Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza to Depart After Conor McGregor 'Weasel' Remark
Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza, Formerly Called 'Weasel' by Conor McGregor, to Depart In a surprising turn of events, Stephen Espinoza, the President of Showtime Sports, who once faced the brunt of Conor McGregor's "weasel" jibe, is reportedly set to step down from his position. This decision coincides with the forthcoming shutdown of Showtime Sports by the end of the year, marking the end of Espinoza's impressive 37-year career in the sports and corporate world. In a recent statement, the 53-year-old expressed, "The company's decision is not a reflection of the work we have done in recent years, nor of our long and proud history. Unfortunately, in a rapidly evolving media marketplace, the company has had to make difficult choices allocating resources, resetting priorities, and reshaping its content offering. While today's news is certainly difficult and disappointing, it is entirely out of our control." One of the pivotal moments in Espinoza's tenure was the promotion of Conor McGregor's epic 2017 bout against Floyd Mayweather, which was broadcast on Showtime. This fight led to the now-infamous altercation on stage during the global promotional tour. McGregor's outburst was triggered by his belief that his microphone had been tampered with to favor his opponent's narrative in the lead-up to the bout. Ultimately, Mayweather emerged victorious, extending his professional record to an astounding 50-0 with a 10th-round TKO stoppage in the light-middleweight contest. Earlier this year, it was revealed that McGregor, the Irish MMA superstar, had to extend an apology to Espinoza to secure access to the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia event. Reflecting on the encounter, Espinoza shared in August, "We did run into each other backstage at Tank vs. Ryan. He came up and said hello; we literally almost bumped into each other. He was respectful, and I think I reciprocated with the same level of respect. He could sense that I wasn't overly effusive in my reception. I wasn't overly enthusiastic." In a surprising twist, McGregor reportedly offered an apology during this encounter, saying, "If I offended you, I'm sorry, but maybe we can do it all again." It's worth noting that the fight between Mayweather and McGregor went on to achieve remarkable success, amassing five million Pay-Per-View sales and generating revenue in the ballpark of £400 million. This accomplishment secured its place as the fourth biggest fight of all time, even when adjusted for inflation.
