McGregor can win, says Holmes

Boxing legend Larry Holmes believes MMA star Conor McGregor can upset Floyd Mayweather in their Las Vegas super fight.

UFC fighter McGregor enters a boxing ring for the first time to take on the unbeaten Mayweather on August 26.

Few in boxing circles are giving the rugged Irishman much hope.

But Holmes, a former world heavyweight champion who keeps a keen eye on the game, feels McGregor has a real chance if he can fight intelligently.

"Don't sell McGregor short, he doesn't have to do too much to win," Holmes told the Bald Faced Truth radio show in the United States.

"All he has to do is get him in the corner and bang him. Put his hands up over his head, get down low, keep coming in and throw punches once you get him against the ropes.

"It's going to be an interesting fight. People are selling [McGregor] short. This guy is an athlete. He sees a lot of money, and he sees a medal on his chest if he can get over this hump."

Holmes says Mayweather's age at 40 and inactivity for two years will count against him.

He predicted Mayweather would try to slow down the fight as much as possible, looking to hold and disrupt McGregor's likely aggressive game plan.

"He's going to tie him up and try to hit him on the break. [McGregor has to] put his hands up, stay right on top of him and keep him from hitting him."

Meanwhile, one of McGregor's sparring partners has given his view on the controversial training fight that saw American Paulie Malignaggi storm out of the camp.

Malignaggi was upset at photos being released of him on the canvas during a 12-round sparring session with McGregor and was adamant he was the victim of a push rather than a punch.

Tiernan Bradley, a North Irish fighter who has also been helping McGregor prepare, felt that sparring encounter was tight but McGregor won it against Malignaggi, a former two-time world champ.

"It wasn't a one-sided spar either way but I thought one was the clear winner overall and that was Conor. He was very calm, very professional and honestly, he really impressed me on the day," Bradley told the MMA Hour.

 

Photo: PAUL CHILDS/REUTERS Caption: There’s been no lack of words ahead of Floyd Mayweather's return to boxing against MMA star Conor McGregor.