Conor McGregor sparks melee with Floyd Mayweather Jnr entourage and has heated Paulie Malignaggi exchange

Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Conor McGregor traded verbal jabs as the circus-like countdown to their money-spinning superfight cranked into overdrive on the Las Vegas Strip.

Thousands of fans including a sizeable contingent of Irish supporters thronged the heart of the Nevada boxing capital to greet the 40-year-old undefeated former welterweight boxing champion Mayweather and mixed martial arts star McGregor at their separate grand arrival ceremonies.

The two men passed each other after their separate introductions, with McGregor taunting the American with a shout of “Why didn’t you want to face off?” – triggering a melee between their two entourages.

Earlier, Mayweather had taunted McGregor over his fitness, telling the US website FightHype that he believed his opponent would struggle to make the 154-pound limit for Sunday morning’s bout (Hong Kong time), which is tipped to became the richest fight in history.

“Conor McGregor is extremely heavy right now,” Mayweather said. “I think he’s 164 so he’s still got 10 pounds to go.”

McGregor hit back at Mayweather’s comments.