“He hasn’t got a hope.”
People are already writing Conor McGregor off in this crossover megafight that hasn’t even been booked yet, and that’s completely understandable.
Although Mayweather is a 40 year old man and hasn’t fought since inside the ring since September 2015, it’s hard to deny his talents. One doesn’t amass a pristine 49-0 record as a prize pugilist without being incredibly talented at the art.
As for McGregor, his knockout power is undeniable. Tri-Star head coach Firas Zahabi was correct when he stated that his patented Celtic cross contains the ‘death-touch’. That left hand of his has a great habit of putting people to sleep. However, if he were to fight Mayweather in the ring, he would be stepping out of his world and into Money’s realm.
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The rules are different, the gloves are bigger, the fights go on for much longer and his kicking and ground game would be rendered null and void. The odds would be completely stacked against him, but Joe Rogan would have you convinced that the Irishman could do it.
During the Fight Companion podcast for UFC Fortaleza, the UFC colour commentator laid out a scenario in which David beats Goliath and it really scans.
“There’s something about Conor McGregor. I’m telling you, there’s something about that dude. He’s got something going on. He’s got a little something extra special but he would need everything to line up.”
In this dream scenario, two things would need to happen. Firstly, Mayweather would have to not be the same elite boxer we’ve become accustomed to seeing. He would have to completely underestimate McGregor’s abilities and write the fight off as an easy payday.
Then McGregor would have to get grimey.
“Mayweather would have to dismiss him as a threat. He’d have to not train hard enough, he’d have to not seriously consider the possibility that Conor connects on him and knocks him out. And then Conor would have to do some roughhousing. He’d have to hold him in the clinch. He’d have to hold him and hit him. He’d have to try and get off as many shots and bully him around and wear him out.”
Rogan pointed out that McGregor would also have the advantage in the size department. Mayweather last fought at 146 lbs, a pound heavier than McGregor weighed in at for his featherweight title fight against Jose Aldo. The difference is McGregor cut a lot to make championship weight, and that could play into his hands.
“It’s a possibility. He’s a much bigger man. He’s a much bigger man. If you compare the two of them frame-wise, if they ever do do it, and they’re standing right at each other, looking down at each other doing eye-to-eye, you’re gonna go ‘oh, shit.’ Conor’s a big fuck. He can make that 145-pound cut when he’s on death’s door, but Mayweather makes it easy.”
All hope is not lost.
