Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. — it’s one of those what-if fantasy battles from the magazines of old that’s coming true.
And with a pair of upcoming card releases there will be a battle on cardboard, too.
While we get to wait for the fight on Aug. 26 — one that should be a promotional and pop culture spectacle — we’re getting the first autographs for Mayweather soon to go with McGregor’s limited and pricey cardboard already on the market.
Keep reading for a tale of the tape so far …
Right now, MMA cards are a dominating force compared to boxing cards with Topps regularly releasing UFC products throughout the calendar year, while it’s been years since there was a regularly produced boxing product. Because of this, right now, Mayweather is the distinct underdog on cardboard.
Mayweather appears on fewer than 30 standard cards with appearances in the 2010 Ringside Round One boxing set where he’s got about 20 cards. His only other appearances include a pair of Sports Illustrated for Kids cards, three cut autograph creations from The Bar in 2015 and five cards in 2010 Sport Kings Series D. He’s never had a certified auto signed for a card company but there are at least two upcoming products that will include his ink — 2017 Topps Allen & Ginter and a high-end brand from Leaf Trading Cards called Pearl that’s merely been teased online but not formally announced. Allen & Ginter is set to arrive on July 19. Those autographs will easily be in big demand given his place in boxing history.
On the other hand, McGregor collectors have a lot more options — though not high-volume — as he’s got 10 times as many cards as Mayweather and nearly 100 different certified autographs. His earliest ink came in 2013 Topps UFC Bloodlines and has three rare parallels — red ink (/15), Red (/8) and a 1/1 Platinum — but he’s been a regular (still rare) signer ever since with all of those autos for Topps. UFC Knockout is the brand where he’s been found the most in that time with more than 50 different auto cards in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 releases. His newest autos are also in the 2017 UFC Fire, an online-exclusive from Topps. It’ll cost you about $200 if you want a McGregor auto right now on eBay, while completed auctions show most selling for somewhere between $100 and $500 for his Bloodlines ink when graded.
Oh, and speaking of magazines, fans of the big fight’s stars will want to check out the Blowout Cards booth (No. 854) at the National Sports Collectors Convention beginning on July 26 in Chicago. That’s the only place where an exclusive Beckett Sports Card Monthly NSCC issue limited to just 500 copies can be found. One cover will focus on Mayweather and the other will focus on McGregor for this show-only special copy of the magazine, which will include an extra gift with purchase.
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