UFC president Dana White might be the only person in the world that would give Conor McGregor a shot against Floyd Mayweather, if and when they ever grace us with that dream boxing match.
And while most would dismiss his reasoning as nothing more than a marketing ploy, he’s actually making a lot of sense from a tactical standpoint.
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“At the end of the day it’s a fight. Floyd Mayweather is 40 years old; Conor McGregor is 27,” White explained in a video segment on Snoop Dogg’s marijuana-infused website Merry Jane. “Conor’s a big dude. Floyd has trouble with southpaws; Conor McGregor is a southpaw. And Conor McGregor hits like a truck. When he hits you, you know it. So, in no way, shape or form am I saying Conor McGregor wins this fight. I don’t know. But it’s more interesting than people think it is. … I promise you Conor McGregor will hit him. When they fight, (Mayweather) will get hit, and it will be interesting to see what happens.”
In theory, there’s a lot of truth there. There are also, however, a host of issues with that line of thinking. Chief among them, Mayweather has become one of boxing’s greatest ever by ducking fire from some of the most skilled fighters in the game. From that very important perspective, maybe the most important in a fight between these two, Mayweather is second to none.
A monumental McGregor upset, which indeed it would be, is hardly heart attack serious. But it’s certainly a possibility that’s serious enough to sell a record number of pay-per-views. Something that White is obviously well aware of.