CONOR: I’LL OUTBOX MAYWEATHER
Confident Conor still aims for KO
Forget the unorthodox movement, karate stance, and everchanging footwork. Conor McGregor intends to shock the world and knock out Floyd Mayweather using nothing more than his hands and the boxing skillset.
A deft and crafty fighter who has already redefined the striking game in mixed martial arts, McGregor threw the book at expert analysts who have spent months hypothesizing his path to victory over undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. McGregor, who will make his professional boxing debut Saturday in Las Vegas, disregarded the scores of pundits who have lambasted his technique and acumen.
“I’ve taken the Marquess of Queensberry rules very seriously, and I will go out, and I will perform,” said McGregor at the final press conference before Saturday’s bout against Mayweather. “I’m not gonna look to implement anything. I’m gonna outbox this man at his own game. That’s how skilled, and how much of a different level I am to him.”
Outfitted in an emerald-green three-piece suit, McGregor, a twodivision UFC champion who currently holds the lightweight title, emphasized his commitment to training as he attempts to record one of the biggest upsets in sports history.
McGregor also added that his intense regimen is in stark juxtaposition to Mayweather, who has stated that he will convene at his gentleman’s club, Girl Collection, every night leading up to “The Money Fight.”
“You see the work put in from me compared to him in this camp. I’ve taken this very seriously. I’ve had referees in camp,” explained McGregor. “We are prepared for 12, three-minute rounds of nonstop pace, and I will go forward, and I will put the pressure on him and break this old man. Trust me on that.”
With only Friday’s weigh-in remaining before Saturday night’s bout, McGregor continued to elaborate on what he felt was a miscalculation by Mayweather. Originally slated to fight in 10-ounce gloves, Mayweather openly accepted McGregor’s challenge to change the glove size to eight ounces.
The Nevada Athletic Commission obliged, allowing a one-time exception to their rules. The lower weight and smaller size of the gloves appears to be an advantage for the heavy-hitting McGregor, not only for the additional force with which he can connect, but because, defensively, Mayweather has less leather and padding to protect his chin.
“We are more than ready; however, eight-ounce gloves — he made a big, big error in my opinion.
“I don’t see him lasting two rounds. I feel I’ll have the decision to end it inside one … he messed up with them eight-ounce gloves,” McGregor said.
McGregor first mentioned fighting Mayweather in July 2015 during a late-night appearance on “Conan” with Conan O’Brien.
McGregor has since claimed a pair of UFC titles, breaking records in mixed martial arts as the first fighter to hold a pair of UFC championship belts simultaneously. He is responsible for some of the highest-selling pay-perviews in UFC history, and in his last fight, at UFC 205, McGregor set the all-time gate record at Madison Square Garden, taking in $17.7-million for his lightweight title fight against Eddie Alvarez.
McGregor-Mayweather is estimated to draw upwards of $80 million at gate. And McGregor believes that Mayweather was lured by greed to come out of retirement and accept the fight.
“When it’s all said and done, you know what, I’m gonna feel a little bit sad because you should’ve all kept your mouth shut,” stated McGregor. “You should’ve left me over in that other game that I’m from, that more ruthless game where we bounce heads off the canvas and drill them into the floor. You should’ve left me where I was because this man is not on my level, he’s not even a quarter of the man I am.”