Floyd Mayweather insists his game plan worked

Floyd Mayweather is adamant that victory over Conor McGregor is his final farewell after banking an estimated $300million from the Las Vegas showdown.

Mayweather ended his two-year retirement for the cross-codes encounter against UFC lightweight champion McGregor, but insists he is now finished for good.

Victory over McGregor extended Mayweather’s unbeaten professional run to 50-0 – surpassing the 49-0 record of boxing legend Rocky Marciano. 

Floyd Mayweather said he anticipated Conor McGregor would use his heavy shots early on

The American said McGregor's performance in the ring exceeded his pre-fight expectations

The American said McGregor’s performance in the ring exceeded his pre-fight expectations

Mayweather was adamant that he would retire for good after beating McGregor on Saturday

Mayweather was adamant that he would retire for good after beating McGregor on Saturday

Mayweather and McGregor in a mutual show of respect after the American's 10th round victory in Las Vegas

Mayweather and McGregor in a mutual show of respect after the American’s 10th round victory in Las Vegas

The 40-year-old now plans to continue working with the fighters signed to his Mayweather Promotions stable.

‘Rocky Marciano was a legend and I just look forward to going in the Hall of Fame some day,’ said Mayweather.

‘This was my last fight tonight, for sure. Tonight I chose the right dance partner to dance with.

‘I did walk away from the sport before. I didn’t have to come back.

‘If I see an opportunity to make $300m or $350m in 36 minutes, why not?

‘But this is the last one. You guys have my word. I had a great career. I can’t complain about anything.

‘You won’t see me in the ring no more. Any guy who calls me out, forget it!’ 

Match referee Robert Byrd declares Mayweather the winner at the end of an absorbing fight

Match referee Robert Byrd declares Mayweather the winner at the end of an absorbing fight

Mayweather walks away with his WBC Money Belt after beating McGregor in Las Vegas

Mayweather walks away with his WBC Money Belt after beating McGregor in Las Vegas

Mayweather insisted his gameplan worked to a tee after the 10th round stoppage, despite the encounter being much more competitive than had been predicted.

McGregor was on top for the opening three rounds, with the UFC lightweight champion landing several clean shots against the defensive Mayweather.

But after that, Mayweather dominated, as his strategy of allowing McGregor to tire himself out paid off.

‘My gameplan was to take my time, take all his shots and then take him out at the end – down the stretch,’ said the former five-weight world champion.

‘Me and my dad talked about it. We wanted him to use the heavy shots in the beginning.

‘I wanted to go out with a bang. I told you there was going to be blood, sweat and tears. 

The referee steps in to stop the fight as Mayweather gets on top in the 10th round

The referee steps in to stop the fight as Mayweather gets on top in the 10th round

Mayweather recovered from a slow start to take control of the fight and grind McGregor down

Mayweather recovered from a slow start to take control of the fight and grind McGregor down

McGregor is rocked backwards as Mayweather connects with the left hand in Las Vegas

McGregor is rocked backwards as Mayweather connects with the left hand in Las Vegas

‘I guaranteed this fight would not go the distance. I was going straight ahead and you’re going to take some punishment.

‘I knew I was going to take some contact. I could have counter-punched and made it boring. I didn’t want to do that. I felt I owed the fans a last hurrah.

‘He’s a hell of a fighter standing up. It kind of shocked me.

‘My dad thought it would be around the sixth or seventh, but we did what we said we were going to do.

‘I’ve been off for a couple of years, I’m a lot older now. I’m not the same Floyd Mayweather I was at 21, or even 40.

‘But I still have a hell of an IQ, i’m still a thinker.’ 

Mayweather celebrates with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC Money Belt

Mayweather celebrates with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman and the WBC Money Belt

Mayweather's class and boxing skills told in the end as McGregor succumbed in the 10th round

Mayweather’s class and boxing skills told in the end as McGregor succumbed in the 10th round

Mayweather also revealed that he had refrained from sparring for the final month of his training camp to ensure that he avoided any late injuries.

He added: ‘I wanted my hands to be 100 per cent for the fight. My hands are real brittle. I wanted them to be solid.

‘So when I shot hard shots, I could break the guy down.

‘If I had got an injury, I wouldn’t have been able to hit as hard.’ 

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