IT is the most anticipated fight in history, and boxing fans are split on who will come out on top tonight.

In the unprecedented big-money bout Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will do battle in the early hours of tomorrow morning.

Both men divide opinion in their respective arenas, and while legendary boxer Mayweather is tipped to get the better of MMA icon McGregor in his debut bout, Bolton’s own mixed martial artist Saul ‘Tha Hangman’ Rogers feels the Irishman will come out on top.

“I’m backing Conor McGregor all the way, 100 per cent,” he told The Bolton News. “Mayweather is a superior boxer, but I just think McGregor is a better fighter and at the end of the day this is going to be a fight. I don’t see this being a pure boxing match, McGregor will make it into a fight and that will suit him.

“Mayweather has also had his problems dealing with southpaws, which McGregor is, and that could make a difference too.

“He’s is the younger, fitter and hungrier guy and all the pressure is on Mayweather. He’s been in Mayweather’s head from the start and I feel he’ll clip him early. I say McGregor will win inside five rounds.”

Rogers’ commitments at the MMA Bolton gym in Farnworth mean he is not with his contemporaries on a trip to McGregor’s home city of Dublin this weekend, but he will be among the early risers – or those staying up through the night – to watch the historic match-up.

And, despite Mayweather’s record, 49 wins from 49, and his opponent having never been in a professional bout before, Bolton’s finest is in no doubt as to the outcome.

“We know Mayweather’s record but I feel he was getting clipped once or twice later in his career,” he added.

“And McGregor deals better with smaller guys, we’ve seen that from him over the years.

“I don’t think the fight will last that long, if McGregor catches him early it’ll be game on – and game over soon after. He has always been predominantly a striker and likes to use his hands, he’s very effective that way.

“His wrestling and jiu jitsu skills are strong, and they could play a massive part too. He can use wrestling clinches to zap Mayweather and make him expend energy.”

Both men are being handsomely paid, to put it mildly, but Rogers says only one – Mayweather – is really risking his reputation tonight, and he would hate to see either’s status, built up over the years, tarnished.

“You’ve got to give McGregor all the respect in the world, he couldn’t have booked a bigger debut fight,” he added. “He once picked Jose Aldo apart quickly and his name ended up being regarded as a bit of a joke.

“If that happens to Mayweather he loses what money can’t buy and his legacy is dashed forever.”