The former owners of the Sacramento Kings will be among the millions watching the long-awaited bout between Floyd Mayweather and UFC star Conor McGregor later this month. In fact, they will have a very vested interest in the outcome.
According to a report from the Associated Press, Gavin and Joe Maloof have placed a bet amounting to $880,000 on the outcome. They’ll be banking on Mayweather in the bout between the boxing star and the UFC phenom, but they won’t be pocketing the winnings should Mayweather come through for the win.
Instead, the Maloofs will donate the profits to charity. After having to split the $880,000 bet into two separate $440,000 tickets, the Maloof brothers are starting to go against the grain with the trends. Money has started to slant more on McGregor in recent weeks, although that is to be expected in a match like this, where the favorite takes most of the early money and the underdog begins to get some money on them as the match approaches.
“We have a huge opportunity to help a lot of people in charities, so we decided to do it,” Gavin Maloof said to the AP. “It’s a neat way to enjoy the fight, and it’s a fun way to promote our product.”
Mayweather is a favorite in the match, so betting on Money is a safe bet to make. But Gavin Maloof is also showing some neighborly love. He lives next door to Flloyd Mayweather in Las Vegas, and it was after visiting Mayweather during a workout that Maloof decided to get in on the action and called up his brother.
“So I called my brother, Joe, and said, ‘We should put a wager on Floyd, because I don’t think he’s going to lose,’ ” Gavin said. “Not to take anything away from Conor. He’s good. But I just like Floyd a lot.”
So, what happens if McGregor pulls off the upset?