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Irish fans make their voices heard at McGregor-Mayweather weigh-in

Mayweather

John Locher / AP

Floyd Mayweather Jr., center left, and Conor McGregor face off during a weigh-in Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Las Vegas. The two are scheduled to fight in a boxing match Saturday in Las Vegas.

Mayweather-McGregor Final News Conference

Undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor of Ireland face off during a news conference at the MGM Grand Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017. Launch slideshow »

On the eve of Saturday’s mega-fight with Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather walked into T-Mobile Arena to the roar of thousands of emphatic boos.

Mayweather’s hometown venue was taken over by thousands of Irish fans. They flooded the stands draped in green, white and orange to sing chants, cheer McGregor and boo Mayweather.

“There’s a saying about the Irish,” McGregor said onstage. “You’ll never beat us. We roll in, and we take over whatever we want. Las Vegas is Ireland now.”

Mayweather (49-0, 26 KOs) walked stoically through the chaos and onto the scale, where he came in at 149.5 pounds – well below the 154-pound limit.

“I’ve been here before, and I know what it takes when it’s a fight of this magnitude,” Mayweather said. “The fans can’t fight for you. It comes down to the two competitors in the ring.”

Despite Mayweather coming in nearly five pounds below the limit and appearing to be in great shape, McGregor wasn’t impressed.

“That’s the worst shape I’ve ever seen him,” he said. “I’m going to breeze through him. Trust me on that.”

McGregor (21-3 in MMA) tipped the scales at 153 pounds for his pro boxing debut, but is expected to outweigh Mayweather by close to 20 pounds Saturday night when they step into the ring.

“I’m a professional,” McGregor said. “I’m in peak physical condition. (I’ll be) a lot bigger, a lot bigger than him. I’d say close to 170 (pounds).”

Mayweather, 40, is making his return to boxing after a 2-year retirement and hasn’t won by knockout since 2011, but believes that will end Saturday in the final fight of his illustrious career.

“It won’t go the distance,” he said with a smirk. “Mark my words.”

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