Floyd Mayweather insists losing is not an option against Conor McGregor

The five-weight world champion puts his perfect 49-0 record on the line against the flamboyant Irishman who will be making his professional boxing debut.

Victory for Mayweather - which is a 1/4 chance with Sky Bet - would take him past Rocky Marciano's all-time record and the 40-year-old is adament that the thought of a shock defeat has not even crossed his mind.

"I try not to think about losing or taking an L, that's really not my focus," he said.

"I just try and really focus on being positive. I just worry about going out there and doing what I do best. Every day I tell myself I'm a winner.

"I was born to be a winner at life. Not just in the ring, but I was born to be a winner. So whatever I do, I try to give it 100 per cent and I try to push my limit.

"I truly believe I'm taking the bigger risk. But it's a big reward for both. I have the 49-0 record. When a fighter has lost before, if he loses again, they say, "Oh, it's nothing. He's lost before'.

Click here to find out why most of the money is on McGregor to win

Floyd Mayweather to be knocked down and win is 8/1 with Sky Bet

"But when a fighter has been dominating for 20-some years and never lost, everything is on the line; my legacy, my boxing record - everything.

"But I wouldn't be where I'm at if I didn't take risks. So I don't mind putting the 49-0 record on the line. I don't mind putting everything on the line for this fight. I feel like it's worth it."

Mayweather has played down recent footage which shows 29-year-old McGregor - a 3/1 outsider with Sky Bet - seemingly knocking down sparring partner Paulie Malignaggi - a former two-weight world champion.

Malignaggi subsequently walked out of the training camp, but Mayweather is confident it will have no bearing on the fight.

"I had a chance to see it," said Mayweather.

"And my thought is that I think it was really interesting ... but with a lot of rabbit punching, a lot of illegal rabbit punching behind the head, a lot of grappling, a lot of wrestling and a lot of illegal shots.

"That's just my honest opinion. I'm pretty sure the referee is going to be fair on both sides and I just want a good solid fight.

"Some may call it a knockdown and some may not call it a knockdown. But at the end of the day, it only counts once you get under the lights - that was just in a gym.

"We sit here judging Paulie, a guy that's been retired and just commentating and traveling the world and not going to the gym at all, instead of going in there with a guy who is just working out, an athlete period, just working out every day."

Rematch to take place in the UFC octagon within one year is 49/1 with Sky Bet

Mayweather has been quick to play down the significance of passing Marciano's long-standing record.

"I don't focus on other fighters. But I'm appreciative for every fighter that paved the way for me to be where I'm at.

I always talk about how I appreciate the legendary fighters. My focus is to go out there and give the fans an exciting fight even though I know this is number 50 and we're constantly talking about Rocky Marciano.

I just always like to let the fans and the people know Rocky Marciano is a legend. Rocky Marciano did it his way, and I would just like to try to do it the Mayweather way.

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