Mayweather says McGregor has the edge
Even though his odds have plummeted since the fight was announced in June, Floyd Mayweather is a heavy favourite to beat mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in their boxing match on Aug. 26, with the oddsmakers giving him around an 85 per cent implied probability of victory.
Mayweather is a five-division world boxing champion, while McGregor began strictly training as a boxer only recently. But Mayweather told ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith this fight might be much closer than everyone thinks.
“He’s a lot younger. When you look at myself and Conor McGregor on paper, he’s taller, has a longer reach, he’s a bigger man from top to bottom. He’s a lot younger, so youth is on his side,” Mayweather, 40, said of McGregor, 29. “And I’ve been off a couple of years, and I’m in my 40s. So if you look at everything on paper, it leans toward Conor McGregor.”
McGregor is an inch taller and has a two-inch reach advantage.
Mayweather last fought in September 2015, easily beating Andre Berto by unanimous decision. McGregor beat Eddie Alvarez via TKO at UFC 205 in November.
“I’m not the same fighter I was two years ago. I’m not the same fighter I was five years ago. I lost a step,” he said. “A fighter like Andre Berto isn’t even supposed to go the distance with Floyd Mayweather, but remember, I was 38 …
“I’m not what I used to be.”