CONOR’S NOT YET A GONER

weight after tinkering at 175 in the win against Charles Adamu. Middleweight is arguably the division best-suited to Saunders (right).

But he found it too difficult to boil down to 160lbs. Saunders was a brilliant amateur. I remember him sparring my son Shane many years ago. Shane rated him highly, remarking on his skill and awkwardness as a lefty. Saunders needs opponents to come at him. Canelo is just the kind of guy to bring out the best in him. I would back Canelo every time but the clash of styles gives Saunders an opportunity. Canelo’s only defeat came against Floyd Mayweather in 2013. Even though one judge somehow saw it as a draw, Canelo was outboxed that night.

He was just 23 then and found the occasion too much. And it is one thing being outboxed by Mayweather and another suffering the same fate against Saunders.

Canelo is an even better fighter now. He attacks with intelligence and closes the ring down brilliantly.

Saunders is brave as they come and loves these fencing matches.

While I give him a chance, this game is about levels. Canelo has proven his is beyond anything Saunders has experienced.

CONOR McGREGOR may be worth £100million and live in a £2m home, but it was a cold dose of reality which proved most valuable on his road back from infamy.

Fifteen months ago the Irishman (above) was choked out by lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov to bring an end to their vitriolic rivalry. For McGregor, 31, it signalled the start of a downward spiral in which he was arrested in Miami following an altercation with a fan and fined in Dublin for assault.

But away from the consequences of crime, McGregor found refuge in Crumlin Boxing Club. “I needed to regroup where I began and go back to my roots and stay connected to my roots,” he said. But it is to mixed martial arts that McGregor returns tonight as he takes on 50-fight veteran Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. “I’m coming with all my intent and all my skills to put Donald away,” he said. “This is what I love to do. It’s good to be back.” ■ Conor McGregor vs Donald Cerrone is on BT Sport Box Office tonight, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

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