Thumbs down for McGregor

– Australia’s Jeff Horn gives Conor McGregor (above) little chance of beating Floyd Mayweather in Saturday’s super-fight and hopes the American will “annihilate” the mixed martial arts fighter for the sake of boxing.

Horn, who became WBO welterweight champion by beating 38-year-old Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane last month, said McGregor would struggle to even land a punch on the unbeaten American.

Mayweather (49-0) has not fought in nearly two years but is a heavy favourite to surpass Rocky Marciano’s record in the Las Vegas bout, which purists have dismissed as an exhibition.

“I hope Mayweather annihilates him and I think he will,” Horn said in comments published by News Ltd media yesterday.

“It will be dreadful for the sport of boxing if Mayweather, one of the greatest fighters of all time, gets rolled by a guy having his first fight but I can’t see McGregor doing too well even with all the hype.

“Their fight is going to be under boxing rules and Mayweather will probably not even get hit.”

Saturday’s fight is tipped to test the pay-per-view and revenue records set by the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout in 2015.

Mayweather’s defeat of the Filipino generated over $400 million from 4.6 million pay-per-views.

After Horn’s own win over Pacquiao, the Australian immediately laid down a challenge to Mayweather, holding up a walking stick to bait the 40-year-old.

Former schoolteacher Horn is set for a rematch against Pacquiao in Brisbane later in the year but said he would “love a crack” at Mayweather. –