Mayweather’s whole style is based on the counter, where he responds to other’s efforts and attacks the empty spaces created. For him to be caught flush with one of those was an alarm bell—McGregor really came to box.

Off to the races.
Off to the races.
Image: AP Photo/Isaac Brekken
A little showboating never hurt anyone.
A little showboating never hurt anyone.
Image: AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

After McGregor’s excellent first three rounds (in which Mayweather had also established that McGregor wasn’t going to be able to seriously hurt him with his punches), Mayweather switched his style and the fight changed dramatically. He started to keep his hands up and come forward. “I turned him into a Mexican tonight,” McGregor said, smiling, after the fight. “He fought like a Mexican.” (Nothing racist about this. What he meant was that Mayweather fought aggressively with no fear, taking a punch to give a punch, like Mexican boxers are reputed to do.)

By the ninth round, McGregor was exhausted and eating shots.

The knockout is coming.
The knockout is coming.
Image: AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

In the end, it was the intensity and duration of a boxing match that really got to McGregor. Mayweather had 39 fights under his belt by the time that McGregor decided to put down his wrench, give up plumbing, and turn to mixed-martial arts in 2013. That experience really showed as the fatigue set in.

In the 10th, it was over.

The last few moments.
The last few moments.
Image: AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

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