrd was pushing Conor back to the opposite corner of the ring.
Mcgregor threw out a jab to protect himself which caught Mayweather on the chin. He shrugged as if to say You rushed me mate.
The referee took even more time talking to Mcgregor, allowing Mayweather to fully recover from the earlier body blow, and with that went any chance that the UFC star had of winning this fight.
When they rejoined Mcgregor tried to keep up the work rate, but that last flurry used up any gas he had left in the tank.
All he had now was his courage and his head movement, he tried to use both to best advantage as Mayweather came stalking in throwing punches with increasing accuracy.
Mcgregor tried to clinch and lean, the ref wasn't having any of it, there was to be no respite.
The MMA specialist was out on his feet now, Mayweather landed shot after shot. However the Irishman in his day job is used to taking elbows and knees to the face and staying on his feet.
He refused to go down, he kept throwing tired shots in response, weak but still accurate. Mayweather looked ragged, like he wanted to finish the fight with one big head shot.
The bell gave Mcgregor one more round.
Boxing: 10
Karate: 9
Round 10.
Mcgregor started the round with his arm extended resting on top of the head of Floyd Mayweather, signifying to all his utter exhaustion.
In the end his lack of experience meant that he had punched himself to a standstill.
If he could fight like he did in the first few rounds, then he'd have a chance.
Alas no, Mayweather unleashed his biggest and best shots, Mcgregor staggered back.
Mayweather pounced hitting Mcgregor with a clean overhand right, still he held back from the absolute flurry that everyone was expecting.
Mayweather wanted the clean knockout, in the end though, the ref felt that Mcgregor was taking too much punishment and jumped in to end the fight.
Although the UFC man is used to taking more punishment than Mayweather could dish out, the rules of boxing state that a fight should be stopped if a boxer is no longer defending himself, and Mcgregor barely was.
So that it was it, 1:05 into the tenth round, the fight was over, history was made, and Mayweather was still undefeated.
Winner by TKO: Boxing
Conclusion
Before the fight we were told by boxing fans, boxers, ex-boxers, and of course Mayweather fans, that Conor Mcgregor was going to get an absolute hiding.
Words and phrases were used like; embarrassing, a joke, won't lay a glove on him and a circus.
Mcgregor fans felt their man had a chance, and felt he could win.
When all the dust settles, and the fight is viewed again and again in years to come, history will show that a man who had zero boxing experience, lasted 10 rounds with one of the greats of the sport.
It will also show that he gave Mayweather plenty to think about, and perhaps had he more experience and time to prepare, he well could have shocked the world.
Now though, the sweetest/most annoying words in the world will be repeated over and over; "I told you so . ."
For me though that misses the point, the bigger picture is that Conor Mcgregor did give Mayweather problems.
If a more experienced one of Floyd's previous opponents had used similar tactics then perhaps he would have been beaten some time ago.
Mcgregor landed 111 punches on Mayweather, that's more than the great Manny Pacquiao, and had a higher landed/thrown percentage than Canelo Alvarez.
Even though karate lost the night, I think a lot of boxers will have watched the fight with interest. It will only be a matter of time before we see Mcgregor's style adopted and perfected.
Just like in MMA when wrestling and Gracie inspired Brazilian Ju-Jitsu dominated, only to be superseded by disciplines like karate, and more recently points scoring kick-boxing.
So too will boxing have its own renaissance; and perhaps at some point in the hidden folds of the future, someone will point back to this match as the moment that revolutionised boxing.
WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK? DID YOU FEEL THAT MCGREGOR GAVE A GOOD ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF? OR DID MAYWEATHER NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE CRUISING TO VICTORY? AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!