Conor McGregor has paid homage to Floyd Mayweather’s expertise in the squared circle. ‘The Notorious’ lavished praise on the masterful Mayweather and highlighted his versatility as something he was totally unprepared for.
McGregor began by sharing his outlook on how ‘Money’ Mayweather was able to defuse his game plan and eventually inflict a stoppage in his opponent’s professional boxing debut.
“It is what it is. I got beat. He’s a tactical genius in there. He changed his game plan three times, that’s the sign of a true champion.”
First, Philly shell, second rope-a-dope, third when both of those was getting picked at, he went Mexican style, hands up, knuckles above the eyebrows, dipped in low an just walked forward. It’s like an ugly boxing style,” McGregor said, according to MMA Weekly.
Stay out me fuckin way pic.twitter.com/0plYjG8akw
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 5, 2017
“But he was able to change that game plan three times. It’s the sign of a true champion. He got the win, fair play to him.” The reigning UFC lightweight champion added.
McGregor said if he was given a rematch with Mayweather, he would make the adjustment of working with a bigger sparring partner.
“If it happened in a rematch, it’s a simple adjustment of me having a heavier sparring partner coming in, in the later rounds, and lean on me and walk me down.”
“In my sparring in the lead up to the camp, we were always against fast, twitchy, light on their toes opponent with a Philly shell style and their backs against the ropes.”
Taking a little food break in between gambling while on a quick visit to Macau. pic.twitter.com/ku3fA4lTVW
— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) December 7, 2017
McGregor shared his belief that he never contemplated Mayweather taking the fight to him in an aggressive fashion. McGregor conceded that the tactic took him by surprise and allowed Mayweather to seize a foothold in the fight.
“Never against forward pressure, because he’s never fought like that so it took us by surprise and I got beat,” McGregor said.
McGregor also added, on a final note that he would defeat Mayweather if he was given a second opportunity to share a professional ring with him.
“If I had a rematch, I would correct that and I would beat him. He’s retired. I’m not going to start calling him out of retirement. I’m going to leave him to it. If it happens, maybe it will, who knows — I would beat him no doubt.”
https://twitter.com/NiallerDoran/status/937690713730572288
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