The World Boxing Council (WBC) has crafted a custom ‘Money Belt’ encrusted with 3,360 diamonds to be contested between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in their megafight this Saturday.
Dubbed “the most unique piece ever made in the history of all sports,” the belt’s face is made from 1.5kg of 24 carat gold, 600 sapphires, 160 emeralds and mounted on crocodile leather along with the diamonds.
The WBC is recognized as one of the four major boxing sanctioning bodies; its iconic green and gold belts have been won and worn by such boxing greats as Mike Tyson, Roberto Duran and Muhammad Ali.
Mayweather has come out of a two-year retirement to fight McGregor in an attempt to bring his unbeaten professional record to 50-0, by way of a hybrid fight with the brash Dubliner.
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“The WBC is proud to present the ‘Money Belt,’ which is without question the most incredible unique piece ever made in the history of all sports,” a WBC statement reads, written in broken English.
“The World Boxing Council supports Floyd Mayweather today just as it has been the history that binds one of the greatest fighters of all time and green belt.
“Floyd is the only fighter to ever win WBC Championships in five different weight categories and done so by defeating the best of the best in each division.”
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman presented the belt during a news conference in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
Mayweather, who goes by the moniker ‘Money,’ captured his first WBC title in the 130lbs super featherweight division, beating Genaro Hernandez via eighth round TKO in October 1998, emerging victorious from 25 bouts in total for the WBC belt.
The gesture form the organization was to reward him as “the most loyal ambassador of the green and gold.” Mayweather gained the special edition WBC ‘diamond,’ ‘gold and ‘emerald’ in his victories over Miguel Cotto, Saul Alvarez, and fellow multi-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao respectively.
The WBC explains that while McGregor has been backed with support from the UFC in the buildup to his crossover fight with Mayweather, it commits to standing “in firm support” of their man Mayweather.
“The world will be watching and boxing is proudly represented by Floyd Mayweather. The WBC wishes both fighters the best of luck in this epic battle,” the WBC said.
Despite the WBC’s support for the 40-year-old Mayweather, the belt has found favor with his opponent McGregor.
“A beautiful skull and a beautiful belt to add to my collection of skulls and belts,” McGregor said on his Instagram account, referring to Mayweather’s carefully groomed dome and the new belt.
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McGregor himself has a penchant for collecting belts, having become the first man in history to simultaneously hold UFC belts in two different weight divisions.
