Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor finally fight on August 26 at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena in a light-middleweight match-up that has been building for over two years.
Here, Press Association Sport revisits the timeline of how a once-unlikely fight came to be made.
July 2, 2015 - Appearing as a guest on television programme Conan, Ireland's McGregor told host Conan O'Brien, referring to Mayweather: "I would box him if the opportunity arose."
December 30, 2015 - Mayweather responds for the first time, and their rivalry begins to grow, when he tells FightHype.com: "They say he talks a lot of trash and people praise him for it, but when I did it, they say I'm cocky and arrogant."
January 8, 2016 - On the suggestion they are treated unequally, McGregor, now 29, wrote on Facebook: "Don't ever bring race into my success again."
May 6, 2016 - Several months had passed in which McGregor even took to Twitter to insist he was retiring when The Sun reported the two were close to agreeing what would be a lucrative fight. However Dana White, president of the UFC, swiftly responded to insist "It's not true".
May 8, 2016 - McGregor further raised the prospect of the match-up when, amid the build-up to Amir Khan's defeat by Saul Alvarez in Las Vegas, he wrote on Twitter: "MMA versus boxing".
May 13, 2016 - Mayweather responded by telling Showtime, the television network he has long fought on: "Hopefully we can make the fight happen. He's no pushover."
November 30, 2016 - Following six months in which many observers remained sceptical and suspected the publicity-hungry fighters were attempting to further build their already significant reputations, McGregor was granted a boxing licence in California.
January 11, 2017 - The public negotiations begin with Mayweather offering the Irishman $15million to fight him, and then White within 48 hours offering each fighter $25million.
February 15, 2017 - America's Mayweather, so often determined to remain in control of any significant announcements via social media, writes on Instagram: "There hasn't been any deal made in regards to a fight between myself and any other fighter."
Feburary 16, 2017 - Mayweather starts as a 25-1 favourite to win the potential fight as the first betting lines come out.
March 8, 2017 - While in London to promote a fight between his protege Gervonta Davis and Britain's Liam Walsh, Mayweather tells McGregor via ESPN: "Sign the paper. You said you were the boss, just sign the paper and let's make it happen."
March 10, 2017 - Speaking on his Undefeated tour, Mayweather further builds excitement and speculation by saying: "I'm coming out of retirement just to fight Conor McGregor. Let's fight in June."
March 15, 2017 - White, also appearing on Conan and therefore almost bringing the saga full circle, says: "I do think it's going to happen. There's so much money involved, I just don't see how it doesn't happen."
April 16, 2017 - While posting an image of him wearing boxing gloves, McGregor writes on Instagram: "Join me in the preparation of my next fight, being announced very soon."
April 20, 2017 - He then posts another of him shadow boxing, with the caption: "Floyd may crap his jocks after all and if so I will go back to true fighting or just pick another boxer like Manny (Pacquiao) or something."
May 8, 2017 - McGregor and White agree terms to fight Mayweather, nearing the conclusion of the deal the Irishman has long pursued.
May 20, 2017 - Speaking at the post-Davis-Walsh press conference in London, Mayweather becomes the centre of attention and again talks up the possibility of the Mayweather-McGregor match-up.
May 21, 2017 - Despite a hope that they are nearing an agreement, McGregor writes on Twitter: "Sign your end Floyd or you are just a mouth."
June 5, 2017 - The biggest fight of 2017 between two professional boxers, Gennady Golovkin and Alvarez, is announced for Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on September 16, potentially affecting Mayweather-McGregor. The American has long favoured fighting in May and September, and the T-Mobile Arena has become Vegas' favoured fight venue.
June 14, 2017 - A boxing match between Mayweather versus McGregor is finally signed for August 26 at the T-Mobile Arena.
Source: PA
