As Conor McGregor predictions go, this stands alone as the single most ambitious of the lot.
Boxing experts, for the most part, would consider it a moral victory for the Irishman if he even survives to hear the final bell due to the gulf in experience between him and his most challenging opponent date, who holds a pristine professional record of 49-0.
Cynics have referred to the bout, McGregor’s first in the boxing ring, as no more than a money grab which will set ‘The Notorious’ up for life and pay off a tax bill for Floyd Mayweather.
But anyone who knows anything about the enigmatic Dubliner is that he simply does not sign a bout agreement unless he is confident of a victory.
Instant hype https://t.co/aDA3uvr9vv
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) July 8, 2017
It’s that kind of self-assurance that saw him accept short-notice fights against both Chad Mendes and Nate Diaz.
And McGregor is not interested in any moral victories. He’s in this to win this and will not be satisfied with landing one glancing blow on the most unhittable fighter in boxing’s history or edging a round in an otherwise lopsided decision in Mayweather’s favour.
He truly believes that he can do to the 40-year-old what he’s been able to do to 18 of his 24 opponents under mixed martial arts rules.
He thinks that he can knock Mayweather out and he’s given his traditional ‘Mystic Mac’ prediction to UFC President Dana White, who is joining McGregor on the promotional world tour which gets underway on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
“I stopped doubting Conor McGregor a long time ago,” White told Speak for Yourself on Monday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzfUUKktg8E
“I told my partner, who was Lorenzo Fertitta at the time, I said ‘I don’t know if this kid can fight but if he can even throw a punch then he’s going to be a huge superstar.’
“Obviously he can fight and obviously he can punch.
“On the world tour for Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor, McGregor was saying ‘I will finish this guy in the first round.’ This is the greatest 145lber ever, the only 145lbs champion ever in UFC history. Conor knocked him out in 13 seconds.
“So last night I landed at LAX and Conor landed at the same time from Ireland. I was waiting for him to get out of the plane. He gets off the flight from Ireland and looks like he was just fitted from Armani.
“And he says: ‘I will knock this man out within four rounds.'”
