Mayweather tried to place $400K bet on himself hours before fight
They don't call him "Money" Mayweather for nothing.
Mere hours before he was to put his undefeated record on the line in a superfight with UFC star Conor McGregor, money was on Floyd Mayweather's mind.
The boxing legend entered the M Resort in Las Vegas at 3:30 p.m. PT with the intention of placing a $400,000 bet that he would win the fight by knockout before the midway point of the ninth round, according to ESPN's David Purdum. He was denied, however, as a source said the sportsbook had concerns about the legality of a participant in the fight predicting the way the bout would end.
"I think that we bet 100 on 9 1/2," Mayweather confirmed to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio after the fight, preferring not to divulge the exact figure.
"I gave my guy six figures to go bet. I have to make sure he bet because earlier today I went to the sportsbook to bet and they wouldn't let me bet," he added.
Mayweather later told SportsCenter that he settled on an $87,000 bet through a friend after the $400,000 was turned down.
He won by TKO in the 10th round.