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Home / Sport / Boxing

'I'm half black': Conor McGregor fuels racism row as he faces off with Floyd Mayweather in New York

news.com.au
14 Jul, 2017 03:50 AM3 mins to read

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Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor exchange words during a news conference at Barclays Center on Thursday, July 13, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Floyd Mayweather Jr., left, and Conor McGregor exchange words during a news conference at Barclays Center on Thursday, July 13, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Conor McGregor fuelled accusations of racism in New York today as he faced off against Floyd Mayweather in the latest leg of their world press tour for next month's much-anticipated bout.

The fighters had faced off in Los Angeles and Toronto this week to promote their Las Vegas boxing match on August 26, with the Irishman stirring anger by telling Mayweather to "Dance for me, boy."

Addressing the crowd in Brooklyn, McGregor said: "All of the media seem to be saying I'm against black people... Do they not know I'm half black? I'm half black from the belly button down."

Fashionably late. 😏@TheNotoriousMMA's at @barclayscenter! Show starting soon.

Watch #MayMacWorldTour LIVE: https://t.co/etkMmJ0fdB pic.twitter.com/UjADGYdZNX

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) July 14, 2017

McGregor, one of the biggest stars in mixed-martial arts, was clearly the fan favourite on Wednesday in Canada but quickly lost the crowd with his comments in Brooklyn.

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Mayweather, for his part, produced some theatrics to live up the event, showering McGregor with dollar bills.

But both fighters and their promoters were booed at the Barclays Centre as the pair appeared to run out of fresh insults.

McGregor had bragged about the quality of his suits at the first two stops in Los Angeles and Toronto, but emerged sporting floral trousers and a robe he repeatedly claimed was polar bear fur.

Mayweather, who brandished a cheque for 100million US dollars in LA and in Canada carried out a backpack with a wad of cash in it, took to draping himself in an Irish flag for the second evening running.

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The American was received with more chants of "pay your taxes" - in reference to reports he has asked the Internal Revenue Service for more time to settle his 2015 tax bill.

But the crowd also turned on McGregor, who in a bizarre rant took aim not only at Mayweather's financial situation but also rapper 50 Cent.

The mixed martial arts star finished by saying: "To come back here, where I made history, became the first fighter in history to win two UFC titles simultaneously.

"Thanks to you all, I'm blown away by the support."

Mayweather, who retired in 2015 with a perfect 49-0 record and having held world titles at five different weights, responded by ridiculing McGregor for submitting in three of his 24 MMA contests.

The 40-year-old then asked for the music to come on before labelling McGregor "a stripper" and throwing dollar bills over him.

The pair are scheduled to finish their media tour at SSE Wembley Arena at 7pm on Friday.

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