It’s been eight years since Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor stepped into the ring in Paradise, Nevada, in a fight that marked a turning point in combat sports. The spectacle generated record numbers—over $600 million in revenue, 4.5 million PPV buys, and a sold-out arena—but the bout is still blamed for creating a crack in boxing’s credibility.

Remembering a historic but disappointing fight

On August 26, 2017, the undefeated Mayweather defeated McGregor by technical knockout in the 10th round. The American walked away with $280 million, while the Irishman, making his pro boxing debut after his UFC success, earned $130 million. The event was an unprecedented financial hit, but for many, it cast serious doubt on boxing’s legitimacy as a sport.

Analyst and former fighter Chael Sonnen reignited the debate on his Beyond the Fight podcast, calling that night “a colossally disappointing moment” for boxing. He argued that despite the minimal weight difference, the fact that Mayweather needed 30 minutes to stop an opponent with no professional boxing experience exposed the sport’s flaws.

“Everyone thought boxing was the pinnacle of technique. But that fight showed that even under strict rules, the best boxer doesn’t always shine as he should,” Sonnen said.

Is history repeating with Jake Paul?

Sonnen also warned about the current wave of crossover fights, comparing that night to the potential matchup between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis. For him, the risk is repeating the “Mayweather-McGregor effect”: a money-making spectacle that chips away at boxing’s credibility.

He recalled that Paul had been in talks to fight Anthony Joshua, which would have offered a higher level of competition. But after negotiations collapsed, turning to Davis, in Sonnen’s eyes, is a step backward. “Tank Davis is a great fighter, but he doesn’t have the ability to sell a fight on a global scale. Paul does, but the spectacle loses quality,” he argued.

A debate dividing boxing

The 2017 Mayweather-McGregor fight continues to spark controversy: a cultural and financial phenomenon, yet one that left lasting scars on boxing’s reputation. Today, every crossover bout between traditional stars and media personalities reignites the same question.

Is boxing enriched by these spectacles, or does it lose legitimacy with each attempt to mix entertainment and real competition? Eight years later, the shadow of that fight still divides the boxing world.