Fury: McGregor to KO Mayweather in Round 1
Fury says that McGregor will land an early KO on Mayweather similar to McGregor’s 13-second takedown of Jose Aldo.
I think Conor McGregor will knock him out in the first 35 seconds, like he done to Jose Aldo…I think McGregor will do him in one round. Come on McGregor! It would be good for boxing if McGregor chinned him. It’s be great for the real people of the world.
Atlas: ‘C’-class boxer McGregor is a ‘caveman’ against Mayweather
Atlas, the boxing trainer and commentator, says McGregor’s MMA skills don’t necessarily translate into boxing skills.
It doesn’t figure to be competitive. You’ve got a guy that they’re gonna say he’s got a puncher’s chance, but he’s in there with a defensive genius. And they’re taking advantage of your imaginations. ‘Oh, he’s got a puncher’s chance.’ Guys like Maidana, Pacquiao, Canelo — they were better punches than McGregor and better fighters. They couldn’t hit him. They couldn’t hurt him. So, really a puncher’s chance? Those are words, those are words to sell the fight. But in reality, not really a puncher’s chance…At the end of the day, myself, most boxing people that have been around the business think it’s a caveman in there with a defensive genius. And usually cavemen don’t win those matches, because in this case they’re not allowed to bring a club. Even if he brought a club, you know what? There would be a lot of strikes. I don’t think that he’d be catching Floyd too easily with that…You got a guy, that yeah he’s a good striker. He might be one of the better strikers in the MMA world, I don’t know. I don’t rate him that way. But in the boxing world, he’s a ‘C’ class fighter.
Duran: McGregor is a ‘clown’ with no chance of beating Mayweather
Duran, a four-weight world boxing champion, gives his opinion on the McGregor-Mayweather fight.
Mayweather beats the guy, it will be a spectacle. A wrestler of that size won’t do anything to Mayweather. If McGregor is serious he will break both arms and legs of Mayweather. Mayweather will beat him. McGregor is a clown…The fight will not hurt boxing, but it will hurt mixed martial arts because you’re talking about a good world champion, and if that guy loses against Mayweather it should be for something.
Mayweather: Woodley is the best UFC fighter
Woodley shares a video while partying with Mayweather. Mayweather:
This is the best UFC fighter right here.
#BestUFCFighter @ufc @floydmayweather / @danbilzerian & @linoeding there for Back up in case @thenotoriousmma has something to say. pic.twitter.com/Mo9SMhWZO8
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) June 25, 2017
Mayweather camp: McGregor-Van Heerden sparring footage ‘staged’
Jones, who is part of Mayweather’s training camp, says sparring footage that shows McGregor struggling in the ring with mid-tier boxer Van Heerden could be part of an elaborate ploy.
I think I’ve seen that sparring. First of all, like I said, I looked at it, but to me it looked (like) it’s a possibility it could be staged. We don’t fall for that, we prepare for anything. Please believe me, I looked at it and I came up with my opinion that it could have been for real but it could have been staged. I don’t know. His style is a different style from Floyd. I don’t want nobody messing with Floyd. He may be more difficult than Floyd’s gonna be for him. Styles make fights. He may give him a different look inside this ring when he’s sparring him than what Floyd’s gonna give him. We don’t take none of that light…I looked it and after a while I watched the whole entirety of it, but I know that it could be staged and that don’t mean anything. We’re not gonna take that lightly. That don’t mean nothing to us. I looked at it, but it don’t mean anything. We’re gonna train like never before. I don’t think Floyd looked at it cause he don’t do that. We’re not worried about that, we don’t worry about that. When you look bad, it don’t matter to us because they could be staged.
Ferguson calls McGregor a ‘pussy’
Ferguson vents his frustration at not being given a fight, with a series of posts to Twitter.
9 Fight Win Streak. If @TeamKhabib Didn't Go MIA Would Have Been 10, If @TheNotoriousMMA Would Stop Being A Pussy 11 & @NateDiaz209 12
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) June 23, 2017
He then responds to No.10 ranked lightweight Al Iaquinta’s call out.
I've Put In My Time & Earned My Ticket Boy. I Went Through Wars & Came Back For More. Beating A Washed Up Diego Don't Cut It. #GetBackToWork https://t.co/GPjyXO8QAn
— Tony Ferguson (@TonyFergusonXT) June 24, 2017
McGregor praises Gallagher’s Bellator win
Gallacher receives praise from McGregor after the 20-year-old, a training partner of McGregor under coach John Kavanagh, submits Chinzo Machida in two minutes, 22 seconds during a showcase bout on Spike TV, before the start of the Bellator NYC pay-per-view from Madison Square Garden. Responding to comparisons to McGregor:
Getting compared to the GOAT? The man who will knock out Floyd [Mayweather]? I’ll take that all day.
Atta boy Jimmy boy!! Smooth work @StrabanimalMMA
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) June 25, 2017
Mayweather trainer worried McGregor will ‘do something stupid’
Jones, who is Mayweather’s assistant trainer, says he has concerns about McGregor in the ring.
One way I can see the fight ending is Floyd outboxing him, beating the crap out of him. Another way I’m going to be concerned about is when Floyd gets to a point where he frustrates him too much, McGregor’s going to do something crazy. That’s the only thing I’m worried about. I would be more concerned about this fight because Floyd’s a little older now. He’s 40 years old. McGregor has crazy weird power, and he’s got weird shots from weird angles. I’m worried about that. But for my prediction in the fight, is Floyd either confusing him and frustrating him and stopping him in the later rounds, or Floyd outboxing him, or [McGregor] doing something stupid and losing the fight. That’s my prediction.
White: People are crazy if they think Mayweather can’t be caught
White posts two videos to counter those who think that Mayweather is untouchable.
People are crazy if they think @FloydMayweather can't be caught pic.twitter.com/M2V5sWrbUq
— danawhite (@danawhite) June 24, 2017
. @FloydMayweather can be caught pic.twitter.com/hvufpehEcr
— danawhite (@danawhite) June 24, 2017
White to fans: Don’t buy tickets, they’re not on sale yet
White issues a warning to fans who may be fooled into thinking tickets are already on sale.
A fan told me he bought tix already. I want ALL fans to know that we have not even come up with a price for tix yet and tix ARE NOT for sale yet. Don’t get f-cked by These DIRTBALLS trying to sell tix already. When we announce tix on sale that’s when it’s real.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVrbZs4AyPa/
Golovkin: I respect McGregor as a UFC fighter, but he’s not a boxer
As part of their media tour his fight against Canelo Alvarez, which will take place three weeks before the McGregor-Mayweather bout, Golovkin talks about McGregor’s chances.
This is not a fight. My fight with Canelo is a fight. This is show. Conor with Floyd is show — business show or a funny show, or for somebody’s interest show, not for us. It’s not for boxing. This is not for boxing. This is for people, for business. My fight with Canelo, this is boxing. This is true fight. You know, I respect McGregor [as] a UFC fighter, [but] he’s not a boxer. He’s a good fighter, he’s not a boxer.
https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmrush/this-is-not-a-fight-this-is-a-show-gennady-golovkin-on-mayweather-mcgregor
Hopkins: McGregor-Mayweather is a ‘fake news’ fight
Hopkins says that Canelo vs Gennady Golovkin is a superior fight to Mayweather vs McGregor.
Conor who? People got a choice they can go for the fake news, which is Floyd Mayweather vs. what’s his name again? Come on. You got a first-class. legend Icon fighting who. And you want to pass up a canelo and triple G fight?. Are we kidding ourselves? You got a chance to get in a Ferrari but you choose the Pontiac?!?
White praises McGregor’s odds vs other boxers
White posts to Twitter comparing McGregor’s betting odds agaisnt other fighters who have faced Mayweather.
People talking shit that
@TheNotoriousMMA doesn’t have a chance vs Mayweather. Oddsmakers disagree!!!Odds for Conor vs other great boxers
People talking shit that @TheNotoriousMMA doesn't have a chance vs Mayweather. Oddsmakers disagree!!! 😜 Odds for Conor vs other great boxers pic.twitter.com/tOmNsr4qNn
— danawhite (@danawhite) June 23, 2017
Florian: McGregor needs to ‘get nasty’ to beat Mayweather
Former UFC title contender Kenny Florian says McGregor has a chance to get to Mayweather, but his best weapon is most likely psychological.
I think honestly the best thing that Conor could do is what he does outside of the ring, outside of the cage, and that is get inside the head of Floyd Mayweather. Get him emotional, get him leaping in, that’s when Conor gets the knockouts. Everyone talks about the power of Conor, absolutely I’m sure he hits very hard, but he gets guys lunging in. He gets guys emotional. He gets them doing things they don’t normally do and that’s what he needs to do against Floyd. I don’t know if Floyd’s dealt with someone who talks trash like Conor McGregor and gets you emotional like Conor McGregor. The other thing he could do is try to get nasty. Get a little rough, get into the clinch, tire out those arms by doing maybe what Rocky Marciano used to do, which is beat up the arms a little bit, get those tired, clinch him up, try to tire him out. Do something unusual.
Langford talks about her 13RW audition
Langford reveals how she auditioned for the 13RW part — which became her first ever part in her first ever show.
I had just started taking my first screen acting classes the year before when I turned 18, and at the end of that year, I signed with my US managers…I had given up drama school to go and test for [two other network projects that she didn’t get] so I was back home in Perth with no job, trying to figure out what I was going to do with my year…That’s when the audition came through. I put down a tape, one thing led to another, and they cast me.
Berto: If McGregor catches Mayweather ‘he’ll be the king of the world’
Berto, who went 12 rounds with Mayweather in 2015, says McGregor has the confidence to be able to stand up to Mayweather and win.
It’s the fight game. Something can happen. He catches [Mayweather], no-one gonna be able to tell Conor anything. He’s gonna be king of the world. He’s special as well. I’ve never seen an UFC or MMA fighter — and I’ve been watching for a long time — soak in and soak up that atmosphere and be able to soak in that pressure. And still look so relaxed, and capitalize on that. [He should] Just do what he does. Just stay sharp. Stay confident, within that arena.
.@AndreBerto, the last guy to fight Floyd Mayweather, thinks there's a way Conor could beat Floyd and become the "king of the world." pic.twitter.com/jeLP4118E5
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) June 22, 2017
Chiesa: It ‘sucks’ McGregor is holding up entire lightweight division
Chiesa says he’s annoyed at McGregor holding up the Lightweight Division.
We don’t need to beat around the bush. Conor’s doing what he’s doing is f-cking retarded. What Conor is doing is ridiculous. It’s a tricky decision, and it’s all tricky because we’re sitting and waiting for one guy to do something, and you’ve got 10 guys spring loaded to do something. Like we’re all gunning to be world champion and it sucks just having to sit back and wait to see what this guy does…By the time the Floyd [Mayweather] fight happens, his belt will have not moved for a year. This division has already been plagued by delays. Look when [Anthony] Pettis was champion, how many fights we had. We had none. There’s never been an interim title. Once again the lightweight division is backlogged so it kind of sucks. It really does…I’ll maintain my relevance, I’ll go up to 170 [pounds] and fight guys until Conor starts making moves and then I’ll come back down. The lightweight division is the most competitive in the world and it’s a shame that we don’t get the chance to showcase it because we have a champion that’s sitting around. As upset as I am in the state of the lightweight division, I’d probably do the same thing if I were Conor and I had $100 million waiting for me. I don’t blame him for doing what he’s doing but it sucks for the rest of us.
Gym mural makers want to inspire McGregor
Subset, the company that created the mural of McGregor punching Mayweather that has formed the backdrop of two recent Instagram posts by the Irish fighter, explains how it came about.
The artwork is a gift for John [Kavanagh] which will aid Conor with the visualization of his success. As it was a surprise, we were required to produce it once he finished a training session on Sunday evening and before he began another training session on Monday night. We filmed his arrival and reaction to the artwork and we are currently in the process of making a short video using the footage. This will be posted online in the coming days.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVjPIRdDmIp/
Conlan: ‘It would probably be bad for boxing if Conor won, but f-ck it, I’m an Irishman. I hope he does it.’
Conlan says he would love to be on the undercard for McGregor’s fight with Mayweather, but thinks it’s unlikely he will be chosen.
I sent Conor a message saying, ‘get me on that card’, but he hasn’t replied to me yet! But nah, I think it’s impossible. At the end of the day it’s Floyd’s fight, and Floyd and Top Rank have history. It’s unlikely, but you know, anything is possible in boxing. And that’s the truth – anything is possible in this sport. I’ll be there at the fight anyway. Conor’s asked me to be a part of his camp. But people keep saying that I’m going to come down and give him all this boxing advice. I won’t be doing that. He’s got people there who are paid to do that, and anyway, I don’t know how to beat Floyd Mayweather! It’s a bit crazy. He’s only asked me to be part of the camp to experience the big fight atmosphere and what it’s going to be like.
I’m happy for Conor as an Irishman and a sportsperson. He’s come into this sport with his story, being on the brew [dole] and stuff, and those first couple of paychecks. Now he’ll be making 100% the biggest purse for a pro debut in boxing. It’s f-cking crazy! It’s mental stuff. He’s going to cash out with a lot of money in his pocket, and fair play to him. You know yourself, some people are realists. But Irish people, no matter what, you’ll back your own. Fuck’s sake, we think Ireland are going to win the World Cup every time we’re in it. Like, there’s always that chance that gets people dreaming. To be honest, it would probably be bad for boxing if Conor won, but f-ck it, I’m an Irishman. I hope he does it.
SBG Gym founder: McGregor has the advantage over Mayweather
Thornton, who founded SBG Gym in 1992 and who trained Kavanagh, talks about Kavanagh’s influence on the gym, and about his influence on McGregor.
Conor has the advantage as the underdog. It’s a role he occupies well. He has the advantage as the much younger man. Conor has the advantage as the underdog. It’s a role he occupies well. He has the advantage as the much younger man. He has the advantage as a southpaw, something that’s troubled Mayweather before. He has the advantage in that, coming from an MMA background he may bring some tactics and strategies Mayweather is unfamiliar with. And above all else, he has the advantage in that he has a coach named John Kavanagh in his corner. Everything John’s done has been good for everyone in SBG. It’s a loyal tribe, and he’s an impressive general.