...AND SAVANNAH JOINS POOL OF TALENT
CONOR McGREGOR does not stand a chance in his mega-money “mismatch” with Floyd Mayweather Junior in Las Vegas.
That i s according to IBF world supermiddleweight champion James DeGale, who will be ringside when the superstar of UFC meets boxing’s crown prince.
The bout is expected to be one of the most lucrative sporting events of all time with projected revenues standing at almost £400million.
But DeGale said: “It’s going to be a great event and has made for a fantastic build- up with McGregor, because he’s just as interesting a character as Mayweather, but it’s a mismatch.
“It’s one of boxing’s greatest fighters against a complete novice, a guy who has never had a pro boxing bout in his life.
“I can see Mayweather stopping him late on or it being a whitewash and him winning every second of every round.
“A lot of people are saying that if McGregor can catch Floyd with that big l eft hand – but Mayweather has fought a lot of southpaws, a lot of people who can punch harder than McGregor.
“I don’t know if we’re FLOYD MAYWEATHER will send Savannah Marshall into the ring for her professional debut next weekend – just months after the British Olympian was ready to hang up her gloves.
Hartlepool’s Marshall is among six support bouts for Mayweather’s showdown against Conor McGregor – joining Nathan Cleverly as a all being drawn into the hype. But when I listen to McGregor, I get doubts in my mind and think, ‘Has he really got a chance, is he that kind of fighter?’
“He i s supremely confident and starts convincing me. But when I really think about it I can’t see it.”
Boxing purists have been quick to dismiss the clash as a spectacle rather than a real contest.
DeGale added: “Some people would say it’s disrespectful to boxing, that a guy from UFC has talked his way into it.
“Will the fight be criticised? Yes. But it will make good TV and everyone will be watching it.” British representative on the undercard.
The 26-year-old was considering retiring at the turn of the year after a decorated amateur career, which had seen her compete at two Olympics and win both World and Commonwealth gold medals.
But after an acquaintance alerted Mayweather and his entourage to Marshall during the ex-world champion’s UK FLOYD MAYWEATHER will have his hands full with Conor McGregor, because he has NEVER faced an opponent as unpredictable as the Irishman.
So says former UFC star Dan Hardy – part of the Sky Sports team for Saturday’s Sin City fight – who insisted: “Floyd has only fought boxers in his previous 49 fights. They move and train like a boxer.
“Boxing has been established for so long, the skill- set has been refined, and it can be mastered.
“In Mixed Martial tour last March, she had no hesitation in turning pro and penning a four-year deal with Mayweather Promotions.
“I went from wanting to quit, to boxing on the undercard of the biggest fight of the century,” said Marshall, known as the Silent Assassin.
“I just felt like I was going through the motions. I’d done two Olympics, a Commonwealth, four World Arts, that stuff is all still being worked out. What Conor brings that Floyd has not met before is unpredictability.
“This is about real fighting. Conor will not fight like a boxer – he won’t just replicate what other boxers have done in the past.
“He has a different fighting stance, and he has the power to throw a punch down the barrel and connect with Floyd.
“In my mind, Floyd wins by decision, but I only say that because it’s the safest bet. Floyd is the best defensive boxer of all time and doesn’t take many risks.
“It’s under boxing rules championships. I’d got to the point where I didn’t want to do it any more.
“But then the next thing I knew, I had Mayweather Promotions knocking on my door wanting to sign me.”
Marshall was unveiled by Mayweather Promotions, suitably, in May, but has had only a brief meeting with the 49-0 American fighter.
Three potential super to keep Floyd safe too, but Floyd is not a puncher and there would be far more risk involved if he was fighting some of the other top names in the UFC lightweight division such as Nate Diaz, Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov.”
Hardy, who admits he was sceptical that the event would ever get made, added: “Floyd has it on his terms but, even so, Conor stepping into boxing is fascinating for everyone and the world is watching.
“They are both at a disadvantage, but Floyd maybe more so. This is such a huge event – we are all intrigued.” middleweight opponents have come and gone, with the latest Amy Coleman of the USA only confirmed last week.
But Marshall is still pinching herself at her involvement in such an anticipated event.
“Just the exposure of being associated with a fighter like Floyd Mayweather – even now, a week away from my pro debut,” she said. “It still doesn’t seem real.”